First to Arrive ─ State and Local Response to Terrorism

Since September 11, 2001, the United States has been preoccupied by the federal rolein preparedness against terror attacks, and by ways to provide a quick fix through organizationaloverhauls. Airport security has been federalized, and Congress has approved a Cabinet-level homelandsecurity agency. By contrast, national discussion of state and local preparedness has been largelyabsent.First to Arrive argues that the best way for America to prepare for terrorism is to listen topeople in the field; those working on the ground can guide decisions at the top. Many of thecontributors are first responders who have long been dedicated to domestic preparedness; others arepolitical scientists and historians who provide a broader context. They analyze critical but oftenoverlooked issues, explain the operational needs of state and local governments, and providepractical solutions to the challenges of local and state domestic preparedness.These essays grew outof a series of discussions held by the Executive Session on Domestic Preparedness at HarvardUniversity's Kennedy School of Government. Begun before the September 11 attacks and continuingafter them, they offer a guide to US domestic security in today's world.

Juliette Kayyem is Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard University'sKennedy School of Government; former Member of the National Commission onTerrorism; and former Legal Adviser to the Attorney General.