Question: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now has a well-developed approach to infrastructure protection that has implications for the entire homeland security (HLS) endeavor (i.e., all levels of HLS). But so much information is now available that it can be confusing.

Although DHS has divided requirements and responsibilities into preparedness before an event (including mitigation, prevention, and protection before an event) and response (including response, recovery, and resilience after the fact), these two categories of action frequently overlap.

To make matters worse, the same people are sometimes responsible for both. The DBs and IPs for weeks 5, 6, and 7 are designed to help you understand and operate in this environment. Focus instead on where to find answers and how your personal analysis and evaluation of material helps to integrate understanding and action.

Assume that you are a teaching assistant for other students who are pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in HLS in an online environment. The professor has assigned the readings above, and you are conducting a review session online in a live chat session. Several students say that they are confused about how DHS considers preparedness. (The term includes mitigation, prevention, and protection.)

Part 1: Prepare a summary of 500-1,000 words that will explain this point, including the roles of DHS and the responsibilities of others at the state, local, and private levels.

- References from reliable sources will bolster the argument. Quotations should be cited using APA format.