By working with officials from National City, the Homeland Security Graduate Program embarked on an effort to use the city as a semester project in which the application of Science and Technology in Homeland Security (HSEC 602) could be used to provide a test bed for similar efforts in other cities. Much of what was done was simply to try to study the challenges and provide appropriate solutions that could be helpful and immediately done with available resources. To this end, much of what was suggested and constructed recognizes the professionalism of National City’s emergency management personnel like firefighters and police, but also the community nature of the city with its focus on schools, churches, and neighborhoods. Overall, the major insight from the study is that much can be done to assist National City by recognizing its unique location near the US-Mexico border and its role as a family community linking two countries. By building the Emergency Response capabilities around the community identity of Spanish-speaking and English-speaking people focused on families, schools, and churches, it is possible for National City to be much more prepared for disasters and other Homeland Security events than most cities. Using the same tools to also build up the city including social media, internet perception, collaboration and training with other cities (e.g., focusing on liquefaction and potential disruption of firefighting capabilities) are all solutions suggested by the graduate class.
