New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management

New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Agency name	New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Formed	1950s (origins); reorganized 2002
Jurisdiction	New Hampshire
Headquarters	Concord, New Hampshire
Chief1 name	Director
Parent agency	New Hampshire Department of Safety

New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management is the primary state-level agency responsible for coordinating emergency management and homeland security activities in New Hampshire. It operates from Concord, New Hampshire and interacts with federal entities such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security, as well as regional partners including the New England states and local jurisdictions like Manchester, New Hampshire and Nashua, New Hampshire. The agency’s remit spans natural disasters, technological incidents, and security threats including cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection.

History

The agency traces antecedents to civil defense organizations active during the Cold War era and state-level emergency offices established in the mid-20th century, influenced by national policy shifts like the creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and the post-9/11 reorganization that created the Department of Homeland Security in 2002. New Hampshire’s response frameworks evolved after notable events such as Hurricane Bob (1991), the Northeast blackout of 2003, and Hurricane Sandy (2012), leading to expanded roles in disaster recovery and homeland security. Legislative actions by the New Hampshire General Court and coordination with the National Guard (United States) and the United States Coast Guard shaped capabilities for radiological response, chemical incidents related to the Upper Merrimack River, and pandemic planning influenced by experiences with H1N1 influenza pandemic preparations and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mission and Organization

The agency’s mission aligns with statutory mandates from the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated and directives from the Governor of New Hampshire. Organizationally it is structured into divisions responsible for operations, planning, mitigation, recovery, and grants management, working with federal programs like the Stafford Act, Homeland Security Presidential Directive initiatives, and the National Incident Management System. Leadership liaises with elected officials including the Governor of New Hampshire and municipal executives in Keene, New Hampshire and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Specialized units coordinate with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Environmental Protection Agency for hazardous materials and public health incidents.

Programs and Operations

Programs encompass hazard mitigation planning under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, grant administration for Urban Areas Security Initiative funds, cybersecurity outreach linked to National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, and radiological emergency planning related to nuclear facilities and transit routes for Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant. Operations include the State Emergency Operations Center, continuity of operations planning with entities such as Dartmouth College and University of New Hampshire, volunteer integration leveraging American Red Cross chapters and Medical Reserve Corps units, and public alerting via Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts. The agency manages hazard mapping for floodplains along the Connecticut River and coordinates snow and ice responses affecting Interstate 93 and Interstate 89 corridors.

Emergency Response and Incident Management

During incidents the agency activates the State Emergency Operations Center and implements the Incident Command System consistent with National Incident Management System protocols, coordinating asset requests from the New Hampshire National Guard and mutual aid across the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. It has led responses to events such as flooding from Hurricane Irene (2011) remnants, winter storms impacting Mount Washington, and public health emergencies requiring coordination with New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and hospital systems including Catholic Medical Center (Manchester, New Hampshire). Tactical coordination includes liaison with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department for search and rescue and the New Hampshire State Police for public safety support.

Preparedness, Training, and Community Outreach

Preparedness programs emphasize community resilience through training exercises like full-scale drills involving FEMA Region 1, tabletop exercises with county emergency managers, and certification programs under National Fire Academy curricula. The agency sponsors public education campaigns coordinated with organizations such as the American Red Cross and CERT programs, and supports school safety initiatives with districts in Concord School District and Manchester School District. Workforce development includes partnerships with New Hampshire Technical Institute and emergency medical training aligned with National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians standards.

Partnerships and Interagency Coordination

Interagency coordination extends to federal partners—Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation—and regional cooperation through the New England Governors' Conference and the Northeast Counterdrug Training Center. The agency works with utilities such as Eversource Energy and Liberty Utilities for critical infrastructure restoration, and with transit agencies including the New Hampshire Department of Transportation for route clearances. Cross-sector collaboration includes healthcare coalitions with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, nonprofit coordination with United Way of New Hampshire, and private sector engagement with organizations such as Bechtel-style contractors during recovery.

Criticisms and Notable Incidents

Critics have cited issues in grant oversight, communication during rapid-onset events like the 2003 Northeast blackout and delayed sheltering during major winter storms affecting Interstate 95—prompting after-action reports by the New Hampshire General Court and recommendations from FEMA. High-profile incidents include coordination challenges during the early response to the COVID-19 pandemic and scrutiny over resource allocation following intense flooding from Tropical Storm Irene remnants and localized dam failures. Independent reviews and legislative audits have recommended improvements in interoperable communications with agencies such as the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police and upgraded emergency notification systems modeled on Integrated Public Alert and Warning System best practices.

Category:Emergency management in the United States Category:State agencies of New Hampshire