Governor Pat Quinn announced on July 12th that Illinois’ homeland security program ranked in the top four percent of state programs in a recent review of program effectiveness by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Illinois received an overall effectiveness score of 91 out of 100. The national average effectiveness score was 71.

FEMA used peer reviewers from around the country to review each state’s homeland security preparedness efforts, focusing on accomplishments, homeland security strategy, development of investment justifications and utilization of homeland security funding to build response capabilities to confront threats.

Illinois’ homeland security strategy is developed and implemented by the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (ITTF). The ITTF was created nearly 10 years ago, and today its membership includes more than 60 agencies, organizations and municipalities that represent emergency management, law enforcement, fire services, public health and other response disciplines from throughout Illinois. The ITTF’s 15 committees focus on various components of the state’s homeland security plan, such as crisis response and prevention, technology, training and communications.

To view the entire news release, click here.