"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for strengthening the preparedness of the United States to prevent, protect, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual domestic terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies. Planning is a key preparedness activity and a shared responsibility of all levels of government. The Department is committed to modernizing the collective planning capabilities of Federal, State, and local governments. All are making concerted efforts to improve plans, train, educate, and develop planners, and explore new means of collaboration. State and local governments have made admirable efforts in the face of difficult planning challenges. In his speech to the Nation from Jackson Square in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, President Bush said, 'I consider detailed emergency planning to be a national security priority, and therefore, I've ordered the Department of Homeland Security to undertake an immediate review, in cooperation with local counterparts, of emergency plans in every major city in America'...The second phase involved peer review, in which teams made up of former State and local homeland security and emergency management officials visited 131 States and urban areas. Over the course of 62 business days, these reviewers validated the self-assessments, determined requirements for Federal planning assistance, and drew initial conclusions for strengthening plans and planning processes at the Federal, State, and local levels of government for catastrophic events. This report reflects findings from both phases of the Nationwide Plan Review. It also provides initial conclusions about measures required to make the United States better prepared to deal with catastrophes."