Partcipants talked about protecting civil liberties, ensuring public safety, and providing services in response to natural disasters. They focused on the operation of the Department of Homeland Security and its mission to responded to such emergencies. Among the areas and issues addressed were provision or health care services, meeting the needs of displaced persons, providing legal resources, and coordination of state and local assistance to victims of natural disasters. Hilary Shelton moderated.
“The Road Ahead: Protecting Civil Liberties in a Natural Disaster” was the first panel of an event titled "A Path Forward: Constitutional Protections in Homeland Security". This series of roundtable discussions on the future of privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties at the Department of Homeland Security was hosted by the Majority Staff of the House Committee on Homeland Security in Cannon House Office Building.