On Wednesday, Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons announced that the state would fold its homeland security functions into the Department of Public Safety (DPS). The governor cited improved coordination at all levels of emergency management and more cohesive management of public safety activities as reasons for the consolidation. The move will create a single point of contact for coordination between state, local, federal and tribal agencies. The DPS-Division of Emergency Management already functions as the State Administrative Agency.
The news release announcing the consolidation cited a survey by the National Emergency Managers Association conducted over federal fiscal year 2009 that found 25 states had consolidated homeland security functions within public safety departments.
