Homeland Security responds to Joplin disaster
On May 22, a powerful tornado swept through Joplin, Missouri, killing over 150 people and destroying about 6,000 homes and other structures, Reuters reports. Janet Napolitano, U.S. secretary of Homeland Security, arrived in Missouri soon after the natural disaster, but recently made another visit to the state in order to monitor the clean-up progress, according to CNN.
During her visit, Napolitano met with local and state officials to discuss recovery efforts. Upon seeing the damage, Napolitano said she would help Joplin residents rebuild their destroyed city.
"We will not leave until the job is finished, and we will continue to support our team of federal, state, local and community partners that are working tirelessly to help the people of Missouri rebuild their communities" she said in a statement, as quoted by the news provider.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one of the most important jobs Homeland Security officials perform is disaster response. Emergency management professionals, in particular, are required to help cities prepare for disasters, assist in search and rescue procedures and take emergency calls.
