Nov. 6, 2009 (Business Wire) -- While a majority (57 percent) of Homeland Security professionals say America is safer now than it was before the September 11 attacks, 75 percent believe the country will experience a similar terrorist attack in the next five years – and Americans aren’t prepared, according to a recent survey commissioned by the National Homeland Defense Foundation (NHDF) and Colorado Technical University (CTU).

The survey, which was conducted by Kelton Research, revealed that 94 percent of these professionals don’t think Americans know the appropriate steps to take if a terrorist attack were to happen in their hometown.

The full findings will be shared at the 2009 NHDF Homeland Defense, Homeland Security Symposium on Nov. 9-11 in Colorado Springs, Colo., where more than 600 security experts are gathering for the nation’s leading public forum for dialogue on homeland security and homeland defense-related topics.

Among survey findings from professionals within the field:

• Even Homeland Security experts don’t feel safe. More than half of those surveyed (51 percent) do not personally feel safe from a terrorist attack.
• Cyber-terrorism is an emerging threat. When asked which security issues the U.S. should invest more resources in over the next five years, computer networks or the Internet came out on top (58 percent), followed by homegrown or domestic terrorism inside the U.S. or infrastructure (49 percent), and U.S. coastlines and harbors (42 percent).
• Public education needs to be increased. Fewer than three in 10 (27 percent) Homeland Security professionals believe the U.S. is doing a good enough job to educate the public on what to do if the U.S. experiences a terrorist attack.
• Need for more qualified applicants. Only 17 percent of survey respondents believe there are enough qualified job applicants to fill key roles in Homeland Security.

“Since September 11, many aspects of national security have improved, but we still have progress to make in terms of education for the professionals serving our country and in improving communications between government agencies at all levels ,” said Donald E. Addy, NHDF president. “Much more can be done to prepare our nation for attacks, especially as acts and threats of terrorism evolve.”

Homeland Security: Marked Improvement But Room for Growth

Nearly eight in 10 (77 percent) of Homeland Security professionals surveyed believe that the response of federal, state and local governments to a terrorist attack today would be more coordinated than it was in 2001. Moreover, almost three in four (74 percent) feel that communication on Homeland Security matters across all government levels has improved since 9/11.