The creation of the DHS united 170,000 Federal workers from 22 agencies into a single organization. FEMA, a relatively tiny albeit independent agency without law enforcement or intelligence functions, became part of a department dominated by massive law enforcement and intelligence agencies focused on collecting information on, preventing, and dismantling terrorist groups and operations. The Bush administration's focus on terrorism as the primary threat to the Nation is reflected in the priorities and funding targets of the DHS. This is occurring despite evidence that the major threat to human life and security worldwide has been natural and unintentional manmade disasters and hazards. In 2003, for example, 60,000 lives were lost through such events, with 41,000 of these deaths due to the Bam, Iran, earthquake. Despite much greater levels of preparedness spending, the failure to forge a more balanced set of priorities for DHS funding and training may well result in significantly weaker preparedness and responses to the more frequent and destructive natural disasters that threaten the lives and security of Americans. The effect on FEMA has been a change in the way that the agency does business. Once vital mitigation and preparedness programs have been left to wither while terrorism-related efforts increase markedly. 55 notes and discussion questions