Federated planning flows in multiple directions. From a municipal leader's perspective it begins locally, processes up through State, regional, and Federal authorities as necessary, and comes back. Local leaders assess their threats, hazards, and risk posture and determine what actions and capabilities are required to achieve steady-state and incident security. They resource what they can and petition State and Federal authorities to fill capability shortfalls as needed. (1) In between, State officials often establish planning assumptions and objectives with which local governments in the State are required or encouraged to adopt and support. State-wide interoperable communications plans and systems are an example. State governments exercising leadership in a complex competitive environment relegate local and Federal government officials to a supporting role. (2) At every level of government, officials set strategic goals and objectives for their jurisdictions. They also examine how their security challenge fits with higher, lower, and adjacent jurisdictions. They determine how to operationalize their own and other relevant strategies, and resource appropriately. Federated planning constitutes an approach where each member of the homeland security community is supporting and supported by others. (FEMA, (Interim) Integrated Planning System (IPS) for Homeland Security (Draft Version 2.3), July 3, 2008 copy, p. 2-3)