"The vision for the National Preparedness Guidelines is: A NATION PREPARED with coordinated capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from all hazards in a way that balances risk with resources and need. This vision is far-reaching. It recognizes that preparedness requires a coordinated national effort involving every level of government, as well as the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and individual citizens. It addresses capabilities-based preparedness for the full range of homeland security missions, from prevention through recovery. States, communities, and the Federal Government have worked together for decades to manage natural disasters and technological emergencies, particularly with regard to response and recovery. However, they have far less experience with terrorist attacks, particularly with regard to prevention and protection. The Guidelines address all hazards and place heavy emphasis on events at the catastrophic end of the risk continuum, especially terrorist attacks, which would require rapid and coordinated national action. The vision acknowledges that the Nation cannot achieve total preparedness for every possible contingency and that no two jurisdictions possess identical capability needs. We must weigh the relative risk of catastrophic events when determining the resources available to address each contingency and the unique needs of each community, determine how to best address needs in light of the risks, and thereby achieve optimal and reasonable levels of preparedness". (DHS, National Preparedness Guidelines, September 13, 2007, p.1-2)