---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 746"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "746"
heading: "Target capabilities and preparedness priorities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/746"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — National Emergency Management"
  - "Subchapter II — Comprehensive Preparedness System"
  - "Part A — National Preparedness System"
---

# §746. Target capabilities and preparedness priorities

- (a) **Establishment of guidelines on target capabilities—** Not later than 180 days after October 4, 2006, the [Administrator](/usc/6/821.md?p=1), in coordination with the heads of appropriate [Federal agencies](/usc/6/677a.md?p=4), the National [Council](/usc/6/681.md?p=2) on Disability, and the National Advisory [Council](/usc/6/681.md?p=2), shall complete, revise, and update, as necessary, guidelines to define risk-based target [capabilities](/usc/6/741.md?p=1) for Federal, [State](/usc/6/821.md?p=9), local, and [tribal government](/usc/6/701.md?p=16) preparedness that will enable the Nation to prevent, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against all [hazards](/usc/6/741.md?p=3), including natural disasters, acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), and other man-made disasters.
- (b) **Distribution of guidelines—** The [Administrator](/usc/6/821.md?p=1) shall ensure that the guidelines are provided promptly to the [appropriate committees of Congress](/usc/6/701.md?p=3) and the [States](/usc/6/821.md?p=9).
- (c) **Objectives—** The [Administrator](/usc/6/821.md?p=1) shall ensure that the guidelines are specific, flexible, and measurable.
- (d) **Terrorism risk assessment—** With respect to analyzing and assessing the risk of acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), the [Administrator](/usc/6/821.md?p=1) shall consider—
  - (1) the variables of threat, vulnerability, and consequences related to population (including transient commuting and tourist populations), areas of high population density, [critical infrastructure](/usc/6/821.md?p=4), coastline, and international borders; and
  - (2) the most current risk assessment available from the Chief Intelligence Officer of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of the threats of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) against the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A).
- (e) **Preparedness priorities—** In establishing the guidelines under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Administrator](/usc/6/821.md?p=1) shall establish preparedness priorities that appropriately balance the risk of all [hazards](/usc/6/741.md?p=3), including natural disasters, acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), and other man-made disasters, with the [resources](/usc/6/741.md?p=12) required to prevent, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the [hazards](/usc/6/741.md?p=3).
- (f) **Mutual aid agreements—** The [Administrator](/usc/6/821.md?p=1) may provide support for the development of mutual aid agreements within [States](/usc/6/821.md?p=9).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 646, Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1426.)