After the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States government has sought to improve the security of its territory and the safety of its citizens. The Department of Homeland Security was established in 2001 to focus on this issue. After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, the complications that followed caused much worry that the government's plans to keep people safe at home were still lacking. The current presidential candidates have their own ideas on how to maintain and improve security while being on the watch for terror attacks.

What John McCain would do:

• Strengthen the military by recruiting more men and women to serve in the armed forces.
• Expand missile defense systems, the network of unmanned weapons that can respond to an attack by a hostile country or group without sending troops to enemy territory.
• Improve the government's knowledge of extremist terror groups while protecting the rights of U.S. citizens and following international rules about the treatment of enemy combatants.

What Barack Obama would do:

• Increase security at chemical plants and other hazardous sites, especially those near heavily populated areas.
• Require formal, nationwide systems for the evacuation of people, and reuniting of families, in the event of a hurricane or other emergency.
• Allocate money for anti-terrorism and security programs based on risk, so that highly populated areas with inadequate protection would get the most help.