The Department of Homeland Security has 25 operations centers throughout the U.S., and according to a recent GAO audit, they're not collaborating very well.

Here's the full story:

GAO faults DHS for poor management of watch centers

According to the report, DHS doesn't have a clear set of procedures in place for the operation of its Homeland Security Information Network, which in turn hampers the operations centers' ability to share information related to terrorist threats and the like.

As we saw after 9/11, the lack of coordination between the FBI and CIA put the nation at risk. Obviously, there has to be better cooperation among these 25 centers in order to avoid a similar situation. The same goes for information-sharing prior to, during, and following a natural disaster or other catastrophe.

It's alarming that "basics" like information-sharing policies and procedures are either non-existent or poorly defined at both the regional and national levels, especially given that more complex and technical processes are needed to keep the citizenry safe.