An archive of the OHS website from 2009 shows an "elevated" government terrorist threat level and talks only about its anti-terrorism work. "Our purpose is to lead the effort in keeping South Dakota free from any acts of terrorism," the website reads.

When asked by the Journal whether the OHS has apprehended any alleged terrorists, or if any terrorist plots had ever been planned or prevented in South Dakota, the OHS declined to comment.

The shift in focus of the agency came after anti-terrorism money began to be spent on products and programs that would be tough to argue were needed to fight terrorism, and not before.

After 2006, OHS press statements and comments began to expand the definition of the office beyond terrorism and into preparedness of any kind of large-scale disaster. That's where much of the money was going anyway, according to a Journal review of homeland security spending.

In 2005, federal homeland security bought nearly a dozen emergency responder vehicles, including a vehicle for the Nemo Volunteer Fire Department and an ambulance for Mellette County, based in White River. That same year homeland security grant dollars came in for "operations and safety" for fire departments in Keystone, Philip and Presho.