The Ad Council, which partners with DHS on its Ready.gov campaign, and the consulting company Landor Associates were responsible for graphic design and maintaining heraldic integrity.

The Ad Council, which partners with DHS on its Ready.gov campaign, and the consulting company Landor Associates were responsible for graphic design and maintaining heraldic integrity.

In the center of the seal, a graphically styled white American eagle appears in a circular blue field.

Centered on the eagle's breast is a shield divided into three sections containing elements that represent the American homeland – air, land, and sea.

The right shield element contains four wave shapes representing the oceans alternating light and dark blue separated by white lines.