DISASTER! - Homeland Security and Emergency Management ...

warning and disaster tracking services. During a catastrophic disaster,FEMA coordinates the federal response, working with 28 federal partnersand the American Red Cross to provide emergency food and water, medicalsupplies and services, search and rescue operations, transportation assistance,environmental assessment, and more. The National Disaster MedicalSystem is a partnership set up to provide emergency medical services in adisaster, involving FEMA, Department of Health and Human Services,Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration, as well as public andprivate hospitals across the country.• FEMA PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PRIVATE SECTORFEMA encourages all sectors of society -- from business and industry tovolunteer organizations -- to work together in disaster preparation, responseand recovery. (Please review APPENDIX A and B.)NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORKThe National Response Framework is a guide that details how the Nationconducts all-hazards response – from the smallest incident to the largestcatastrophe. This document establishes a comprehensive, national, allhazardsapproach to domestic incident response.The NRF identifies the key response principles, as well as the roles andstructures that organize national response. It describes how communities,States, the Federal Government and private-sector and nongovernmentalpartners apply these principles for a coordinated, effective nationalresponse. In addition, it describes special circumstances where the FederalGovernment exercises a larger role, including incidents where Federalinterests are involved and catastrophic incidents where a State wouldrequire significant support. It lays the groundwork for first responders,decision-makers and supporting entities to provide a unified nationalresponse.The NRF retains the same core principles of the National IncidentManagement System (NIMS) in which first responders from differentjurisdictions and disciplines can work together more closely to effectivelyrespond to natural disasters and emergencies, including acts of terrorism.To learn more about the National Response Framework (NRF), visitwww.fema.gov/nrfTo learn more about the National Incident Management System (NIMS)visit www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325217