EDMG5033

Introduction: Decisions and Actions to Take in Disaster Event When a disaster event such as a flood, earthquake, or hurricane occurs, the first responders to this event are typically local police, fire, emergency medical personnel, and citizens. They aim to rescue and attend to those injured, suppress fires, secure and police the disaster area, and begin the process of restoring order. They are supported in this effort by local emergency management personnel and community government officials. There is a debate when the response ends and the recovery begins. Unlike the response function, where all efforts have a singular focus, the recovery function or process is characterized by a complex set of issues and decisions that must be made by individuals and communities. Recovery involves decisions and actions relative to rebuilding homes, replacing property, resuming employment, restoring businesses, and permanently repairing and rebuilding infrastructure. The recovery process requires balancing the more immediate need to return the community to normalcy with the longer term goal of reducing future vulnerability. The recovery process can provide individuals and communities with opportunities to become more economically secure and improve the overall safety and quality of life. Both the response and recovery phases are governed by frameworks including the National Incident Management System, National Response Framework, The National Protection Framework, and the National Disaster Recovery Framework.

National Incident Management System (NIMS): NIMS is a comprehensive, national approach to incident management that is applicable at all jurisdictional levels and across functional disciplines designed to accomplish the following: (1) apply across a full spectrum of potential incidents, hazards, and impacts, regardless of size, location or complexity; (2) improve coordination and cooperation between public and private entities in a variety of incident management activities; and to provide a common standard for overall incident management. NIMS provides a consistent nationwide framework and approach to enable government at all levels (Federal, State, tribal, and local), the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to work together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents regardless of the incident’s cause, size, location, or complexity.

National Response Framework NRF: NRF is a guide to how the Nation responds to all types of disasters and emergencies constructed on scalable, flexible, and adaptable concepts identified in the National Incident Management System to align key roles and responsibilities across the Nation. This Framework describes specific authorities and best practices for managing incidents that range from the serious but purely local to large-scale terrorist attacks or catastrophic natural disasters.

National Protection Framework: The National Protection Framework describes the way that the whole community safeguards against acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other threats or hazards. The Protection processes and guiding principles contained in this Framework provide a unifying approach that is adaptable to specific Protection mission requirements, mission activities, jurisdictions, and sectors.

The National Disaster Recovery Framework: The National Disaster Recovery Framework is a guide that enables effective recovery support to disaster-impacted States, Tribes, Territorial and local jurisdictions. It provides a flexible structure that enables disaster recovery managers to operate in a unified and collaborative manner. It also focuses on how best to restore, redevelop and revitalize the health, social, economic, natural and environmental fabric of the community and build a more resilient Nation.