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In 2004, the National Response Plan (NRP) was produced as a replacement for the previous Federal Response Plan that had first been published in 1992. While its predecessor focused on how to plan for and mitigate natural disasters, the NRP was developed as a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage from attacks that may occur in the future.

The NRP defines a catastrophic event as any natural or manmade incident, including terrorism, which results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions. Policies and procedures were established under the NRP that outlined what the federal response to such events should be, and those most likely to be implemented for catastrophic events that involved CRBN weapons, large-magnitude earthquakes, or other natural or technological disasters in or near heavily populated areas.

The NRP was superseded by the National Response Framework (NRF) in 2008, after the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina exposed its weaknesses. The NRF was created as a resource for the entire community, engaging all elements of the community to respond to a potential major disaster or emergency. These elements include individuals, families, communities, the private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, and local, state, tribal, territorial, insular area, and federal governments.

Under the NRF, the Stafford Act provides the basis for the federal response to a catastrophic incident involving WMDs. Prior to and during such an incident, especially one that occurs with little or no notice, the federal government may mobilize and deploy assets in anticipation of a formal request from a state. Proactive efforts are intended to ensure that federal resources reach the scene in time to reduce disruption of normal functions of state and local governments to the greatest extent possible and that state and local governments, private sector entities, and non-government organizations coordinate and collaborate their responses with maximum efficiency.

Strategic National Risk Assessment

The NRF leverages the findings from the Strategic National Risk Assessment (SNRA) to build and deliver its responses. According to the SNRA’s findings, the possibility that terrorist organizations or affiliates may seek to acquire, build, and use WMDs is one of the superseding threats that our nation faces. Conventional terrorist attacks, including those by lone actors employing explosives and armed attacks, also present a continued risk.   

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