By Ed Somers
January 10, 2005

In a press event on January 6, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced the completion of a new National Response Plan. The plan was developed by the department in partnership with federal departments and agencies, state, local and tribal officials, private sector and emergency management national associations.

"The National Response Plan embodies our nation's commitment to the concept of one team, one goal — a safer and more secure America," said Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge. "Completion of the National Response Plan has been one of my Department's highest priorities, and this achievement is a bold step forward in bringing unity in our response to disasters and terrorist attacks."

The National Response Plan now establishes a unified and standardized approach within the United States for protecting citizens and managing homeland security incidents. All federal departments and agencies that may be required to assist or support during a national incident will use this Plan, whether from threats or acts of terrorism, major natural disasters, or man-made emergencies. The National Response Plan standardizes federal incident response actions by integrating existing and formerly disparate processes. It also establishes standardized training, organization, and communications procedures through the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and clearly identifies authority and leadership responsibilities.

"With this plan, our nation and its federal, state, local, and tribal response communities now have a comprehensive, all-hazards tool for domestic incident management across the spectrum of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery," said Ridge. "The complex and emerging threats of the 21st century demand this synchronized and coordinated plan in order to adequately protect our nation and its citizens."

The National Response Plan was developed by teams of experts from federal departments and agencies, state, local, and tribal officials, incident response and private sector committees from around the nation.

The National Response Plan and the supporting National Incident Management System establish incident management processes to:

• Improve coordination and integration between federal, state, local, tribal, regional, private sector, and non-governmental organization partners;
• Integrate the federal response to catastrophic events;
• Improve incident management communications and increase cross-jurisdictional coordination and situational awareness;
• Improve federal to federal interaction and emergency support;
• Maximize use and employment of incident management resources; and
• Facilitate emergency mutual aid and federal emergency support to state, local, and tribal governments.

The National Response Plan further recognizes the potential magnitude of threats from weapons of mass destruction and severe natural disasters by adoption of a new term, the incident of national significance. An incident of national significance is described as an incident with high impact requiring an extensive and well-coordinated response by federal, state, local, tribal, and nongovernmental authorities to save lives and minimize damage.

To Get More Information About the National Response Plan

• First responders and incident management authorities may call 1-800-368-6498 [8 am to 6 pm EST Weekdays].
• A copy of the National Response Plan is available online at http://www.dhs.gov/nationalresponseplan.