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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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January
2004
Volume 5
- Number 4 |
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Related Sites:
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Document
the New National Response Plan including any changes
in the
Presidential
Disaster Declaration Process
By Ulrich Myboto The Initial National Response Plan (INRP) was created under the Homeland Presidential Security Directive 5, to strengthen America’s emergency response process, and particularly the existing Federal Response Plan. This Plan, was carefully examined, and supervised by representatives across America such as: Federal government, States, Territories, Cities , Counties and Townships, Tribal officials, First responders. The INRP, was and still is, under the responsibility of the Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. The plan is supported by the National Incident Management System (NIMS), Which is a national system under development that creates standardized incident management processes, protocols, and procedures. The INRP is linked to emergency response plan such as: the Federal Response Plan, U.S. Government Interagency Domestic Terrorism, Concept of Operations Plan, Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan, Mass migration response plans, National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. However, the plan brought new incident management capability including: *Establishment of a permanent Homeland Security Operations Center (HOSC) to serve as the primary national level hub for domestic incident management communications and operations. The HOSC will provide threat monitoring and situational awareness for domestic incident management on a 24/7 basis. *An Interagency Incident Management Group(IIMG) during domestic incidents to facilitate national-level situation awareness, policy coordination, and incident coordination. *Designation of a Homeland Security Department Principal Federal Official (PFO) to oversee federal assistance efforts locally during domestic incidents. *Establishment of a Joint Field Office during domestic incidents to better integrate the Federal response in support of State, and Local authorities. The INRP according to its Annexes A and B, put a strong emphasis on the Homeland Security aspect. Indeed, due to the high number of law enforcement agencies, it seems to neglect other emergencies such as the natural ones. Also, this plan differs to the Presidential Disaster Declaration Process, because it gives the power to the Homeland Security Secretary, rather than the President to involve the Federal Government in a crisis. Despite these small changes, the NRP goals will be the same as the Federal Response Plan, which are helping, assisting and saving American citizens when crises occur.
Ulrich Myboto EMSE 232 Documentation of the New National Response Plan, Including any changes in the Presidential Disaster Declaration Process. The tragic events of September11,2001, have pushed President Bush to take a closer look at the Federal Response Plan, in order to better mitigate and respond in the future. Under his authority, and through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, the Initial National Response Plan (INRP) was drafted. This plan is supported by the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which is a national system under development that creates standardized incident management processes, protocols, and procedures. The INRP was created and carefully examined by representatives across America including: Federal government, States, Territories, Cities, Counties and Townships, Tribal officials, First responders. Being an interim plan designed to help develop a unified approach to domestic incident management across the nation, INRP is linked to Emergency response plans such as: Federal Response Plan, U.S. Government Interagency Domestic Terrorism, Concept of Operations Plan, Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan, Mass migration response plans, National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan Furthermore, the INRP strengthens America’s emergency response process by harmonizing existing Federal Response Plan activities with incident management leadership responsibilities assigned by President Bush to Secretary Ridge through Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5. As a result, the nation’s responders will now be supported with new incident management capability including: *Establishment of a permanent Homeland Security Operations Center (HOSC) to serve as the primary national level hub for domestic incident management communications and operations. Located at DHS headquarters, The HSOC will provide threat monitoring and situational awareness for domestic incident management on a 24/7 basis. *An Interagency Incident Management Group (IIMG) during domestic incidents to facilitate national level situation awareness, policy coordination, and incident coordination. IIMG is made up of Senior representatives from Federal departments and agencies, non- governmental organizations, as well as DHS components. *Designation of a Homeland Security Department Principal Federal Official (PFO) to oversee Federal assistance efforts locally during domestic incidents. *Establishment of a Joint Field Office during domestic incidents to better integrate the Federal response in support of state, and local authorities. The JFO is expected to incorporate existing entities such as the Joint Operations Center, the Disaster Field Office, and other Federal offices and teams that provide support on scene. Even though the INRP is linked to the Federal Response Plan, and encompass domestic incidents such as terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies, it seems to be solely focusing on the Homeland Security side. Indeed, the INRP, according to its Annexes A and B, put a strong emphasis on the law enforcement agencies. For instance, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP), Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE), the United States Secret Service (USSS), The Central Intelligence Agency(CIA), Border and Transportation Security(BTS), Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). These agencies, along with HSOC which is oriented toward treat monitoring on the 24/7 basis give the impression that NRP will be dedicated to homeland security related events, while neglecting natural disasters. Moreover, while the Federal Response Plan, which is declared by the President after a Governor has determined that a disaster event has overwhelmed the capacity of State and Local governments, and is activated by FEMA, the NRP is under the command of the Homeland Security Secretary. In fact, According to HSPD-5, The secretary shall coordinate the Federal Government’s resources utilized in response to or recovery from terrorists attacks, major disasters, or other emergencies if and when any one of the following four conditions applies: * a Federal department or agency acting under its own authority has requested the assistance of the Secretary, *the resources of State and Local authorities are overwhelmed and Federal assistance has been requested by the appropriate State and Local authorities, *more than one Federal department or agency has become substantially involved in responding to the incident, * the Secretary has been directed to assume responsibility for managing the domestic incident by the President. The condition number two confirms that the Presidential Disaster Declaration Process in the NRP is now under the responsibility of the Homeland Security Secretary. The NRP obviously gives more power to the Department of Homeland security, and to its Secretary in particular. Despite some drastic changes in regards to the strengthening of law enforcement agencies and the Presidential Disaster Declaration Process, this new plan more or less kept the same objectives which are helping, assisting, protecting, and saving American citizens in times of crises. References http://www.emforum.org/news/03101001.htm http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme http://www.great-lakes.net/partners/epa/acp-rcp |