Introduction
The challenging task of ensuring the security of citizens is one of the key priorities of the government. Therefore, authorities and various organizations cooperate in distributing related duties in order to minimize the risks stemming from negative events (Chartoff, Kropp, & Roman, 2020). Their engagement in this area is determined by official documents alongside the principles of the National Response Plan and the National Response Framework, which complement each other in the matter of disaster preparedness.
Federal Acts and Directives
The principal guidance in disasters is provided by federal acts and directives. These documents contain essential information regarding the roles and responsibilities of all individuals and entities. Thus, the first adopted provision was the requirement for the President to declare such events and assist governors after their application (“US disaster legislation timeline,” 2017). It was followed by executive order, according to which Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was established to integrate separate organizations and corresponding systems for monitoring and controlling disaster-related events (“US disaster legislation timeline,” 2017). Consequently, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 contributed to the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for coordinating “preparedness, response, and civil defense efforts” (“US disaster legislation timeline,” 2017). In addition, medical preparedness was ensured by the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, which determined the tasks for healthcare facilities (“US disaster legislation timeline,” 2017). Hence, it can be concluded that the responsibilities are distributed among the specified actors.
The National Response Plan (NRP) and The National Response Framework (NRF)
The provisions mentioned above are complemented by the key principles of the National Response Plan (NRP) and the National Response Framework (NRF). The former was drafted after the adoption of Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 by President George W. Bush, as its development was one of the main tasks per this document (Chartoff et al., 2020). The NRP included the plans of all connected entities regarding disaster response, which were previously separate (Chartoff et al., 2020). Meanwhile, this initiative was not a single solution but a part of a larger program known as the NRF. This framework presents a method of practical implementation of measures contained in the NRP (Chartoff et al., 2020). It incorporates various provisions, including “engaged partnership,” “tiered response,” “scalable, flexible, and adaptable operational capabilities,” “unity of effort through unified command, and readiness to act” (Homeland Security, 2019). In other words, cooperation is essential for appropriately reacting to emerging threats, and the coordination of actions of all entities contributes to their work’s efficiency.
How The NRF Improved The NRP
The described structures, the NRF and the NRP are interrelated and, therefore, usually considered in a combination. Meanwhile, the former was created first and, consequently, affected the latter’s implementation. This influence can be described as positive since the NRF improved the outcomes of the NRP in terms of management. It contributed to better coordination of resources in the case of emergencies and organized the operations of medical facilities (Chartoff et al., 2020). It means that the results of the NRP became better with the inclusion of specific establishments, as per the NRF.
Conclusion
To summarize, disaster management is performed with respect to federal acts and directives clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the President, authorities, healthcare facilities, and other actors. These initiatives are underpinned by the provisions of the NRP and the NRF, which allow combining their efforts and adapting to new situations. These two establishments are interrelated because the creation of the NRF advantageously complements the vision of the NRP. In this way, the security of citizens is ensured by the identified entities and programs.
References
Chartoff, S. E., Kropp, A. M., & Roman, P. (2020). Disaster planning. StatPearls. Web.
Homeland Security. (2019). National Response Framework. Web.
US disaster legislation timeline. (2017). Web.