FEMA seeking stakeholders' feedback on updates to National Response Framework
In an effort to update their emergency response services and better serve emergency managers across the country, FEMA is seeking feedback on new draft…
In an effort to update their emergency response services and better serve emergency managers across the country, FEMA is seeking feedback on new draft documents updating the National Response Framework (NRF) and Emergency Support Function (ESF) #14 – Cross-Sector Business and Infrastructure Annex.
First introduced in 2008, the National Response Framework (NRF) is a guide for how federal and state governments respond to all types of disasters and emergencies. Prompted by the increasingly severe and frequent natural disasters over the last few years, particularly the hardships of the devastating 2017 hurricane and wildfire seasons, FEMA is updating the NRF to better handle the new reality of extreme weather events in the U.S.
FEMA is hosting a series of webinars to describe the updates, answer participants’ questions, and get feedback on the NRF and ESF #14 Annex from all involved parties in the public and private sector, all levels of government, etc.
The first webinar was hosted on Thursday, May 30, and the next webinars will be held on:
- Webinar 2: Tuesday, June 11, 2:00 p.m. EDT
- Webinar 3: Thursday, June 13, 3:00 p.m. EDT
- Webinar 4: Tuesday, June 18, 1:00 p.m. EDT
Updates to the NRF
In their effort to ”build a national culture of preparedness,” FEMA’s updates to the NRF include the following key additions:
- Additional emphasis on nongovernmental capabilities to include the role of individuals and private sector/industry partners in responding to disasters;
- A new Emergency Support Function to leverage existing coordination mechanisms between the government and infrastructure owners/operators; and
- Focus on outcomes-based response through the prioritization of the rapid stabilization of life-saving and life-sustaining Lifelines.
FEMA adds that updates to the new ESF #14 “support the coordination of cross-sector operations, including stabilization of key supply chains and community lifelines, among infrastructure owners and operators, businesses, and their government partners.”
Full details on the updates and download links of the drafts can be found on FEMA’s National Planning Framework’s page.
If you have any questions or suggestions, email NRF@fema.dhs.gov by 5 p.m. EDT, June 28, 2019.