Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods can cause significant environmental damage and result in the unwanted release of pollutants into the air and water. Disasters can also generate enormous amounts of solid waste. As part of the National Contingency Plan, the EPA helps to coordinate the local and federal responses to natural disasters. The EPA is the primary agency responsible for emergency support related to hazardous materials and provides technical assistance for environmental monitoring needs. The EPA also helps states and local communities develop contingency plans for managing the debris and other products of natural disasters.
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