The purpose of this page is to provide information on the National Response Framework. The National Response Framework describes not only how the Federal government organizes itself to respond to natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other catastrophic events but also the importance of the whole community in assisting with response efforts. The intended audience for this document is individuals, families, communities, the private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, and local, state, tribal, territorial, insular area, and Federal governments.
National Response Framework
Government resources alone cannot meet all the needs of those affected by terrorist attacks, natural disasters and other catastrophic events. When disaster strikes, people throughout the community and our nation pitch in to help the response effort.
The third edition of the National Response Framework (NRF), updated in 2016, provides context for how the whole community works together and how response efforts relate to other parts of national preparedness. It is one of the five documents in a suite of National Planning Frameworks. Each Framework covers one preparedness mission area: Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response or Recovery.
Resources
- National Planning Frameworks Overview
- National Response Framework (third edition)
- National Response Framework Information Sheet
- ESF, Support, and Incident Annexes
Focus on Immediate Needs
The Response Framework covers the capabilities necessary to save lives, protect property and the environment and meet basic human needs after an incident has occurred. Response activities take place immediately before, during and in the first few days after a major or catastrophic disaster. Then, recovery efforts begin to help the community get back on its feet.
Roles and activities found in other Frameworks affect response efforts in many ways. For example, when people proactively do things to lessen the impact of future disasters—as described in the National Mitigation Framework—they may need fewer response resources when a disaster strikes.