APHIS' experience in responding to plant and animal health emergencies made the agency a natural choice to assist FEMA as it responds to a wide variety of emergency incidents. The U.S. Government's National Response Framework (NRF) guides how government agencies work together and provide a unified national response to emergencies and disasters. Under this guide, different functions are defined and roles are assigned. APHIS provides support under Emergency Support Function #11.
Under ESF #11, USDA and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) address the protection of agricultural and natural resources in a national emergency. Specifically, ESF #11 responsibilities include: