The Department of Homeland Security has developed a NationalResponse Plan outlining an all-hazard approach to enhance theability of the United States to manage disasters, both man-made andnatural. The plan incorporates best practices and procedures fromincident management disciplines, including homeland security,emergency management, law enforcement, fire fighting, public works,public health, responder and recovery worker health and safety, andemergency medical services. These are combined with informationfrom the private sector and integrated into a unified structurethat forms the basis of how the federal government coordinates withstate, local, and tribal governments and the private sector duringincidents.

The plan establishes protocols to help protect health andsafety, prevent imminent incidents, protect and restore criticalinfrastructure resources, conduct law enforcement investigations,protect property and mitigate damages, and facilitate recovery.

Copies of the National Response Plan are available atwww.dhs.gov.