Notice Of Change To The National Response Plan

Hurricane Katrina illustrated that effective preparation and response to a catastrophe requires a joint effort between fed., state, and local gov¿t. The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS), through FEMA, is responsible for heading the joint effort. In Jan. 2008, DHS released the ¿National Response Framework¿ (NRF), a revision of the 2004 ¿National Response Plan,¿ the national preparation plan for all hazards. This report evaluates the extent to which: (1) DHS collaborated with non-fed. stakeholders in revising and updating the 2004 Plan into the 2008 NRF; and (2) FEMA has developed policies and procedures for managing future NRF revisions. Includes recommendations. Illustrations.

The efforts undertaken by civilian and military organizations in response to Hurricane Katrina were historically unprecedented, but problems did arise in the military response that contributed to delays in accomplishing evacuations and relief operations across the storm-ravaged areas of Louisiana and Mississippi, particularly New Orleans. A number of steps can be taken to enhance future military disaster-response efforts: give the National Guard the federal mission to conduct homeland security activities; make each National Guard unit capable of rapid deployment; prepare governors to call up G.