IAEM puts National Response Framework ideas to DHS

Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency leaders met with key stakeholder, IAEM, on Tuesday, as part of a series of continuing discussions on opportunities to improve the National Response Framework (NRF).

DHS deputy secretary Michael Jackson, FEMA administrator R. David Paulison and FEMA deputy administrator Harvey Johnson participated in the meeting immediately prior to Paulison’s departure for the California firestorms.

The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), represented by second vice president Russ Decker, CEM and executive director Beth Armstrong, MAM, CAE, presented a series of suggestions to strengthen and support the Nation Response Framework, generated from IAEM membership.

This meeting was the culmination of several weeks of discussion between IAEM and FEMA on a range of suggestions received from state and local emergency managers and first responders on the NRF.

As preparations are made to finalize the NRF, IAEM suggested ways to address the concerns expressed by local emergency management professionals, such as:

- DHS should ensure that the NRF is consistent with the Post-Katrina Reform Act, particularly the authority and responsibilities.
- Local plans should be made according to hazard identification and risk analyses (HIRAs).
- The NRF lists 15 scenarios; additional planning would incorporate only those scenarios that actually apply to the local jurisdiction. (Federal planning, of course, should maintain a disciplined focus on all of the 15 scenarios.)
- State and local emergency managers should be notified when ESF/playbook changes occur.
A decision should be made on whether tribal nations will be treated as a local or state entity in the disaster process.

•Date: 26th October 2007• Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: Emergency planning
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