National Response Plan: The Local Perspective

Katrina Reveals Lessons for First Responders

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) promotes the National Response Plan (NRP) as “a comprehensive all-hazards approach to enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidents.” However, the federal, state and local response to Katrina should have every first responder asking serious questions.

Earlier articles in this series pointed out that it is more likely we will have to work through a major natural disaster than a human caused terrorist event. Although serious debriefing on the response to Katrina has yet to take place, we should use the event as impetus to explore the NRP. In essence, we should get ready in our own communities. The last two articles in this series on terrorism are directed at organizational responses to all hazards, including terrorism.

Read the complete article at National Response Plan