Critical Thinking 5 EMG National Response Framework (NRF)

National Response Framework (NRF)
Institution Affiliation
Name
The National Responses Framework (NRF
The National Responses Framework (NRF) has been in operation since 2008. The need to reinvent the disaster management framework in the United States of America (USA) became of significance after two disaster management plans turned out to be obsolete. The two plans, National Response Plan (NRP) and the Federal Response Plan’s (FRP) ineffectiveness became evident during the Hurricane Katrina incursion in 2005. During the hurricane, there was confusion, communication breakdown, and improper use of the resources. After Katrina, the Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with other government disaster management institutions were compelled to come up with a more robust guideline that is easy to interpret and implement. The disaster consultative forum established the National Response Framework (NRF). NRF came in place to provide a more centralized and proactive disaster management strategy. It is, therefore, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) national strategy that provides guidelines for all the relevant disaster management stakeholders to have adequate preparations to respond to emergencies or calamities.
National Response Framework performance, since inception, has been better. Despite several challenges, it has provided more straightforward guidelines. The guidelines are understandable with a clear action plan and command. The 80 pages document necessitates a rapid response in all disaster situations of different magnitudes. The directive is inclusive and takes into consideration all the disaster preparedness plans from the community to the national level. It amalgamates the State, Tribal, and Local Planning Structure (STLPS), and Federal Planning Structure (FPS). The unified system is critical during a disaster as it provides an efficient support framework for both the government and private disaster management organizations (Stamper & Shapiro, 2019). It ensures that there is an adequately coordinated disaster response, an element that lacked in the predecessors' frameworks. It also provides that all the relevant entities, including the general public, know what exactly they need to do in case of a catastrophe. NRF guidelines have been enhanced by the National Incident Management System (NIMS) that has enhanced capacity and Incident Command System (ICS) (Jense&Youngs, 2014). The two systems ensure that disasters are reported promptly for activation of immediate response.
NRF has enabled domestic disaster response agencies to access disaster areas faster, evacuate both affected and those at risk. The framework has empowered the agencies to manage disaster well and prevent loss of live and massive destruction of infrastructure, public and private properties. To ensure they are no bureaucratic hindrances that can impede speedy respon...