Federal Response Resources

The federal response to presidentially declared disasters is governed by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended by Public Law 106-390, October 30, 2000, 2006). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are the lead federal agencies charged with disaster preparedness and response efforts. 

The federal response can involve a multitude of federal agencies and departments, which provide for the federal assets brought to bear for a disaster. The National Response Framework (NRF), formerly known as the National Response Plan (NRP), is the operational level document, and is supported by 15 Emergency Support Functions (ESF). More than one agency or department can be involved in each ESF, either as the primary agency or department, or as secondary resources. Not every Emergency Support Function will necessarily be involved in the federal response to a single disaster.