Summary
Strengthening National Preparedness
In the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA, P.L. 109–295), Congress required the President to develop a national preparedness system – that includes planning and implementation guidance and processes – with a national preparedness goal. It also directed the FEMA Administrator to develop "guidelines to define risk-based target capabilities for Federal, State, local, and tribal government preparedness."
National Preparedness Goal
In 2011, the Secretary of Homeland Security redeveloped the national preparedness goal to comply with Presidential Policy Directive 8: "A secure and resilient nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk."
Missions
Prevention Avoid, prevent, or stop a threatened or actual act of terrorism Protection Secure the homeland against acts of terrorism and man-made or natural disasters Mitigation Reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters Response Save lives, protect property and the environment, and meet basic human needs after an incident has occurred Recovery Assist communities affected by an incident to recover effectively The whole community: all levels of government— state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal partners— nonprofits, faith-based and community organizations, individuals and families, and businesses. Core capabilities: Since 2015, FEMA has identified 32 capabilities that the "whole community" should perform before, during, and after disasters to meet the National Preparedness Goal.
Planning
Public Information and Warning
Operational Coordination
Intelligence and Information Sharing
Interdiction and Disruption
Screening, Search, and Detection
Forensics and Attribution
Access Control and Identity Verification
Cybersecurity
Physical Protective Measures
Risk Management for Protection
Supply Chain Integrity and Security
Community Resilience
Long-Term Vulnerability Reduction
Risk and Disaster Resilience Assessment
Threats and Hazards Identification
Infrastructure Systems
Critical Transportation
Environmental Response/Health and Safety
Fatality Management Services
Fire Management and Suppression
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Mass Care Services
Mass Search and Rescue Operations
On-scene Security, Protection, and Law Enforcement
Operational Communications
Public Health Healthcare, and Emergency Medical Serv.
Situational Assessment
Economic Recovery
Health and Social Services
Housing
Natural and Cultural Resources
FEMA recommends that partners in the "whole community" perform each step.
Understand which risks to prepare for and how to prepare for them.
National Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) (www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/ risk-management/risk-capability-assessment)
Develop and maintain the knowledge, skills, and abilities to address critical threats and hazards.
National THIRA Stakeholder Preparedness Review (www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/ risk-management/risk-capability-assessment)
Organize, equip, and train the people, systems, processes, and policies needed to execute capabilities.
National Incident Management System (www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims)
Map out the roles and responsibilities of core capabilities.
National Planning Frameworks (www.fema.gov/ emergency-managers/national-preparedness)
Practice delivering core capabilities through exercises. Test plans, policies, and procedures and identify gaps, areas for improvement, and best practices.
National Exercise Program(www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/exercises)
Review capabilities, plans, and resources regularly to encourage continuous improvement the constant evolution of preparedness.
FEMA's annual assessment of national preparedness is available at www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness.
Information prepared by Lauren R. Stienstra, Section Research Manager, Federalism and Emergency Management, and Amber H. Wilhelm, Visual Information Specialist. For more information see CRS report R46696, National Preparedness: A Summary and Select Issues, by Shawn Reese, Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy, and Lauren R. Stienstra.