National Response Framework a Solid Building Block (Rep. Bennie Thompson)

Though it’s been a long time coming, the new National Response Framework (NRF) – released by the Department of Homeland Security on January 22nd – is a solid building block toward a secure and better prepared America. After a bumpy start to the effort, the Department righted itself when it began to view Congress, state and local governments, and emergency management groups as partners in the process, not adversaries. The result of this collaborative process is a document that has been well accepted by virtually all interested parties.

I was particularly pleased that the concerns that I had with an earlier draft were addressed in the final document. Specifically: FEMA’s re-invigorated role is recognized; conditions requiring the appointment of a Principal Federal Official (PFO) have been clarified; and the Department and FEMA have recognized the need to move expeditiously on detailed operational planning.

This framework shows how a properly integrated FEMA is strengthened by its placement in the Department of Homeland Security. Simply put, the vast resources of the Department give FEMA the kind of “deep bench