The Department of Homeland Security has released the National Response Framework, successor to the National Response Plan. The NRF, which focuses on response and short-term recovery, articulates the doctrine, principles and architecture by which the nation prepares for and responds to all-hazard disasters across all levels of government and all sectors of communities. The NRF and the annexes will go into effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

The NRF responds to repeated federal, state, local and private sector requests for a streamlined document that is less bureaucratic and more user-friendly. The NRF also focuses on preparedness and encourages a higher level of readiness across jurisdictions.

The latest public comment period for the base document of the NRF closed on Oct. 22, 2007 and the comment period for the support annexes closed on Nov. 10, 2007. The final documents reflect nearly 5,700 comments received from participants of the process.

"The National Response Framework is an essential tool for emergency managers at all levels," says Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "It helps define the roles, responsibilities and relationships critical to effective emergency planning, preparedness and response to any emergency or disaster. [This] release reflects the culmination of many months of hard work and collaboration within the nation's emergency management community."

The Red Cross expressed its support of NRF. In particular it commend how the Framework recognizes the nonprofit sector as true partners in disaster response and recovery both in coordination with our government partners and to serve those in need, the group said.

The NRF is intended for senior elected and appointed leaders, such as federal department and agency heads, State governors, mayors, tribal leaders, city managers and the private sector. Simultaneously, it informs emergency management practitioners by explaining the operating structures and tools routinely used by first responders and emergency managers at all levels of government.

In addition to releasing the NRF base document, the Emergency Support Function Annexes and Support Annexes will be released and posted at the NRF Resource Center. The annexes are a total of 23 individual documents designed to provide concept of operations, procedures and structures for achieving response directives for all partners in fulfilling their roles under the NRF.

Upon finalization and publication of the NRF base document and the annexes, focus will shift to initiating an intensive nationwide training and exercise program to embed the NRF into the nation's preparedness and response cycle. Implementation of the NRF training and exercise strategy will include awareness training, position-specific training, exercises (tabletop and functional) and sustainment training.