When a major disaster or emergency strikes, having an up-to-date emergency management plan in place is vital to helping emergency responders act quickly and effectively. In support of this goal, and its overarching strategic plan, this week the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released the Fourth Edition of the National Response Framework (NRF), as well as the Emergency Support Function #14 – Cross-Sector Business and Infrastructure Annex.

These new documents focus on lessons learned from recent catastrophe’s, such as the 2017 hurricanes and wildfire season, and also address the importance of cross-sector partnerships with business and infrastructure operators to better manage community lifelines during an emergency — “services that enable the continuous operation of critical government and business functions and are essential to human health and safety or economic security”.

Keeping emergency management plans up-to-date, involving all essential stakeholders, and continuously improving response and prevention strategies are all essential components to ensure that loss of life is minimized, property and the environment are protected, and basic support services reach those in need during a crisis.

For more information, visit the HSDL Featured Topics page for a variety of topics focused on natural disasters and security emergencies, such as Hurricanes, Wildfires, and Mass Evacuation. Please note that an HSDL login is required to view some of these resources.

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