Department of Homeland Security

Department of Homeland Security. National Response Framework. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 2008. http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrf-core.pdf (accessed 19 July 2011).

This document explains the common discipline and structures that have been exercised and matured at the local, tribal, state, and national levels over time. It describes key lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, focusing particularly on how the Federal Government is organized to support communities and states in catastrophic incidents. Most importantly, it builds upon the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which provides a consistent template for managing incidents.