Question:

The responsibility of responding to emergencies, disasters, and catastrophic events rests with the lowest possible level of government and usually begins with the local first responders and government organizations. This doctrine is embedded in America's federal system and the U.S. Constitution''s division of responsibilities between federal and state governments. The guiding document for these efforts is the National Response Framework (NRF), which replaced the National Response Plan in March of 2008.

write 400-600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas:

In your own words, describe FEMA''s mission, and provide explanations and examples for each aspect of the mission. ?Do you feel its mission statement is sufficient for the nation''s emergency management operations? Why or why not?

Describe the role that the states typically play, and provide examples of how states fulfill their role. ?How important do you feel the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in emergency management? Explain.

In describing the roles that are played at each level, please also compare and contrast the roles played at each level with the other 2 levels.

Which responsibilities held by the state regarding emergency management do you feel are the most critical? Why?

With regard to the National Response Plan, which group of first responders is the most important for successful emergency response procedures (you must select one)? Why?