A new wrinkle in the DHS National Response Plan.

[lateo]

As noted in earlier threads here...which at the moment I don't have links to...

Here is the link to Georgia10's Daily Kos blog where it originated.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/5/225729/7487

If you look at page ix of the pdf file....

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interweb/assetlibrary/NRP_FullText.pdf

It looks like this plan may not be fully implemented yet...although I think the document says it should be implemented withing 4 months after the issuance of the plan. Tell me what you think.

The National Response Plan (NRP) is effective upon
issuance with a phased implementation process during the
first year. During the first 120 days of this implementation
process, the Initial NRP (INRP), Federal Response
Plan (FRP), U.S. Government Domestic Terrorism Concept
of Operations Plan (CONPLAN), and Federal Radiological
Emergency Response Plan (FRERP) remain in effect. The
implementation phases are as follows:

■ Phase I – Transitional Period (0 to 60 days): This
60-day timeframe is intended to provide a transitional
period for departments and agencies and other
organizations to modify training, designate staffing of
NRP organizational elements, and become familiar
with NRP structures, processes, and protocols.

■ Phase II – Plan Modification (60 to 120 days):
This second 60-day timeframe is intended to
provide departments and agencies the opportunity
to modify existing Federal interagency plans to
align with the NRP and conduct necessary training.

■ Phase III – Initial Implementation and Testing (120
days to 1 year): Four months after its issuance, the
NRP is to be fully implemented, and the INRP, FRP,
CONPLAN, and FRERP are superseded. Other existing
plans remain in effect, modified to align with the
NRP. During this timeframe, the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) will conduct systematic
assessments of NRP coordinating structures,
processes, and protocols implemented for actual
Incidents of National Significance (defined on page 4
of the NRP), national-level homeland security
exercises, and National Special Security Events
(NSSEs). These assessments will gauge the plan’s
effectiveness in meeting specific objectives outlined in
Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 (HSPD-5).
At the end of this period, DHS will conduct a 1-year
review to assess the implementation process and make
recommendations to the Secretary on necessary NRP
revisions. Following this initial review, the NRP will
begin a deliberate 4-year review and reissuance cycle.

The kicker here is the statement in Phase III:

Phase III – Initial Implementation and Testing (120
days to 1 year): Four months after its issuance, the
NRP is to be fully implemented, and the INRP, FRP,
CONPLAN, and FRERP are superseded.

I take this as meaning that 4 months after this plan is issued the NPR will take the place of the former INRP, FRP, CONPLAN and FRERP plans. The other plans are to then start working within the framework of the NRP.

INRP
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=1936
FRP
Federal Response Plan - I can't find a link on this.
CONPLAN - deals with counter-terrorism
http://www.fema.gov/rrr/conplan/
FRERP - deals with nuuclear attacks (snark)
Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan (FRERP)--Operational Plan


So. Four months after this plan goes into effect 4 of the biggest, most important plans to protect America get pulled under the umbrella of NRP.

Am I missing something?

[georgia10]

1. Hi Lateo

Got your PM.

The National Response Plan indeed has been implemented and is effective. Prior to the NPR, we had the Federal Response Plan and several other national coordination schemes. During Phase I, these were still operation. However, once the National Response Plan was issued and implemented, that became our main plan.

The National Response Plan was fully implemented by January 6, 2005. Then Homeland Security Secretary Ridge had this to say on that day:

"Now that we've got the plan, it's our collective responsibility to go out and implement it, so that in the event something happens, we get it right, and this is a plan that will make sure that we get it right."

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0582.xml
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0583.xml

[lateo]

2. Well...

Where do you see that the plan was fully implemented by January 6th?

[georgia10]

3. We can tell it was implemented

Because Chertoff himself was operating under it.

http://www.homelandresponse.org/full_story.php?WID=13956

See also this link:

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4777


"Press Releases

United States Government Response to the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
September 1, 2005

President Bush has directed Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff to chair a Cabinet-level task force to coordinate all Federal assistance and recovery efforts in response to the catastrophic effects caused by Hurricane Katrina.

The federal government positioned unprecedented resources in affected areas prior to the hurricane’s landfall. Secretary Chertoff activated the National Response Plan by declaring an “Incident of National Significance” as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina – the first-ever use of this designation. An incident of national significance is a major disaster or emergency that overwhelms the resources of state and local authorities, requiring significant coordination across the Federal government."

[lateo]

4. Yep that cinches it.

No wiggle room there.

Thanks!

[georgia10]

5. no problem!

nothing a little googling can't ever solve ;)