What agencies respond to disasters?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for responding to large-scale emergencies in the United States and acts primarily through one if its four main branches– the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The DHS follows the National Incident Management System (NIMS), a plan focusing on preparedness, information management and use of “best practices.” To learn more about the NIMS, click here. The National Response Plan is a signed agreement between several dozen agencies. Among those agencies, the American Red Cross provides mass care during times of disaster. To learn more about the National Response Plan, click here. Each year, the American Red Cross responds to some 67,000 natural and man-made disasters, most of which are fires. Responses range from providing food, healthcare and shelter to mental health services that help people recover from the emotional shock and stress of disastrous events. The United Nations, Oxfam International, Doctors Without Borders (M
