The purpose of this page is to provide an overview of the five mission areas. The intended audience for this page is individuals; families; communities; the private and nonprofit sectors; faith-based organizations; and local, state, tribal, territorial, insular area, and federal governmental agencies.
If you have any questions, please contact the National Integration Center at FEMA-NIC@fema.dhs.gov.
Introduction
The National Preparedness Goal identified five mission areas, in which it groups the 32 core capabilities (the distinct critical elements needed to achieve the goal).
- Prevention. Prevent, avoid or stop an imminent, threatened or actual act of terrorism.
- Protection. Protect our citizens, residents, visitors, and assets against the greatest threats and hazards in a manner that allows our interests, aspirations and way of life to thrive.
- Mitigation. Reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of future disasters.
- Response. Respond quickly to save lives, protect property and the environment, and meet basic human needs in the aftermath of a catastrophic incident.
- Recovery. Recover through a focus on the timely restoration, strengthening and revitalization of infrastructure, housing and a sustainable economy, as well as the health, social, cultural, historic and environmental fabric of communities affected by a catastrophic incident.
Prevention
Description: The Prevention mission area is composed of the capabilities necessary to avoid, prevent or stop a threatened or actual act of terrorism. It is focused on ensuring we are optimally prepared to prevent an imminent terrorist attack within the United States.
Prevention Core Capabilities:
- Planning
- Public Information and Warning
- Operational Coordination
- Forensics and Attribution
- Intelligence and Information Sharing
- Interdiction and Disruption
- Screening, Search, and Detection
See the core capabilities page for further descriptions.
Protection
Description: The Protection Framework houses “the capabilities necessary to secure the homeland against acts of terrorism and manmade or natural disasters.”
Protection Core Capabilities:
- Planning
- Public Information and Warning
- Operational Coordination
- Access Control and Identity Verification
- Cybersecurity
- Intelligence and Information Sharing
- Interdiction and Disruption
- Physical Protective Measures
- Risk Management for Protection Programs and Activities
- Screening, Search, and Detection
- Supply Chain Integrity and Security
See the core capabilities page for further descriptions.
Mitigation
Description: Mitigation is composed of “the capabilities necessary to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters.”
Mitigation Core Capabilities:
- Planning
- Public Information and Warning
- Operational Coordination
- Community Resilience
- Long-Term Vulnerability Reduction
- Risk and Disaster Resilience Assessment
- Threats and Hazards Identification
See the core capabilities page for further descriptions.
Response
Description: Response houses “the capabilities necessary to save lives, protect property and the environment, and meet basic human needs after an incident has occurred.”
Response Core Capabilities:
- Planning
- Public Information and Warning
- Operational Coordination
- Critical Transportation
- Environmental Response/Health and Safety
- Fatality Management Services
- Fire Management and Suppression
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Infrastructure Systems
- Mass Care Services
- Mass Search and Rescue Operations
- On-Scene Security, Protection, and Law Enforcement
- Operational Communications
- Public Health, Healthcare, and Medical Services
- Situational Assessment
See the core capabilities page for further descriptions.
Recovery
Description: Recovery is composed of the core capabilities necessary to assist communities affected by an incident to recover effectively.
Recovery Core Capabilities:
- Planning
- Public Information and Warning
- Operational Coordination
- Economic Recovery
- Health and Social Services
- Housing
- Infrastructure Systems
- Natural and Cultural Resources
See the core capabilities page for further descriptions.