For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 10, 2003

What the Initial National Response Plan does for America's homeland security:  The INRP represents a significant first step towards an overall goal of integrating the current family of Federal domestic prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery plans into a single all-discipline, all-hazards plan. The INRP will be supported by the National Incident Management System (NIMS), a national system under development that creates standardized incident management processes, protocols, and procedures.  A final NRP will eventually replace the INRP.  

How the Initial National Response Plan was created:  The Initial National Response Plan was created and vetted by representatives across America including:

• Federal government,
• States,
• Territories,
• Cities, counties and townships,
• Tribal officials,
• First Responders.

What emergency response plans are linked by the Initial National Response Plan:

• Federal Response Plan,
• U.S. Government Interagency Domestic Terrorism Concept of Operations Plan,
• Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan,
• Mass migration response plans,  
• National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.

Key Initial National Response Plan Enhancements-Unifying and Improving the Team:

• National Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC).  The HSOC will serve as the primary national-level hub for operational communications and information pertaining to domestic incident management.  Located at DHS headquarters, the HSOC will provide threat monitoring and situational awareness for domestic incident management on a 24/7 basis.  
• Interagency Incident Management Group (IIMG).  The IIMG is made up of senior representatives from Federal departments and agencies, non-governmental organizations, as well as DHS components to facilitate national-level situation awareness, policy coordination, and incident coordination.
• Principal Federal Official (PFO).  The Secretary may designate a PFO during a domestic incident to serve as the personal representative of DHS locally during an incident.  The PFO will oversee and coordinate Federal incident activities and work with local authorities to determine requirements and provide timely Federal assistance.
• Joint Field Office (JFO).  Federal activities at a local incident site will be integrated during domestic incidents to better facilitate coordination between Federal, state, and local authorities. The JFO is expected to incorporate existing entities such as the Joint Operations Center, the Disaster Field Office, and other Federal offices and teams that provide support on scene.