A. = ; INTRODUCTION

The National Response Pla= n (NRP) is the equivalent for federal agencies of the C/WLEPC ERP, and for the most part applies to only federal agencies. However, there is some mention of the interfacing of local jurisdictions with the federal agencies in the NRP. Therefore it is germane to discuss the points of interface in this ERP. For more detailed information, it is suggested that relevant officials review t= he NRP document, itself.

B. REQUIREMENTS

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Local governments are req= uested to:

1. &nbs= p; Utilize established incident reporting protocols to notify local and regional Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) and the Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC), as appropriate, as outlined in Section V (page 45) of the National Response Plan (NRP).

2. &nbs= p; Coordinate with the HSOC regarding procedures for establishing connectivity for domest= ic incident management purposes. Local government procedures should be coordin= ated with the State of West Virginia Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security.

3. &nbs= p; Modify existing incident management and EOPs and ERP to ensure proper alignment wi= th NRP coordinating structures, processes, and protocols.

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C. ORGANIZATIONAL COMPONENTS OF THE NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN IMPACTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

The following NRP components impact local government emergency planning, communications,

and operations, and should be reviewed and analyzed for what information should specifically be

included in the local EOPs and ERP.

1. &nbs= p; Support Annex on Logistics Management, which describes the framework within which t= he overall NRP logistics management function operates, and outlines logistics management responsibilities and mechanisms for integrating Federal and local emergency services providers.

2. &nbs= p; Incident Annex on biological Incidents describes the multi-level, including local governments, incident management activities related to a biological terrori= sm event, pandemic, emerging infectious disease, or novel pathogen outbreak.

3. &nbs= p; Incident Annex on Nuclear/Radiological Incidents describes the multi-level, including local governments, incident management activities related to nuclear/radiological incidents.

4. &nbs= p; Incident Annex Terrorism Incident Law Enforcement and Investigation describes law enforcement and criminal investigation coordinating structures and processes related to the multi-level, including local government, response to a terro= rism event.

D. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN

1. &nbs= p; Implementation of the NRP is predicated on the NIMS, which aligns the patch work of Federal special-purpose plans, state plans, and local plans into an effective and efficient structure. Together the NRP and NIMS integrate the capabilities a= nd resources of the multi-level governmental jurisdictions, incident managemen= t, and emergency response disciplines into a cohesive, coordinated, and seamle= ss national framework for domestic incident management.

2. &nbs= p; The NRP, utilizing the NIMS, is an all-hazards (emergencies) plan that provides= the structure and mechanisms for national level policy and operational coordina= tion for domestic incident management, including the activities of local governm= ent emergency planning, communications, and operations agencies.

3. &nbs= p; Nothing in the NRP alters or impedes the ability of local government jurisdictions = to carry out their specific authorities or perform their responsibilities under all applicable Federal and State of West Virginia laws, guidelines, and directives, and relevant local government jurisdiction ordinances, guidelin= es, and directives.

E. PURPOSE OF THE NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN

The purpose of the NRP is= to establish a comprehensive all-hazards (emergencies) approach to domestic incident management across a spectrum of activities, including prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. The NRP provides the framework for Federal Government interaction with local governments in the context of domestic incidents. It describes capabilities and resources and establishes responsibilities, operation process, and protocols to help protect the citi= zens of this Nation from terrorist attacks, other manmade hazards (emergencies),= and natural hazards (emergencies), as well as to protect the public health, saf= ety, property and environment, and reduce adverse psychological consequences and disruptions.

F. KEY CONCEPTS OF = THE NRP IMPACTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The following are key con= cepts of the NRP impacting local government.

1. &nbs= p; Systematic and coordinated incident management, including protocols for the following:=

= a. = Incident reporting

= b. = Coordinated response action

= c. = Alerting and notification of emergency incidents

d. &nbs= p; Mobilization of Federal resources to augment local capabilities when State of West Virgi= nia resources are exhausted.

e. &nbs= p; Ability to operate under differing threats and threat levels involving local governments.

f. &nbs= p; Integration of crisis and consequence management procedures.

F. (Continued)=

2. &nbs= p; Organizing Federal agency efforts to minimize damage, restore impacted areas to pre-incident conditions and implement programs to mitigate vulnerability to future events impacting local governmental jurisdictions.

3. &nbs= p; Organizing Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) to facilitate the delivery of critical Federal resources, assets, and assistance to local governmental jurisdictio= ns as logical.

4. &nbs= p; Providing the basis for coordination of intergovernmental, including local government, planning, training, exercisin= g, assessment, and information exchange.

G. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ROLES= AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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The local government chief executive (County Commission or Mayor) is responsible for the public safety= and welfare of the people of that jurisdiction. The chief executive:

1. &nbs= p; Is responsible for coordinating local resources to address the full spectrum of actions to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from incidents involving all hazards (emergencies).

2. &nbs= p; Has extraordinary powers, in keeping with state law and local ordinances to sus= pend local ordinances, such as to establish a curfew, direct evacuations, and, in coordination with local public health department, to order a quarantine.

3. &nbs= p; Provides leadership and plays a key role in providing relevant information to the general public, and helps the relevant sub-publics cope with the consequenc= es of any type of domestic hazard (emergency) within the jurisdiction.

4. &nbs= p; Negotiates additional mutual aid agreements with other local jurisdictions to facilita= te resource sharing, and

5. &nbs= p; Requests State of West Virginia and, if necessary, Federal assistance through the Governor when the jurisdiction’s capabilities have been exceeded or exhausted.

H. CONCEPT OF NRP OEPRATI= ONS

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A basic premise of the NR= P is that emergency incidents of any sort are generally handled at the lowest governmental jurisdiction possible. Local emergency management, fire protec= tion and rescue, law enforcement, EMS, public health, and medical services deliv= ery personnel are responsible for the initial resolution of emergency incidents, When local government emergency services are exceeded or exhausted, State of West Virginia and Federal assistance can be requested. Multi-jurisdictional organization and operations as outlined in the NIMS will be used to resolve hazard (emergency) incidents that are beyond a single local jurisdiction’s ability to resolve it, or encompasses an area that is beyond that of a single jurisdiction.