Emergency Response Begins at the Local Level

Whether it be a chemical spill, hurricane or earthquake, the scope of emergency response depends on several factors, including:

  • Magnitude of the event
  • Estimated duration of the event
  • Available resources
  • Potential threat to public safety
Disaster response occurs first at the local level. Local governments and voluntary agencies represent the front line when disasters occur.
When a local jurisdiction does not have the resources it needs to adequately respond to a disaster, it turns to the State government for assistance. State governments may in turn request disaster assistance from the federal level.
The Federal government will assist in disaster response when a disaster is of such high severity or consequence that the local and state governments together cannot supply the needed response resources. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency that coordinates with affected states to access federal programs and support.