Latest News Updates

May 30, 2013: 2013 National Preparedness Report Released

The federal government and its partners released the 2013 National Preparedness Report (NPR). The NPR is an annual status report on the nation's progress toward reaching the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation.

May 6, 2013: National Planning Frameworks Released

The federal government and its partners released three of five National Planning Frameworks, which outline how the whole community can work together to achieve national preparedness. The three Frameworks released today are for the Prevention, Mitigation and Response preparedness mission areas. We encourage you to read each of the Frameworks to see how you can apply the concepts to your own preparedness activities. 

March 13, 2013: Share Your Insight on the Draft Capability Estimation Comprehensive Preparedness Guide

FEMA is seeking input on the working draft of the Capability Estimation Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG). This CPG is a follow on to CPG 201: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA). THIRAs help communities understand their likeliest risks; ultimately enabling them to set capability targets for delivering the core capabilities described in the National Preparedness Goal. The Capability Estimation CPG outlines an approach to help the whole community identify the resources it needs to meet its capability targets.

This guide is for the whole community. As such, FEMA and its partners are interested in everyone’s feedback on the draft. Please share your recommendations by completing the feedback form and submitting it via e-mail to PPD8-Engagement@fema.dhs.gov by April 3, 2013.

Thank you for your contributions to this national preparedness effort.  

Draft Capability Estimation CPG

Feedback Submission Form

The Capability Estimation CPG is part of the National Preparedness System. The System is an organized process for the whole community to move forward with their preparedness activities and achieve the National Preparedness Goal. The six components of the National Preparedness System interact to sustain, build, obtain and deliver the core capabilities necessary to achieve the National Preparedness Goal.

October 26, 2012: New Website Features More Content to Help Users

We've updated and upgraded our website to offer more content and more frequent updates about the PPD-8 effort.  If you have questions or suggestions, send us an e-mail at nationalpreparedness@fema.dhs.gov.

Overview 

Experience tells us that when the whole community comes together to tackle a challenge—and everyone plays a role—the end result is more effective.

Recognizing that preparedness is a shared responsibility, Presidential Policy Directive 8 / PPD-8: National Preparedness was signed by the President on March 30, 2011.

At its core, PPD-8 requires the involvement of everyone—not just the government—in a systematic effort to keep the nation safe from harm and resilient when struck by hazards, such as natural disasters, acts of terrorism and pandemics.

This policy directive calls on federal departments and agencies to work with the whole community to develop a national preparedness goal and a series of frameworks and plans related to reaching the goal.

PPD-8 is organized around six elements. 

• The National Preparedness Goal states the ends we wish to achieve.
• The National Preparedness System describes the means to achieve the goal.
• National Planning Frameworks and Federal Interagency Operational Plans explain the delivery and how we use what we build.
• An annual National Preparedness Report documents the progress made toward achieving the goal.
• An ongoing national effort to build and sustain preparedness helps us maintain  momentum.

In addition, a number of new guidance documents will help the general public, businesses and nonprofit organizations, and all levels of government make the most of their preparedness activities.

Implementation

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are coordinating the multi-agency PPD-8 effort with representatives from across the whole community. This ensures the policy directive reflects the needs of the whole community. Collaboration has taken place with individuals and families (including those with access and functional needs), businesses, faith-based and community groups, nonprofit organizations, and representatives from all levels of government (Federal, state, local, tribal and territorial).   

A focus on involving the whole community in PPD-8 activities is what makes this effort unique. Because when it comes to national preparedness, all of us have a role to play.

 

Major Elements of PPD-8

National Preparedness Goal

This document:

• States the goal: “A secure and resilient nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.”
• Defines a series of national preparedness elements (called core capabilities) that we need to achieve the goal
• Emphasizes the need for the whole community to work together in a variety of ways and make the best use of resources

Learn more by visiting the National Preparedness Goal page on this site.

National Preparedness System

This document outlines the approach, resources and tools for achieving the National Preparedness Goal.

Learn more by visiting the National Preparedness System page on this site.

National Preparedness Report

This report summarizes progress toward achieving the National Preparedness Goal and will be used to inform the President’s budget. Overall the report found that the nation has increased its collective preparedness, not only from external threats but also for natural and technological hazards.

Learn more by visiting the National Preparedness Report page on this site.

National Planning Frameworks

This milestone is a collection of five frameworks focused on each of the mission areas (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response and Recovery). Note: The National Disaster Recovery Framework was released in September 2011.  The frameworks will define how we will work together to best meet the needs of individuals, families, communities and states in their ongoing efforts to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to and recover from any disaster event.

Federal Interagency Operational Plans

These plans will cover the federal government’s activities to deliver the core capabilities outlined in the five frameworks. These plans are intended to demonstrate how federal efforts can work together to support state and local plans. The federal plans will also describe:

• Critical tasks and responsibilities, such as resource, staff and sourcing requirements
• Specific provisions for rapidly integrating resources and personnel

These plans will serve as the federal government’s concept of operations for each of the five mission areas.

Build and Sustain Preparedness

This ongoing milestone has four key elements:

• A comprehensive campaign, including public outreach and community-based and private-sector programs
• Federal preparedness efforts
• Grants, technical assistance and other federal preparedness support
• Research and development

The effort to build and sustain preparedness is ongoing and seeks to build on a range of existing activities. 

 Download Materials

• National Preparedness Goal
• National Preparedness System
• National Preparedness Report