The National Preparedness Goal identified five mission areas, in which it groups the 31 core capabilities (the distinct critical elements needed to achieve the goal).
Prevention
Description: The Prevention mission area comprises 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 comprises “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 Hazard Identification
See the core capabilities page for further descriptions.
Response
Description: Response comprises “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
- Infrastructure Systems
- Mass Care Services
- Mass Search and Rescue Operations
- On-Scene Security and Protection
- Operational Communications
- Public and Private Services and Resources
- Public Health and Medical Services
- Situational Assessment
See the core capabilities page for further descriptions.
Recovery
Description: Recovery comprises "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.