Roles & Responsibilities:
The National Hierarchy
•Local
•
•State
•
•Federal
Speaking Points
•All response is local

•In the event of a large-scale emergency, the state may provide resources to the locale

•Eventually, the state may request assistance from the federal government

•Federal assistance is available in specific areas and limited in other areas, so locales must be prepared

Narrative
   Now it is important for anyone involved in emergency planning and response to know who does what.  The hierarchy shown here is the federal model and the model used by most of the states.  Any emergency starts off being under the local jurisdiction, such that it is up to officials in the city or town to run the show at least until things really get out of hand.  For example, take an epidemic in Portland, Maine, perhaps a foodborne outbreak originating at a restaurant.  This would be handled by the city’s department of public health, not at the state level, the same way a fire is responded to by the local fire department.

   In the event of a large-scale emergency, the state may provide resources to the locality: money, staff, equipment, drugs.  Eventually, the federal government may come in, typically after several days, if invited by the state.