The first stage of the National Response Framework’s activities is to prevent the emergence of a terrorist, the Internet (cyber), or other massive threat to the population. It should be noted that it is not only the structures of national and regional security that deal with threat prevention. Individuals and families, local administrations, private entrepreneurs, communities, and non-profit organizations also play an important role in the process. Thus, hazard prevention becomes the responsibility of virtually every citizen of the United States of America.
The primary goal of the precaution sector of the National Response Framework is to prevent willful harm to U.S. citizens. In this regard, the organization sets the following tasks:
- Preventing the penetration of terrorists and their affiliated organizations into the country;
- Ban on financing any associations that promote extremism, xenophobia, and attempt to intentionally harm the population;
- Increasing the involvement of citizens in the process of anti-terrorist activities by informing people about potential threats;
- Preventing the transfer of any valuable data to questionable organizations whose activities may be aimed at causing harm to U.S. residents.
An example of how the National Response Framework’s preventive aspect works are the education of the public about an impending threat. It is worth mentioning that the organization is not only responsible for preventing terrorist and other attacks, but also helps to protect the population from natural disasters. Thus, during the 2005 invasion of the United States by Hurricane Katrina, the National Response Framework provided extensive data support to those regions that were under threat of defeat (Elledge et al., 2007). Information stands were organized, guidance was transmitted through loudspeakers in cities and the media such as radio, television, and the Internet.
Reference
Elledge, B. L., Boatright, D. T., Woodson, P., Clinkenbeard, R. E., & Brand, M. W. (2007). Learning from Katrina: Environmental health observations from the SWCPHP response team in Houston. Journal of Environmental Health, 70(2), 22–26. Web.