"The purpose of the National Response Framework is to establish a comprehensive, national, all-hazards approach to domestic incident response. The Framework presents an overview of key response principles, roles and structures that guide the national response. It describes how communities, States, the Federal Government and privatesector and nongovernmental partners apply these principles for a coordinated, effective national response. And, it describes special circumstances where the Federal Government exercises a larger role, including incidents where Federal interests are involved and catastrophic incidents where a State would require significant support. Its real value, however, is in how these elements come together and are implemented by first responders, decision-makers and supporting entities to provide a unified national response. The Framework is written for senior elected and appointed leaders, such as Federal agency heads, State Governors, tribal leaders, mayors or city managers - those who have a responsibility to provide for effective incident management. At the same time, it informs emergency management practitioners, explaining the operating structures and tools used routinely by first responders and emergency managers at all levels of government. The Framework document is richly augmented with online access to supporting documents, further training and a source for exchanging lessons learned". (DHS, Introducing the NRP, Sep. 2007 Draft, p. 2).