In the National Response Framework, the Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages the creation of state and local response and incident command structures. FEMA also recommends the adoption of a joint federal, state, and local unified coordination staff configuration. These recommendations represent a concerted effort to establish nationwide response and recovery protocols and structures.

Absent the adoption of nationally accepted protocols and command structures, the administrative complexities of coordinating command and response measures could become disjointed following terrorist events. For these reasons, recommended procedures under the National Response Framework are an important resource for state and local authorities to create coordinated protocols.

1. To what extent should agencies at the state and local levels be independent of federal oversight and why?