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Established by President Nixon in 1970, EPA protects human health and the natural environment, conducts research and sets national environmental standards. When these standards are not met, EPA can take steps to help states and Native American tribes reach the desired levels of environmental quality. The Agency also works with industry and other groups on pollution prevention and energy conservation. EPA’s Region 6, covering Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and New Mexico, employs about 900 people. The main office for Region 6 is in Dallas, Texas, and its laboratory is in Houston. This has been a message from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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A state receives federal funding following an event such as a hurricane, flood, fire or earthquake by the following process: First, local government responds to the event. If these services are overwhelmed, the state responds with resources like the National Guard. Then, local, state, federal and volunteer agencies conduct a damage assessment to determine recovery needs. The governor may request that the area be declared a major disaster. FEMA then evaluates the request and makes recommendations to the President. Finally, if the President approves the request, the area will receive federal funding and resources for the recovery effort. This has been a message from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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The National Response Plan is a comprehensive approach to managing domestic incidents. The plan incorporates procedures from a variety of incident management disciplines. During incidents, it helps the Federal government coordinate its agencies among themselves, and with state, local, and tribal governments as well as the private sector. It establishes protocols for all aspects of incident response, from protecting the public and responders during an incident to facilitating an area’s recovery after the incident. This has been a message from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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Part of the National Response Plan establishes the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan, or NCP. Under the NCP, EPA assists the Department of Homeland Security’s response to hazardous materials. The NCP’s primary objectives are to prevent such emergencies; to prepare emergency response personnel for these events; and to respond quickly and decisively to such emergencies anywhere within our national borders. This has been a message from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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The resources of the Regional Emergency Response Center allow Region 6 response personnel to communicate continuously with field workers at the scene of an incident. Emergency team members use the center to address the early phases of an event such as a chemical spill or a natural disaster, while the on-scene coordinators decide whether to establish a field office closer to the incident. The center also provides a quiet place for response personnel to work on the incident without other interruptions. This has been a message from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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The On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) is the EPA employee in charge of monitoring or directing responses to oil spills and hazardous substance releases reported to the federal government. The OSC coordinates federal efforts with local, state and regional response. An OSC is an agent of either EPA or the U.S. Coast Guard, depending on where the incident occurs. EPA OSCs are responsible for spills and releases to inland areas and waters, while U.S. Coast Guard OSCs have responsibility for coastal waters and the Great Lakes. This has been a message from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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Response to a disaster can be divided into two phases: First response and recovery. During first response, governments and agencies concentrate on performing search and rescue, restoring utilities and ensuring victims have access to food, water, shelter and other basic needs. The long-term recovery phase can place the greatest financial burden on local governments and resources. The governor of an affected state can request federal funding to help the recovery effort, but only if he is willing to commit a certain amount of state funding as well. This has been a message from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.