What sets the vision for preparedness nationwide?

The National Preparedness Goal sets the vision for preparedness nationwide by establishing the overarching framework and standards for how the nation approaches emergency management and preparedness efforts. This goal outlines what it means to be prepared at all levels—federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial—and provides a common bond that unites diverse jurisdictions and sectors in their efforts to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

It emphasizes core capabilities and targets that guide the development of capabilities and resources necessary for effective emergency management, ensuring that communities can withstand and recover from disasters. By defining benchmarks and priorities for preparedness, the National Preparedness Goal serves as a guiding document for all stakeholders involved in emergency management, thus fostering a collaborative and comprehensive approach across the country.

The other documents mentioned, while important, serve different purposes within the framework of emergency management. The National Response Framework focuses on how the nation responds to disasters, the National Mitigation Strategy emphasizes risk reduction and community resilience, and the National Recovery Framework deals with the processes and principles that guide recovery after a disaster. Each plays a crucial role in the overall emergency management landscape but does not set the strategic vision for preparedness in the same way that the National Preparedness Goal does.