What is a key characteristic of the Tiered Response system in emergency management?

The key characteristic of the Tiered Response system in emergency management is that response resources are scaled based on the severity of the incident. This concept allows for an effective and flexible approach to emergency management, ensuring that the response is appropriate to the needs of the situation.

When incidents vary in scale, complexity, and impact, a one-size-fits-all approach is inefficient. The Tiered Response system provides a framework that allows local resources to respond first to incidents that are manageable at their level, escalating to regional and federal resources as the needs increase. This structure ensures that resources are used efficiently and available when the situation demands, creating a more effective overall response.

This scaling of resources also helps avoid overwhelming local agencies and ensures that federal resources are reserved for the most severe incidents, thus promoting coordinated and efficient disaster management across all levels of government and the private sector.