The inadequacies in emergency planning for the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant emergency are noted, and the NRC's new emergency planning rules derived from this incident are outlined. The importance of cooperative planning to deal with nuclear emergencies is emphasized, and attention is given to the emergency functions of police and fire departments at the local level. Public education as an aspect of emergency preparedness of nuclear accidents is also considered. Ways in which the ARC meets the emergency needs of disaster victims are described, and the history of the ARC disaster response is traced, beginning with its founding by Clara Barton in 1881. The functions of FEMA, which has the responsibility of coordinating Federal response to all natural and manmade disasters, are described, including its assistance to communities facing major emergencies. FEMA also provides guidance to State and local officials in planning for emergency preparedness. The importance of cooperation between police and fire officials is noted. Attention is given to the work of EPA's oil and hazardous substance emergency response program, which protests the quality of the environment through the prevention or minimization of the effects of spills or releases of hazardous waste sites. Legislative bases for this work are explained.