Nurses Were Built for the Front Lines.

Increased severity of natural disasters and a rise in man-made disasters have underscored the importance of disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery. Designating and credentialing professionals assigned to protect the health and well-being of the public is a major component in safeguarding the public during and after a disaster. The nursing professional is a subject matter expert in care provision and advocacy in the community. Nurses excel in high stress environments and routinely manage scarce resources making them a natural ally in disaster preparedness and recovery efforts. Disaster education for nurses and home preparedness planning create an eager every-ready responder.