Response is taking the actions necessary to protect yourself from harm during an emergency. Leaving a building through a designated exit during a fire is an example of response.

Response includes actions taken to save lives
and prevent further property damage in a disaster or emergency situation. Response is putting your preparedness plans into action. Seeking shelter from a tornado or tuning off gas valves in an earthquake are both response activities. Response activities take place DURING an emergency.

Dauphin County EMA's role during the response phase of a disaster is the activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The EOC is staffed by representatives from all facets of public response and support agencies and act as liaisons to responding agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. The EOC also provides important broadcast information to the general public. Dauphin County EMA operates a licensed Hazardous Materials Response Team which is another example of the response phase to an emergency or disaster.