EO 12656 Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities  

The provisions of Executive Order 12656 Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities apply during a national security emergency: defined in the EO as “any occurrence, including natural disaster, military attack, technological emergency, or other emergency, that seriously degrades or seriously threatens the national security of the United States.” This Executive Order authorizes increases to federal control over American life with each Federal department and agency instructed to develop plans to set priorities and allocate resources among civilian and military claimants.

For additional information, see the National Archives and Records Administration