The HS RRS is a system within the State of Missouri whose purpose is to provide enhancement for sustainable chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive/Weapons of Mass Destruction (CBRNE/WMD) response capabilities and to achieve standardized resources for CBRNE/WMD response. Individual components in the HS RRS program can include, but not be limited to Haz Mat teams, SWAT teams, Bomb Squads, and EMS teams each having enhanced response capabilities to manage CBRNE/WMD incidents.

The system is a partnership between federal, state, and local agencies where federal funds provide the enhancements to existing local response capabilities under a statewide framework. The framework distributes funding to regions within the state based upon a risk/threat matrix. Each region develops capabilities to support the region's risks and develops the capability to respond to other parts of the state as needed. Regions within the State that are unable to sustain their own HS RRS are covered by other regions under the statewide system.