Technology Advances in FEMA Response and Recovery to Disasters

Homeland Security in Action: Air * Space * Maritime Conference and Showcase

Robert J. Fenton, Jr.Director, Disaster Assistance Division

Acting Director, Disaster Operations DivisionFEMA Region IX August 28, 2008

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ObjectivesOverview of FEMA’s role in Response and Recovery in response to all-hazards incidents and new technological advancements to enhance or ability to respond effectively in support of local and state governments to include the private sector.

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FEMA Mission

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Reduce loss of life and property, and protect the Nation from all-hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.

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FEMA’s Key Organizational Elements

• Disaster Operations• Disaster Assistance• Mitigation• National Preparedness• Logistics Management• Grant Programs • US Fire Administration/

National Fire Academy• National Continuity Programs

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• Operationally-focused organization and procedures

• Gap Analysis and Catastrophic Planning

• Migrate NRCC to function in all-hazards environment

• Establish a National Logistics system

• Enhance National/Regional Emergency Response Teams

• Be tactical lead for Disaster Emergency Communications

• Increase DOD-FEMA coordination & support to civil authorities

• Expand Pre-Scripted Mission Assignments to entire Federal Interagency

• National Housing Strategy

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act

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NIMS and NRF

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LocalSupport or Response

National Incident Management System (NIMS)Standardized process and procedures for

incident management

StateSupport or Response

FederalSupport or Response

NIMS aligns command & control, organization structure, terminology, communication protocols, resources and resource typing to enable synchronization of efforts in response to anincident at all echelons of government

National Response Framework (NRF)Activation and proactive application of

integrated Federal resources-activated for Incidents of National Significance

Incident

Resources, knowledge,

and abilities come from

independent Federal Departments and

Agencies

DHS integratesand applies Federal

resources both pre- andpost-incident

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Operational Planning

• Operational planning is a key core FEMA competency • Enhances ability to proactively plan for real events • Coordinates interagency planning efforts (HSPD-8)• Adds greater capabilities:

• Vertical and Horizontal operational planning spanning theinteragency community and all levels of government

• Develop hazard-specific National/Regional contingency plans• Forecast and analyze potential events and trends• Conduct crisis action planning and catastrophic planning• Facilitate all-hazard contingency operations coordination• Develop National/Regional operational planning guidance

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Gap Analysis Program (GAP) Initiative• Standard methodology used to identify resource gaps at

the local, State, and Federal levels • Factors in mutual-aid (local) and EMAC (State)

resources• Maturation of program

2007—Hurricane-centric in the eighteen Hurricane-prone states and DC/USVI/PR2008—All-Hazards focus in all fifty states$2.5M effort to build on original work

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Gap Analysis -- Next Steps

2007 Hurricane-centric• Commodity Distribution • Debris Removal• Evacuation• Sheltering• Interim Housing• Fuel Availability• Medical Needs • Communications

2008 All-Hazards• Commodities Distribution • Emergency Debris

Removal • Transportation & Evac• Sheltering/Mass Care

• General Population• Companion Animals• Special Needs

• Search and Rescue • Fuel & Emergency Power• Medical (With HHS)

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NRCC and RRCCsNational Response Coordination Center• Multi-agency team that coordinates disaster response at national level• Maintains comprehensive 24/7 situational awareness• Operational element of DHS National Operations Center • Coordinates national-level personnel and resource deployments• Transitions into a secure mode later in 2008

Regional Response Coordination Center• Multi-agency team that coordinates disaster response at regional level

• Supports State and local authorities by deploying disaster response teams/liaisons

• Provides situational awareness and response requirements/analyses

• Supports multiple concurrent disaster operations within Regions

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NRCC Situational Awareness Linkages

REGIONS(Field Activities)

•Business Processes•C2

•Policy•Planning

•Mgmt

NRP/Public Sector PartnersDOD

STATE & LOCAL GOV’T

EFFICIENT LOGISTICS SERVICES, EQUIPMENT, & SUPPLIES

HQ LOGISTICS

Private Sector Partners

National Logistics Coordinator

National Logistics Coordinator Concept

MASS CARE ESF 6

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Federal Emergency Response Assets/Teams• Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT) (New)• Emergency Response Team-National (ERT-N) (Old)• Emergency Response Team-Advanced (ERT-A) (Old)• Federal Incident Response Support Teams (FIRST) (Old)• Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Forces• Hurricane Liaison Team (HLT)• Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS)• National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) (HHS)• Domestic Emergency Support Team (DEST)• Nuclear Incident Response Team (NIRT)

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Incident Management Assistance Teams• Initial Federal presence; begin flow of Federal resources• Replaces ERT-N, ERT-A and FIRST• Liaison to State/local emergency managers • Provide situational awareness and needs assessment• Train and exercise with State• IMAT Operational Concepts

• Arrive within 12-hrs of notice; self-sufficient for 48-hrs• Permanent team members

• Three National IMAT; Ten Regional IMAT• National IMAT-East – Washington, DC• Regional IMAT (R-IV, R-V, & R-VI) – At Regional Offices• National IMAT-West – Sacramento, CA (September 2008)• Region II IMAT – Regional Office (Sept 2008)

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Disaster Emergency Communications (DEC)

Improve all-hazards disaster response interoperability

• Work with States to develop communications plans, gap analysis, communications interoperability, & continuity

• Deploy telecommunications assets during incident to ensure critical interoperability among First Responders

• Ensure continuity of DEC through FEMA Regions• Support DEC needs of State and local governments• Establish JFOs & support continuing operational needs• Aid in evaluating post-disaster communications needs

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Pre-Scripted Mission Assignments (PSMA)

• PSMAs are time-saving tools prepared before a disaster to facilitate rapid response

• Provide baseline Mission Assignment (MA) for work routinely needed during disaster response

• MAs are mechanisms used to task the interagency community for disaster response assistance

• Coordinating PSMAs with 27 Departments and Agencies

• Currently over 220 PSMAs: • Federal Operations Support • Technical Assistance • Direct Federal Assistance

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Sample Department of Defense PSMA

DOD supports multiple functional areas• Rotary wing heavy and medium airlift• Tactical and strategic transportation• Communications• Debris removal and emergency route clearance• Aerial damage assessment and remote sensing• Housing and logistics• Mobilization centers and operational staging areas• Fuel and commodities distribution • Security and public affairs • Medical evacuation and facility support

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National Disaster Housing Strategy

• Charts a New Direction to better meet needs of disaster victims and communities

• Establishes a national vision and goals

• Describes broad array of involved organizations

• Provides sheltering and housing efforts overview

• Articulates key principles and current practices that guide disaster housing

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Charting a New Disaster Housing Course

Effective Planning

Clarity of Responsibilities &

Roles

Meeting Complex Individual &

Household Needs

Connection Between Housing & Community-Related Services

Effective Communications to Manage Expectations

Disaster Housing• Individuals & Households• All Levels of

Government, Private Sector, & NGOs

• All hazards, including catastrophic events

Flexible & Adaptable Housing Options

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New Uses of Technology in FEMA• IMAT equipped with state-of-the-art technology for deployments • NRCC and RRCCs use of new systems for situational awareness (EMIMS)• Greater use of share point technology throughout agency (HSIN)• Greater prominence of disaster communications technologies• Greater use of web technologies for operational planning purposes• More efficient use of sheltering and housing data• Integration of resources and GAP data in catastrophic planning• Use of PSMAs to expedite Federal support in disasters

• Greater emphasis on GIS to provide detailed graphical information

• Total Asset Visibility for better tracking of logistical resources

• Videoteleconferencing allows for real-time info sharing during events