Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Roles and Responsibilities in a Terrorist Incidents.
State
and local governments have primary responsibility in planning for and managing
the consequences of a terrorist incident using available resources in the
critical hours before Federal assistance can arrive. In its capacity as the
lead agency responsible for coordinating the Federal aspects of consequence
management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA State
FEMA stresses education pre incident and
Total Incident Awareness planners develop a local Total incident awareness and
integration with National Response Framework that facilitates
quick integration of the Federal, State, and local responses that should
supplement existing State and local Emergency Operations.
Federal
departments and agencies have developed plans and capabilities for an
integrated Federal response to terrorist incidents FEMA provides structures for
implementing national-level policy and operational coordination for domestic
incident response. It can be partially or fully implemented in the context of a
threat, in anticipation of a significant event or in response to an incident.
Selective implementation allows for a scaled response, delivery of the exact
resources needed – and a level of coordination appropriate to each incident
state response.
FEMA utilizes and activates Department of
homeland security local office Emergency management Unified Command Control is
an important element across multi-jurisdictional or multi-agency incident
management activities. It provides a structure to enable agencies with
different legal, geographic and functional responsibilities to coordinate, plan
and interact effectively. As a team effort, unified command allows all agencies
with jurisdictional authority or functional responsibility for the incident to
provide joint support through mutually developed incident objectives and strategies
established at the command level. Each participating agency maintains its own
authority, responsibility and accountability. This Framework employs the NIMS
structures and tools that enable unified command to be effective in incident
management. This allows for military
monitoring of the active situation and deployment options. GIS interfacing and command control via
satlight and emergency communications to augment local emergency management.
While Geographical information systems primarily
intended for the use of emergency management planners, FEMA allows guidance
that maybe of value to first responders. Planners should consider whether, and
how best, incorporate such information into their plans, procedures, and
training materials for first responders.
Central Command Control
Local Emergency Management Command Control
- Defining
State and Local Role. FEMA
and local department of homeland security office recognizes
the interrelations and unique roles and responsibilities of local and
State governments, including the following:
1. Local
– • First
response (911 dispatch, police, fire, hazmat, EMS )
– • Incident
Command
– • Warning
and evacuation
– • Situation
assessment
– • Local
agency coordination
– • Identification
of requirements exceeding local capabilities
– • Requests
for mutual aid
– • Requests
for State assistance
2. State
– • Assistance
to supplement local efforts
– • Coordination
among state agencies
3. • Governors’
unique authority to
– Issue
State
– Mobilize
State National Guard
– Redirect
State
– • Requests
for mutual aid
– • Requests
for Federal assistance
4. Planning
Process. The process for developing a Terrorism
Incidence Appendix is similar to that used for developing other emergency
operations plans. As is the case for these other plans, the terrorism planning
process must, if possible, begin before an emergency and prior to any planned
special event that could be subject to terrorist attack. Planners are urged to
use this guidance promptly to maximize their available time to either refine
elements of existing terrorism response plans and procedures or develop new
elements based upon the training information provided through FEMA.
5. Traditionally,
the planning process has consist of the following phases:
(1) Initiation
of Start-up meetings
(2) Division of tasks -Identification of
response needs and available resources to meet those needs
(3) Establishment of timetables and milestones
(4) Concept development
(5) Plan development
(6) Plan review - Development of supporting plans,
procedures, and materials Validation of
plans using tabletop, functional, and full-scale exercises.
(7) Thorough coordination of plans, internally and
externally Each local agency should
carefully compare plans for the various response functions within that agency
and revise the plans, if necessary, to remove any discrepancies.
This step will help prevent disconnects
between vital functions that support one another and help ensure that each does
what the others expect on a timely basis. Similarly, the various departments
and agencies within a local jurisdiction (e.g.,police, fire, and medical
operations) should also compare their plans, focusing on issues of consistency
and coordination.
Again, participating in simulated live action FEMA
training and applying the
recommendations from review will help ensure that each organization does what
the others expect, when they expect it. Such reviews are especially important
in planning for response to a major terrorist incident, since a local
jurisdiction is likely to be aided during the response by neighboring
communities, its own and neighboring counties, and its own and possibly neighboring
states. Therefore, consistency and coordination reviews, both internal and
external, can be very valuable for the protection of citizens and infrastructures
throughout the affected area.
State and Local planners must realize that the
integration of the Federal response into the local response efforts can be a
difficult and awkward process. Whenever possible, each entity should involve
the others in its planning process so as to facilitate a better understanding
by all parties of the anticipated actions and responsibilities of each organization.
Planners should understand that integration of the
Federal response into an urban setting would be different from that into a
rural setting. In an urban area,
there will generally be substantial person power and
equipment resources, and the local emergency response organization will likely
want to retain the direction and control of the emergency response. The rapid
influx of Federal resources can be a sensitive issue unless properly
coordinated. The Federal response should not
overwhelm the local emergency response organization
but should provide resources as needed.
It is assumed
that normal disaster coordination accomplished at State and local EOCs and
other locations away from the scene would be addressed in the basic EOP. Any
special concerns relating to State and local coordination with Federal
organizations should be addressed in the TIA. FEMA is in the process of developing
WMD Incident Support Teams (ISTs) that should help to facilitate this coordination
process.
Response to any terrorist incident requires direction
and control. The planner must consider the unique characteristics of the event,
identify the likely stage at which coordinated resources will be required, and
tailor the direction and control process to merge these resources into an
ongoing public health response. With many organizations involved, there is the
danger of key decisions being slowed by too
many layers of decision making. Planners should be
aware of the need to streamline
the decisionmaking process so that key decisions or
authorizations regarding public
health and safety can be obtained quickly.
A primary EOC is necessary to properly coordinate
response actions within the
jurisdiction and to liaise with other jurisdictions
and Federal agencies. The
Management, a new state-of-the art facility, was
located at the World
Trade Center
and was destroyed. This necessitated establishing an
alternative EOC. Therefore,
planning should address the possibility that
operations might have to be shifted to an
alternative EOC or even a secondary alternative
location.
In considering direction and control as well as
continuity of operations, planners must
determine the availability of usable alternate EOC
facility locations that can be
brought up to operational level within a reasonable
period of time. In a large-scale
terrorist incident, the local EOC might become
uninhabitable, especially if it is not a
hardened facility. In identifying and evaluating
alternative EOC locations, planners
will need to consider the availability of
communications systems, space to
accommodate all key staff, materials and supplies,
backup power, kitchen, bathrooms,
Interim Planning Guide — July 2002 page 25
and the overall capability to maintain
around-the-clock operations for an extended
period.
Local, State, and Federal interface with the FBI On-Scene
Commander (OSC) is
coordinated through the Joint Operations Center
(JOC). FEMA (represented in the
command group) will recommend joint operational
priorities to the FBI on the basis
of consultation with the FEMA-led consequence
management group in the JOC. The
FBI, working with local and State officials in the
command group at the JOC, will
establish operational priorities.
Comments
Post a Comment