Federal Emergency Management Agency Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency

What is FEMA? Since March 2003, part of the Department of Homeland Security A former independent agency created in 1979 Includes the U.S. Fire Administration and Federal Insurance Administration

Sec. Tom Ridge: “In the new Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will become the nation's all-hazard incident manager. If it's a terrorist incident, if it's a natural disaster, whatever it is, this new department, through FEMA, will be on the scene and manage the response.”

DHS Mission Reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism Prevent terrorist attacks in the U.S. Reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism Minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters

Directorates of DHS: Border and Transportation Security FEMA Science and Technology Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection

Also part of DHS: U.S. Secret Service U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Secret Service Citizenship and Immigration Services

FEMA’s Mission: Reduce the loss of life and property and protect our institutions from all hazards by leading and supporting the nation in a comprehensive, risk-based emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

Who is FEMA? Under Secretary appointed by the President, confirmed by Congress, reporting to DHS Secretary 2,400 permanent employees 7,000 disaster reserve employees 8,000 NDMS reserve employees

What does FEMA do? Disaster response and recovery Reducing risk from disasters through mitigation Preparedness training and exercises Consequence management following terrorist incidents

What else does FEMA do? Train fire fighters and first responders Oversee the National Flood Insurance Program Manage the National Disaster Medical System

Where is FEMA? Ten regional offices Disaster Field Offices Washington, D.C. Ten regional offices Disaster Field Offices Tele-registration processing centers Training facilities

When does FEMA respond? When local and state capabilities are overwhelmed State governors must request a federal disaster declaration FEMA assesses disaster damage to determine extent of need Presidential approval of a declaration request allows FEMA to provide response and recovery assistance

Man-made vs natural disaster: FEMA doesn’t differentiate between disasters caused by nature, such as earthquakes, or disasters such as a terrorist event. In all cases, FEMA provides response and recovery assistance geared to the event and in coordination with local, state and federal officials.

In a disaster, FEMA: Provides disaster response aid to individuals, communities and states for immediate needs Provides disaster aid to individuals, communities and states for recovery Promotes risk reduction from future disasters through mitigation efforts

Emergency Support Functions Response Resources: DHS/FEMA activates and manages emergency response assets through the Emergency Support Function Structure established within the National Response Plan Emergency Support Functions Transportation – IT and Telecommunications – Infrastructure – Firefighting – Mass Care – Housing – Public Health – Urban Search and Rescue – Hazardous Materials – Agriculture – Energy – Economic Stabilization

Response Resources: Mass sheltering and feeding Temporary housing Supplemental power / generators Ice and water Emergency personnel equipment Medical support Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)

FEMA disaster aid programs: Public Assistance Individual Assistance Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Other assistance: Crisis counseling Disaster-related unemployment assistance Legal aid

Support for Medical Facilities: Two Avenues of Support: Funding reimbursement for certain costs incurred by eligible medical facilities Personnel, supplies and equipment to augment local medical systems when overwhelmed

Medical Response Resources: FEMA’s Public Assistance Program Generally does not reimburse for increased costs May provide reimbursement for extraordinary costs associated with providing temporary facilities May provide reimbursement to hospitals that need to evacuate special needs patients to another facility

Medical Response Resources: HHS assets can be activated under the National Response Plan (NRP) including: Surveillance support Medical care personnel such as the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Supplies and equipment Support with patient evacuations utilizing DOT assets

Medical Response Resources: Medical Support Teams within NDMS including: DMAT DMORT VMAT NPRT

Medical Response Resources: A Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) is a group of professional and para-professional medical personnel (supported by a cadre of logistical and administrative staff) designed to provide medical care during a disaster or other event. DMATs deploy to disaster sites with sufficient supplies and equipment to sustain themselves for a period of 72 hours while providing medical care at a fixed or temporary medical care site. In mass casualty incidents, their responsibilities may include triaging patients, providing high-quality medical care despite the adverse and austere environment often found at a disaster site, and preparing patients for evacuation. In other types of situations, DMATs may provide primary medical care and/or may serve to augment overloaded local health care staffs.

Medical Response Resources: Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams (DMORT0) provide support when local mortuary services are overwhelmed, support provided includes: Temporary morgue facilities Victim identification Forensic dental pathology Forensic anthropology methods Processing Preparation Disposition of remains

Medical Response Resources: Strategic National Stockpile HHS/DHS assets include antibiotics, chemical antidotes, life support medications, etc. Delivery within 12 hours anywhere in U.S. or territories Over 150 locally stored and controlled caches throughout the Nation Capable of supporting approximately 100,000 individuals for 10 days Additional Federal caches controlled by the CDC to augment the locally placed supplies

Medical Response Resources: DOD Assets: USS Comfort docked in NY following 9/11 attacks Mobile military hospital utilized in Puerto Rico and Guam VA assets Aeromedical Evacuation System

Medical Response Resources: Urban Search and Rescue In addition to traditional USAR ability, each team has 6 ER doctors and 6 EMT nurses, as well as cache of supplies and equipment, which could be used to support overwhelmed local medical facilities

FEMA’s Future: As part of the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA is leveraging its resources with those of 21 other agencies and departments to ensure a full continuum of response and recovery activities – and to attain a vision of a “nation prepared.”