1. Emergency Support Function #9 (Search and Rescue)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Emergency Support Function #9
(Search and Rescue)
State SAR Coordinator’s Council Meeting
January 25, 2017

2. ESF #9 – Search & Rescue (SAR) Overview

3. ESF #9 Expansion National Response Framework
Always in effect, can be implemented as needed – scalable and flexible
Applies to all Federal departments and agencies
Provides consistent approach for providing service for both Stafford Act and non-Stafford Act incidents
Why Is the Framework Always In Effect?
It is not always obvious at the outset whether a seemingly minor event might be the initial phase of a larger, rapidly growing threat.
The National Response Framework allows for the rapid acceleration of response efforts without the need for a formal trigger mechanism.

4. ESF #9 Expansion
Post-Katrina, scope of ESF #9 broadened from only US&R to include all search and rescue (SAR)
Expanded from One Primary Agency to Four :
DHS/FEMA/US&R (structural collapse)
DHS/U.S. Coast Guard (water operations)
Department of Interior/National Park Service & Department of Defense/U.S. Northern Command (land SAR)

5. ESF #9 Expansion Federal ESF #9 SAR operational environments:
Structure Collapse (Urban) Search and Rescue (US&R)
Waterborne SAR
Land SAR
Federal SAR services include:
Performance of distress monitoring
Communications
Location of distressed personnel
Coordination and execution of rescue operations:
Extrication or evacuation
Provisioning of medical assistance and civilian services

6. ESF #9 Expansion
Activation can be for any actual or potential Presidential declaration, including catastrophic incidents
Activation is dependent upon nature and magnitude of event, suddenness of onset, and existence of state, local, and tribal SAR resources in affected area

7. ESF #9 Expansion
SAR environment determines which ESF #9 primary agency will be designated as the Overall Primary Agency for the incident

8. ESF #9 Expansion
For each incident requiring Federal ESF #9 support, FEMA designates an ESF #9 Overall Primary Agency (OPA) which:
Coordinates integration of Federal ESF #9 resources in support of requesting Federal, state, tribal or local authority
Coordinates provisioning of additional Federal ESF #9 support resources if required during a response
Provides Federal ESF #9 incident reports, assessments, and situation reports as required
Remaining three ESF #9 Primary Agencies provide support to designated OPA
ESF #9 OPA can change during course of incident

9. Federal SAR operations are conducted in accordance with the:
ESF #9 Doctrine
Federal SAR operations are conducted in accordance with the:
U.S. National SAR Plan (NSP)
U.S. National SAR Supplement (NSS) to the International Aeronautical & Maritime Search and Rescue Manual, and
Catastrophic Incident SAR (CISAR) Addendum
Land SAR Addendum
Agency specific doctrine

10. National Search & Rescue Committee
Federal body responsible for bringing together all Federal search and rescue providers for coordination, policy and doctrine development, and research and development
Currently chaired by the U.S. Coast Guard
Meets quarterly in Washington, DC

11. Federal Search & Rescue Coordination Group
The Federal Search and Rescue Coordination Group (FSARCG) established as an advisory and coordination body
One representative from each of the four Federal ESF #9 Primary Agencies
Designed to facilitate effective coordination and information flow during an incident requiring Federal ESF #9 resources
The FSARCG is NOT an additional approval or decision making body, its function is coordination

12. Federal Search & Rescue Coordination Group
While the UCG that it will be assigned to is incident-dependent, the FSARCG provides SAR subject matter expertise to responsible Federal and State SAR decision makers

13. Field Operations Relationship between:
Incident Management Assistance Team(s)
Incident Management Team(s)
US&R Incident Support Team
Related entities:
Federal Search & Rescue Coordination Group (FSARCG)
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

14. National US&R Response System
Codified in law (44 CFR Part 208) / *SB #2971
Nationally managed System
28 US&R Task Forces
Seven Hazardous Materials Push Packages (HEPP)
Three US&R Incident Support Teams (IST)
Three IST Equipment Caches
US&R Technical Specialists
Support to State and Local Governments
Program Management
FEMA US&R Branch
US&R Strategic Group, Advisory Organization
Formal Decision Making Process

15. National US&R Response System
Task Force Locations
Note: IST = Incident Support Team Equipment Cache
HEPP = US&R Hazardous Material Push Package
AZ-TF1
PHOENIX
NE-TF1
LINCOLN
MO-TF1
BOONE CO.
UT-TF1
UNIFIED FIRE AUTH.
OH-TF1
MIAMI VALLEY
WA-TF1
PUGET SOUND
TN-TF1
MEMPHIS
US&R
Western
Division
Central
Eastern
R-X
R-VIII
R-IX
R-VII
R-VI
R-V
R-IV
R-III
R-II
R-I
PA-TF1
PHILADELPHIA
MA-TF1
BEVERLY WA OR ID MT WY UT CO NE KS OK NM AZ NV CA SD ND IA MO AR TX LA MS TN KY IL IN OH WI MI MN WV VA NC SC AL GA FL NY MD PA MA VT CT NH ME RI DE
CO-TF1
& HEPP-5
WEST METRO
IN-TF1
& HEPP-3
INDIANAPOLIS
CA-TF4
OAKLAND
CA-TF3
MENLO PARK
CA-TF7
& HEPP-7
SACRAMENTO
NV-TF1
& HEPP-6
CLARK CO.
CA-TF8
SAN DIEGO
CA-TF2
LOS ANGELES CO.
CA-TF1
LOS ANGELES CITY
CA-TF5
ORANGE CO.
CA-TF6
IST West Cache
RIVERSIDE
TX-TF1
IST Central Cache
HEPP-4
COLLEGE STATION
VA-TF1
FAIRFAX CO.
NY-TF1
NEW YORK CITY
MD-TF1
& HEPP-1
MONTGOMERY CO.
VA-TF2
IST East Cache
VIRGINIA BEACH
FL-TF1
MIAMI-DADE
FL-TF2
& HEPP-2
SOUTH FLORIDA
NJ-TF1
LAKEHURST NJ

16. National US&R Response System
NIMS US&R Typing Standard
Swiftwater Rescue Operations
Modular Deployment – Mission Ready Packages

17. National US&R Response System
Canine Search
Human Remains Detection CSTs
Readiness Assessment Program
Training Curriculum Revisions
Access for State and Local US&R resources

18. Questions?