What does FEMA bring to a disaster?
October 9th, 2017Incident Management Assistance Teams
Incident Management Assistance Teams are made up of dedicated and experienced senior-level emergency management professionals that are able to deploy upon a moment’s notice when requested by the state. IMATs are generally consist of 10 members, with expertise in operations, logistics, planning, and recovery. They are a rapidly deployable asset to anywhere in the region or the country, supporting our states and territories in their emergency response efforts.
Teams provide a forward federal presence to facilitate the management of the national response to catastrophic incidents. The primary mission is three-fold:
- Rapidly deploy to an incident or potentially threatened venue
- Identify ways federal assistance could be used to best support the response and recovery efforts, should it become available
- Work with partners across jurisdictions to support the affected State or territory
One of the most important aspects is to support and take their direction from the state. As our mission states, FEMA’s role is to “support citizens and first responders”. After a disaster, state and local emergency responders, along with voluntary agencies and faith-based groups, are called on to meet the immediate needs of the affected community, and IMATs are FEMA’s team of experts that stand ready to support if they are called upon.
Urban Search & Rescue
Urban search and rescue (US&R) involves the location, rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of individuals trapped in confined spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause for people being trapped, but individuals may also be trapped in transportation accidents, mines, and collapsed trenches.
Urban search and rescue is considered a “multi-hazard” discipline, as it may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms, tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities, and hazardous materials releases. The events may be slow in developing, as in the case of hurricanes, or sudden, as in the case of earthquakes.
Mobile Emergency Response Support Team (MERS)
FEMA’s Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) detachments provide mobile telecommunications, life
support, logistics, operational support and power generation during presidentially declared emergencies and
disasters required for the on-site management of disaster response activities. There are a total of five MERS
detachments nationwide, each supporting two FEMA regions. They are located in Bothell, Wash.; Denver, Colo.;
Maynard, Mass.; Denton, Texas; and Thomasville, Ga.
MERS’ primary function in disaster response operations involves communications support. MERS can deliver
voice, data, and video services in support of the response officials. They employ satellite, terrestrial, land mobile
radio, and line-of-sight transmission systems to deliver communications support for response and recovery
operations.
MERS also includes the Mobile Emergency Operations Vehicle (MEOV), self-contained mobile communications
vehicles with power generation and satellite communications that are deployed to provide mobile office support
such as video teleconferencing at locations with no infrastructure. The units vary in size and provide support and
location for a Command Post, Initial Operating Facility or a Joint Field Office. MEOVs are integrated
communications and operations platforms that also have served as Disaster Recovery Centers for a disasteraffected
community.
MERS units also provide logistical support for field operations including water, fuel, power generation, heating
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and life support for responding personnel. In addition MERS provides
administrative support needed by federal, state and local responders in their efforts to save lives, protect property
and coordinate disaster operations.
MERS assets include:
Approximately 275 mobile units that provide emergency telecommunications, logistics and operations
support;
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning units that generate enough BTUs for a 16,000 square foot building;
Several truck-mounted generators, ranging from 20 to 400 kilowatts, for power generation and distribution
for several large facilities.
MERS detachments transport and distribute fuel via 1200, 2200 and 3500-gallon tankers. They can also transport
water via 3000-gallon tankers and, through a reverse osmosis purification unit, make brackish and salt water safe
and drinkable.
Office of Federal Disaster Coordination
The mission of the Office of Federal Disaster Coordination (OFDC) is to access, train, equip, and manage FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officers (FCO) and Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinators (FDRC) to ensure their availability for rapid deployment in response to any disaster; deliver training to develop and sustain FCO and FDRC professional competencies, and coordinate both FCO and FDRC assignments to meet the on-scene needs of FEMA and its emergency management partners.
Vision
Provide the highest quality leadership for field operations on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
OFDC Program Goal
Strengthen FEMA’s Operational Readiness – participate in key exercises, partner strategically with key organizations, implementation and sustain all-hazards capability, identify and leverage collateral specialies.
Provide exemplary national leadership at disasters and emergencies – facilitating efficient, effective, compassionate, fair, and consistent response, while ensuring the prudent use of resources; recognized leaders across all FEMA programs, flawless delivery.
Select and develop the right leader – purposive recruiting and hiring, strong diversity, exemplary training and credentialing, properly equipped and readily available.
Lead the Federal Disaster Coordination Cadres – program resource management responsibilities, develop field leadership doctrine, coordinate approval of field operations policy, serve as project advisors to major acquisitions/contracts, serve as instructors for field operations and emergency management.
Values
We embrace the FEMA Core Values of: Compassion, Fairness, Integrity and Respect