Appendix 2: Federal Agencies and Their Responsibilities Under the National Response Plan
St. Louis, Missouri lies in the New Madrid Fault Zone and most of its buildings are vulnerable unreinforced masonry structures. In 1976, the Department of Housing and Urban Development escalated the seismic standards for Federal Housing Authority and Veterans Administration loans in this region from the Building Officials and Code Administrators’ (BOCA) Basic Building Code to the more stringent Uniform Building Code (UBC) Zone II requirements (Drabek, Mushkatel & Kilijanek, 1983). Concerned about the effect on new construction, local developers, contractors and officials sought technical assistance in challenging the policy. HUD officials viewed local opposition as a threat to their entire policy, which they felt was more than adequately justified by the safety threat to local residents. However, technical experts attacked the scientific basis for HUD’s policy with the assertions that inclusion of St. Louis in Zone II was a cartographic error, the assumed 300-500 year return intervals were in error, and projected damage from a repeat of the 1811-1812 earthquakes was overestimated. The city lobbied the local HUD office to request that the HUD Secretary exempt St. Louis from the seismic requirements and asked its congressional delegation, the Home Builder’s Association, and public interest groups to support this request. By 1981, the BOCA I Code was used for all structures except multifamily housing rehabilitation projects, where the UBC Zone II requirements were applied. Even the impact of this requirement was minimal because it was enforced by the HUD regional office in Kansas City and the local HUD office in St. Louis, not by the city or county of St. Louis. Consequently, most engineers and developers contacted by Drabek and his colleagues were uncertain about which standards should be applied.
Appendix 2-A: Federal Agencies and
Their Responsibilities Under the National Response Plan
The NRP defines 15 emergency support functions (ESFs) that span the types of activities federal agencies can perform in response to an event that overwhelms the resources of local and state government. Table 9-5 lists the ESFs by number and name together with a brief description of the activities involved in each of them.
Table 9-5 . Emergency Support Functions.
|
ESF # |
Function name |
Activities |
|
ESF #1 |
Transportation |
Provides transportation support including reporting damage, coordinating alternate transportation services, coordinating restoration, for air, water, road, rail, and pipeline |
|
ESF #2 |
Communications |
Provides alternate telecommunications support and assists in the restoration of infrastructure for telecommunications and information technology |
|
ESF #3 |
Public Works and Engineering |
Provides pre- and post-incident assessments of public works and infrastructure as well as engineering and construction management expertise |
|
ESF #4 |
Firefighting |
Provides for the detection and suppression of wildland, rural, and urban fires |
|
ESF #5 |
Emergency Management |
Provides for interagency planning and coordinated operations |
|
ESF #6 |
Mass Care, Housing and Human Services |
Provides sheltering and feeding of victims, short- and long-term housing, and support for victim counseling and benefits claims |
|
ESF #7 |
Resource Support |
Provides emergency facilities, equipment, materials and supplies, as well as contracting and transportation services |
|
ESF #8 |
Public Health and Medical Services |
Provides assessments of public health/medical needs, medical care personnel, and medical equipment and supplies |
|
ESF #9 |
Urban Search and Rescue |
Organizes, deploys, and supports teams to extricate trapped victims from collapsed buildings |
|
ESF #10 |
Oil and Hazardous Materials Response |
Detects, contains, and cleans up releases of oil and hazardous materials |
|
ESF #11 |
Agriculture and Natural Resources |
Provides nutritional assistance, controls animal and plant diseases, assures food safety and security, and protects natural and cultural resources and historic properties |
|
ESF #12 |
Energy |
Assesses energy system damage and its likely effects |
|
ESF #13 |
Public Safety and Security |
Provides force and critical infrastructure protection and technical assistance to state and local government |
|
ESF #14 |
Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation |
Provides financial and technical assistance to support the recovery of state and local governments, including mitigation actions to prevent disaster recurrence or limit its magnitude |
|
ESF #15 |
External Affairs |
Provides coordinated dissemination of information from federal agencies to the general public, the Congress, state and local governments and tribal authorities, and international governments |
In addition, the NRP assigns federal agencies three types of responsibilities within each ESF. The first role is that of coordinator, which is responsible for planning and coordinating the federal response in that function. The second role is primary agency, which is responsible for staffing the emergency response. The third role is support agency, which is responsible for providing personnel technical assistance as requested by the primary agencies. The remainder of this appendix lists each agency’s assigned ESF responsibilities.
Department of Agriculture . USDA is the coordinator and shares the role of primary agency with the Department of the Interior (DOI) for ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources) and shares the role of primary agency for ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation). USDA has secondary responsibility for ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #12 (Energy), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Agriculture/Forest Service . USDA/FS is the coordinator and primary agency for ESF #4 (Firefighting) and has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #2 (Communications), ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), and ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security).
Department of Commerce . DOC shares the role of primary agency for ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation) and has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #2 (Communications), ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #4 (Firefighting), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #12 (Energy), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Defense . DOD has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #2 (Communications), ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #4 (Firefighting), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #12 (Energy), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Defense/US Army Corps of Engineers . DOD/USACE is the coordinator and shares the role of primary agency for ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering). DOD/USACE has secondary responsibility for ESF #4 (Firefighting), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #12 (Energy), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), and ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation).
Department of Education . ED has secondary responsibility for ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Energy . DOE is the coordinator and primary agency for ESF #12 (Energy). DOE has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Health and Human Services . HHS is the coordinator and primary agency for ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services) and shares the role of primary agency on ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation). HHS has secondary responsibility for ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Homeland Security . DHS shares the roles as coordinator and primary agency for ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security) and coordinator for ESF #15 (External Affairs). DHS has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #2 (Communications), ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #12 (Energy), and ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation).
Department of Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness and Response/Federal Emergency Management Agency . DHS/EPR/FEMA is the coordinator and primary agency for ESF #5 (Emergency Management). FEMA is the coordinator and shares the role of primary agency for ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services). FEMA is the coordinator and primary agency for ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue). FEMA is the coordinator and shares the role of primary agency for ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation). FEMA is the coordinator and primary agency for ESF #15 (External Affairs). FEMA has secondary responsibility for ESF #2 (Communications), ESF #4 (Firefighting), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), and ESF #12 (Energy).
Department of Homeland Security/Information Analysis and Protection/National Communications System . DHS/IAIP/NCS is the coordinator and primary agency for ESF #2 (Communications). NCS has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #2 (Communications), ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #4 (Firefighting), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #12 (Energy), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Homeland Security/US Coast Guard . DHS/USCG shares the role as primary agency for ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response). USCG has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #4 (Firefighting), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), and ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security).
Department of Housing and Urban Development . HUD shares the role as primary agency for ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation). HUD has secondary responsibility for ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Interior . DOI has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #2 (Communications), ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #4 (Firefighting), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #12 (Energy), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Justice . DOJ shares a role as coordinator and primary agency for ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security). DOJ has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Labor . DOL has secondary responsibility for ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #12 (Energy), ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Stat e. DOS has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #12 (Energy), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Transportation . DOT is the coordinator and primary agency for ESF #1 (Transportation). DOT has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #12 (Energy), ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Department of Treasury . TREAS shares a role as coordinator and primary agency for ESF # 14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation). TREAS has secondary responsibility for ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
D epartment of Veterans Affairs . VA has secondary responsibility for ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Central Intelligence Agency . CIA is a member of the Interagency Incident Management Group but has no responsibilities for ESFs.
Environmental Protection Agency . EPA is the coordinator for ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response) and shares the role as primary agency. EPA has secondary responsibility for ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #4 (Firefighting), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #12 (Energy), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Federal Communications Commission . FCC has secondary responsibility for ESF #2 (Communications), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
General Services Administration . GSA is the coordinator and primary agency for ESF #7 (Resource Support). GSA has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #2 (Communications), ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
National Aeronautics and Space Administration . NASA has secondary responsibility for ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Nuclear Regulatory Commission . NRC has secondary responsibility for ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #12 (Energy), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Office of Personnel Management . OPM has secondary responsibility for ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Small Business Administration . SBA has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #2 (Communications), ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #4 (Firefighting), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #7 (Resource Support), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), ESF #10 (Oil and Hazardous Materials Response), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #12 (Energy), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Social Security Administration . SSA has secondary responsibility for ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
Tennessee Valley Authority . TVA has secondary responsibility for ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #12 (Energy), ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
US Agency for International Development . USAID has secondary responsibility for ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #9 (Urban Search and Rescue), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
US Postal Service . USPS has secondary responsibility for ESF #1 (Transportation), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #6 (Mass Care, Housing and Human Services), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy . OSTP is a member of the Interagency Incident Management Group but has no responsibilities for ESFs.
American Red Cross . ARC has secondary responsibility for ESF #3 (Public Works and Engineering), ESF #5 (Emergency Management), ESF #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), ESF #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources), ESF #14 (Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation), and ESF #15 (External Affairs).