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Catastrophic Incident SAR

A catastrophic incident, as defined by the National Framework, is any natural or manmade incident, including terrorism, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions. A catastrophic incident could result in sustained national impacts over a prolonged period of time; almost immediately exceeds resources normally available to State, local,tribal, and private-sector authorities in the impacted area; and significantly interrupts governmental operations and emergency services to such an extent that national security could be threatened. All catastrophic incidents are Incidents of National Significance. These factors drive the urgency for coordinated national planning to ensure accelerated Federal/national assistance.

Catastrophic Incident SAR Addendum--June 2012
Catastrophic Incident Search and Rescue (CISAR) Addendum (CIS) to the National SAR Manual Supplement is intended to: 1) provide a concise description of the Federal Government's civil search and rescue (SAR) response to catastrophic incidents; 2) Guide Federal Agencies involved in the response; and 3) Inform States on what to expect of Federal SAR responders.

Emergency Support Function #9--February 2011
Under the National Response Framework, Emergency Support Function (ESF) #9 assigns responsibilities of the Primary and Support Agencies in the conduct of search and rescue operations under the Stafford Act.

USCG Incident Management Handbook, COMDT Pub P3120.17A--
August 2006
The Coast Guard Incident Management Handbook (IMH) is designed to assist Coast Guard personnel in the use of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) during multi-contingency response operations and planned events. The Incident Management Handbook is an easy reference job aid for responders.

FEMA Documents and Links

National Preparedness Goal (First Edition) - September 2011
National Preparedness System--November 2011
This document summarizes the components of the National Preparedness System, which include: Identifying and assessing risk, estimating the level of capabilities needed to address those risks, building or sustaining the required levels of capabilities, developing and implementing plans to deliver those capabilities, validating and monitoring progress, and reviewing and updating efforts to promote continuous improvement.
National Response Framework Resource Center
National Response Framework--January 2008
This National Response Framework (NRF) is a guide to how the Nation conducts all-hazards response. It is built upon scalable, flexible, and adaptable coordinating structures to align key roles and responsibilities across the Nation, linking all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector. It is intended to capture specific authorities and best practices for managing incidents that range from the serious but purely local, to large-scale terrorist attacks or catastrophic natural disasters.
National Response Framework Overview--January 2008
This document was developed expressly for emergency management practitioners as an overview of the process, roles, and responsibilities for requesting and providing all forms of Federal assistance. This overview also presents a summary of each of the 15 Emergency Support Function Annexes and 8 Support Annexes including their purpose, capabilities, membership, and concept of operations.
Catastrophic Incident Annex
The Catastrophic Incident Annex to the National Response Framework establishes the context and overarching strategy for implementing and coordinating an accelerated, proactive national response to a catastrophic incident.
National Incident Management System (NIMS) --December 2008
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) provides a systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the environment. NIMS works hand in hand with the National Response Framework (NRF). NIMS provides the template for the management of incidents, while the NRF provides the structure and mechanisms for national-level policy for incident management.
National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG) -- Version 1.4
The Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) publishes the National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG) as a reference guide for public safety radio technicians and communications planners. The waterproof, pocket-sized guide (also available in PDF format) contains radio regulations, tables of radio channels, and technical reference information. This guide is ideal for those establishing or repairing emergency communications in a disaster area.
Joint Field Office Aviation Branch Operations Manual (September 9, 2009)
The main purpose of the Aviation Branch operations manual is to amplify the guidance and information in the JFO and NIMS manuals. The manual will outline basic organizational structures and operating procedures to enable the personnel who are assigned to a JFO Aviation Branch to coordinate aviation operations with a State through a multiagency coordination group.
FEMA National Incident Support Manual -- February 2011
The FEMA National Incident Support Manual describes how FEMA national staff support FEMA incident operations and briefly discusses steady-state activities pertinent to incident operations. This manual defines the activities of Federal assistance - across the nation and within FEMA's statutory authority - supporting citizens and first responders in responding to, recovering from, and mitigating all hazards. It includes definitions and descriptions of roles and responsibilities, functions, and organizational structures for those conducting FEMA incident support duties, thus forming the basis from which FEMA personnel plan and execute their assigned missions. This manual also serves as the basis for developing related guidance (procedures, handbooks, incident guides, training materials, etc.).
FEMA Incident Action Planning Guide -- January 2012
The IAP Guide explains how to plan and execute operations during any incident. This document, based on the Incident management Handbook (IMH), explains the Incident Command System (ICS) incident action planning process, describes how to use it during FEMA incidents, defines the specific roles and responsibilities of the various participants, and establishes standards for incident action planning during FEMA incidents.
National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
Field Operations Guide Sept 2003
FEMA Training website
FEMA Urban SAR

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Last Modified 2/6/2013