Introduction

• Overview

Overview

In recent years, there has been a major increase in the number and complexity of all hazard incidents resulting in unprecedented demands on Forest Service employees and our partners in emergency response.  Our contributions have been recognized as critical in responding to all types of emergencies and disasters, and our employees have proven their perseverance and capabilities through trying circumstances.

All hazard response presents some of the most difficult and complex management challenges that our agency faces. Potential incidents include hurricanes, floods, animal disease outbreaks, terrorist attacks, and search and rescue operations. Examples of assigned tasks for agency personnel may include management of logistical distribution centers, staging areas, base camps for emergency responders, clearing roadways, law enforcement and security duties and support for wildfire or structural fire suppression.

Policy and procedures are being developed at the national level to guide decision-making and our agency’s overall role and responsibility as a partner in support of the National Response Framework (NRF). (See Chief’s Memo of 05/31/06 tab above.) 

Concurrently, the Southern Region has developed specific guidance and information to assist incoming and local employees involved in all hazard response within the Region.  This effort is called the All Hazard Response (AHR) project.  The AHR project involves compilation of historical information and processes developed from recent all hazard incidents, and reflects lessons learned and best practices based on actual experiences.

This document serves as a quick reference guide for the comprehensive AHR information which is posted on the Southern Area Coordination Center website at www.fs.fed.us/r8/allhazardresponse. Specific objectives for the AHR effort are as follows:

Purpose and Need: 

• Provide Leaders’ Intent and clarify roles, responsibilities and delegated authorities for all hazard response.
• Consolidate program direction and procedural information to guide all pertinent areas for all hazard responses.
• Inform incoming resources, and local resources including line officers and their employees, to the overall organization and operating procedures within the region.

Target Audience:

• Primary:  Personnel supporting an AHR effort who need to understand the procedures, protocols and organization within the region.  Examples:  Incident Management Teams (IMTs), Area Command Teams (ACTs), Emergency Support Function Number 4 (ESF4) staff, Buying Teams, Safety Teams, and coordination and mobilization center staff.
• Secondary:  Cooperating entities nationally or in other Geographic Areas.

This document, the “All Hazard Response Guide”, applies to situations where Forest Service and its cooperators are activated in response to a Mission Assignment (MA) from FEMA and or other National Response Framework partners through the Emergency Support Function (ESF) system.  The Forest Service is the lead agency representing the wildland fire management agencies in coordinating staffing of the ESF4 function at National, Regional, and/or local locations, except in Alaska. 

This document, the “All Hazard Response Guide”, is organized into sections, beginning with an overview of the Region 8 Concept of Operations, Organization and Coordination, followed by sections specific to functional areas which support all hazard responses.  Each functional section provides a specific overview, key issues and concerns, most common questions and answers and a list for reference documents available to the user.

The website, www.fs.fed.us/r8/allhazardresponse, has detailed information beginning with key messages of Leaders’ Intent.  These key messages reflect the magnitude of the commitment to all hazard response, the historical impact of all hazard events in the Southern Region and the priority for safety, cooperation and coordination for all personnel and our interactions with the public.

The “All Hazard Response Guide” does not focus on AHR on Forest Service lands.  A separate document, the“Southern Region Guide to Emergency Events”, addresses the full range of preparedness, response and recovery for events that directly affect National Forest System (NFS) Lands, and also contains information on assistance outside the National Resopnse Framework (NRF) that can be provided to State Forestry agencies through USFS State & Private Forestry. 

A third document, the “Southern Region Pandemic Flu Plan”, addresses specific protocols and actions that will be taken in the event of a pandemic outbreak.  The FS could be tasked to respond under the NRF and/or the Department of Agriculture for a pandemic event, so it is possible for these plans to be invoked simultaneously.