Emergency Support Function 4
Overview:
When the Forest Service is requested by FEMA to respond to a disaster or emergency the FAM Regional Emergency Operations Specialist will determine ESF4 (Emergency Support Function number 4) staffing needs and will obtain personnel thru the coordination system to fill the need. Multiple ESF4's may be assigned depending on the size, location, and complexity of the incident. Each ESF4 team leader will receive a letter of delegation from the Regional Emergency Operations Specialist who is delegated as the Regional ESF4 Coordinator.
When working as an ESF4 under the National Response Framework (NRF), an employee is the Forest Service (FS) representative to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at a FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) or Joint Field Office (JFO). The ESF4 works for and represents the Regional Emergency Operations Specialist/Regional ESF4 Coordinator.
For the ESF4's to have a clear understanding of resource availability, they will need to be kept informed of both regional and national resource commitments, especially as involvement increases and employees are rotated. Operations and the ESF4s will also need to coordinate what level of staffing is needed to successfully meet the needs of each Mission Assignment (MA). The Regional Emergency Operations Specialist/Regional ESF4 Coordinator, working with the Lead ESF4 at the FEMA RRCC, will identify which missions to accept, modify or turn back.
Documents are attached under ESF4 Reference tab above that will help explain the National Response Framework, ESF4 SOP's, and Mission Assignments.
Issues and Concerns:
ICS and NIMS are new to several of the responding agencies. This often results in a lack of information, confusion and unclear chains of command. This has also resulted in response personnel that currently lack training and/or standardized qualifications for the positions they hold. In order to ensure safety and logistical support for our employees, until there are standardized qualifications for all positions and agencies, the FS will maintain control and provide supervision and support for our employees during all-hazard assignments.