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| FEMA National Incident Support Manual | |
|---|---|
| Name | FEMA National Incident Support Manual |
| Established | 2019 |
| Jurisdiction | United States |
| Agency | Federal Emergency Management Agency |
FEMA National Incident Support Manual The FEMA National Incident Support Manual is a doctrine-level resource that codifies procedures for coordinating federal Federal Emergency Management Agency incident support to states, territories, tribal nations, and local jurisdictions during major incidents such as Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. It integrates mechanisms from statutes including the Stafford Act and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act implementation guidance, aligning operational practices with organizations like the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Department of Health and Human Services. The manual informs coordination among partners such as the American Red Cross, the National Guard Bureau, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The manual frames national incident support consistent with frameworks employed by National Incident Management System, Incident Command System, and the National Response Framework, defining how federal resources are prioritized across catastrophic events including Hurricane Maria and the Northridge earthquake. It describes the relationship between FEMA and statutory authorities such as the President of the United States through presidential emergency declarations and references interagency bodies like the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council. The document situates FEMA’s role alongside partner institutions such as the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Small Business Administration to deliver logistics, public assistance, and disaster recovery.
The manual derives authority from federal statutes and executive guidance, notably the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and executive orders issued by individual President of the United States administrations. It establishes FEMA’s scope for augmentation of state response under mutual aid constructs such as the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and collaborates with intergovernmental entities like the National Governors Association and tribal authorities recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Its purpose includes delineating funding pathways through mechanisms used by the Department of the Treasury and coordination with legal frameworks shaped by cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.
The manual maps roles across FEMA directorates, detailing interfaces with offices like the FEMA Office of Response and Recovery, the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate, and the FEMA Office of Chief Counsel. It describes relationships with partner agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Coast Guard, and the Food and Drug Administration, and coordination with nonfederal actors such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army (United States). Key positions referenced include the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, regional administrators aligned with FEMA’s regional structure, and liaisons to entities like the National Weather Service and United States Geological Survey during tsunami or earthquake events.
The manual enumerates incident support components including logistics, resource typing, mission assignment processes, and the delivery of services such as mass care, public health support, and debris management. It integrates resource catalogs used by FEMA regions and aligns with capabilities provided by partners like the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Highway Administration, and the United States Postal Service. Operational support sections address information-sharing tools used by the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data environment and coordination with data sources like National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts and National Aeronautics and Space Administration remote sensing during hazards.
Activation protocols within the manual reference triggers for federal engagement following state requests, emergency declarations by the President of the United States, and Stafford Act determinations made in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security. Procedures cover mission assignment issuance, tasking between FEMA and partners such as the United States Army, the Federal Emergency Management Agency regional offices, and coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Response Coordination Center. The manual prescribes operational timelines, staging area management consistent with practices from Operation Unified Response and logistical approaches employed during responses to Hurricane Harvey.
The manual sets expectations for workforce readiness, specifying training standards and exercise protocols aligned with programs administered by the Emergency Management Institute, the National Exercise Program, and certification bodies like the Professional Emergency Manager Certification. It references collaborative training exercises conducted with partners including the Department of Defense Joint exercises, the Department of Transportation emergency drills, and state-level exercises coordinated with the National Guard Bureau. Qualification pathways for roles are tied to competencies recognized by institutions such as the Office of Personnel Management.
Evaluation processes described include after-action reporting, corrective action planning, and lessons-learned dissemination through forums such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency after-action repositories and interagency reviews similar to inquiries following Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. The manual prescribes metrics linked to performance management systems used by the Government Accountability Office and oversight by congressional committees including the United States House Committee on Homeland Security and the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Continuous improvement leverages partnerships with academic institutions like Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University for research on resilience and recovery methodologies.