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MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

Event: FEMA Brief1 of 2

Type of event: Brief
Date: 20 Aug 2003
Special Access Issues:, None
Prepared by: Kevin Shaeffer
Team Number: Team 8
Location: GSA conference room
Participants - Non-Commission: Linda Davis (FEMA OGC), Ted Monette (NYC 9111 FCO),
Tom Davies (Pentagon 9111 FCO), Charlie Biggs (Senior Advisor, Office of National
Preparedness), Charlie Hess (Deputy Director, Response Division FEMA), Tom Park (Chief,
Exercise Branch, Assessment & Exercise Division, Office of National Preparedness)
Participants - Commission: John Farmer, Sam Caspersen, Mark Bittinger, Kevin Shaeffer,
Emily Walker.

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FEMA presented informal briefings on the following topics:

The staffing structure, organization, and internal FEMA procedures in place on
September 11, 2001 for responding to catastrophic terrorism attacks within the United
States (including capabilities for coordinating with other federal, state, and local
organizations ).
The Federal Response Plan (FRP), as it existed on September 11,2001, and the FRP
as it exists today (including detailed descriptions of the rationale for any significant
changes or reforms).
FEMA's roles and responsibilities regarding the Federal Concept of Operations Plan
(CONPLAN) as it existed on September 11, 2001 (including actions FEMA actually
took in accordance with the CONPLAN in response to the 9/11 Attacks).

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Comparison of the April, 1999 CONPLAN, to the current, January 2003 CONPLAN,
and potential future versions.
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and how it
dictated response to the 9/11 Attacks (including an explanation of the disaster
declaration process, and how that process was implemented in response to the 9/11
Attacks) ..
The rationale and implications of the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5
(HSPD-5) as it pertains to changing the Federal Response Plan (FRP) to a National
Response Plan (NRP),how the NRP will fit into the new National Incident
Management System (NIMS), and the intended time line to approve and implement
both.
The Emergency Management Planning Grants (EMPG) process.

FEMA's Pentagon Response: presented by Tom Davies (FCO Pentagon)

Major Disaster declaration declared September 21, 2001
However, no outside (Federal) assistance was denied 9/11 - 9/21
Ron Carlee (Arlington County Manager) led the Arlington County Economic
Recovery Task Force .. '
Some mutual aid issues in the National Capitol Region have yet to be resolved "we
went around the existing law to get the job done" - Davies.·
According to Davies, Arlington County is "the most squared away" county in the
whole country.
FEMA wasn't a "major player" at the Pentagon response
Davies did visit the on-site command post, but stayed in the A.C. Court House
"ICS was followed and worked very well"
No significant crime scene issues at Pentagon. Ted Monette adds "there was no
crime scene friction in NY."
Victims Assistance: FEMA paid for in A.C. but no pre-existing MOUs were in effect
(FOLLOW-UP IN INTERVIEW SESSION)
LESSON LEARNED: Establish MOUs btw FEMA and State/Locals. According to
Davies, this has been "put out" by FEMA, but is dependent on how the states/locals
respond.

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LESSDN LEARNED: There was no clear "lead" for volunteer coordination and
management. Should it be federal, state, or local? "No easy answer yet," Charlie
Hess. The "real answer" likely lies in making the states the lead. New York and
Virginia took the lead in the 9111 response. However, it should be codified by
protocols.
LESSON LEARNED: Davies cites the LL from the A.C. AAR, develop a true ICS
and a true planning process. Notes that this takes exceptional leadership and resource
commitment.

Charlie Biggs discussion:

"All Hazard" preparedness is critical for the future. NOTE: THIS POINT
WILL(SHOULD) IMPACT OUR NC RECOMMENDATIONS.
SLG-101 is all-hazards
o Chapter 6 = terrorism
o "Interim guidance and toolkit" was issued July 2002 and will be incorporated into
the newNIMS
Emergency Management Planning Grants (EMPG)
o "very unique" because it supports all-hazards approach to preparedness
o true federal grants (not block or pe.rformance)
o meant to improve core capabilities (and maintain them)
o Pre-1996 efforts were stovepiped into programs
o EMPG comes online in 2000
o Slated to be merged into ODP in FY04 to facilitate "one-stop-shopping" (EMPG
is in FEMA now)
Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP):
o Roughly estb. 2001
o Is an independent composite organization.
o Program has established emergency management standards
o Is an affiliate with the National Council of Governments
o EMAP "Carrots" are 1. it is free 2. Helps states/locals better self-id weak areas
o NFP A 1600 = standards for Private Sector, EMAP is based on it.

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General notes of interest:

WE NEED TO CONDUCT FOLLOW-UP INTERVIEW OF BOTH TED
MONETTE AND TOM DAVIES. APPEARED THAT DAVIES WAS WILLING
TO GO INTO MORE "GROUND TRUTH" DETAILS IN A PRIVATE SESSION.
MONETTE WAS COMPLETELY "PARTY LINE" - WON'T LIKELY GET
MUCH G.T. FROM HIM.
Ted Monette adds that the LL from US&R teams that responded to the 1995
Oklahoma City bombing "really benefited" the 9/11 response.
Monette adds that in NYC "Mayor G was in charge" (no doubts about that)
Monette on possible tweaks to the Stafford Act: "the economic recovery side could
be strengthened, but overall the Act held up relatively well."
The "Principal Federal Officer (PFO)" created by the new NRPINIMS applicable
mainly to a WMD response (multiple federal agencies responding).
Some feedback has been given to FEMA by states/locals that the draft NRP has a
"domestic terrorism flavor" to it. But, Charlie Hess notes, this is why DHS was
created. The NRP he adds, will probably allow for annexes for (natural disasters,
special events, terrorism, technological events/accidents).
"NRP is different from the existing FRP in that it is more robust on the preparedness
and prevention roles of Federal/State/Local + Private Sector. It is the mother of all
plans," Charlie Hess.
FEMA intends to link standards + certifications with $$ received in federal grants.
NIMS doc will be reviewed by state + locals in September 2003.
CONPLAN has been adjusted to count DHS as lead, not DOl.
NOTE: DID WE RECEIVE "CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORTS (CAR)" IN
OUR FEMA DOC REQUEST RESPONSE? NEED TO CHECK, AS THESE ARE
SELF -ASSESSMENTS OF FEMA RESPONSE.
DHS/ODP After Action Report for TOPOFF2 due by September 2003.

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BJ
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MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

Event: FEMA brief 2 of2 (FEMA role within the Department of Homeland Security)
Type of event: Briefing
Date: 16 September 2003
Special Access Issues: None.
Prepared by: Kevin Shaeffer
Team Number: 8
Location: GSA conference room
Participants - Non-Commission: Linda Davis, Michael Lowder, Robert Shea
Participants - Commission: Kevin Shaeffer, Mark Bittinger

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FEMA representatives briefed T8 on the role of the agency in the new Department of Homeland
Security. The conversation spanned FEMA's organization, budget, emergency response process,
and areas of responsibility.

Robert Shea presented a brief discussion on several significant additions FEMA acquired as a
result of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. They include:
1. Nuclear Incident Response Team (from EPA and DOE)
Primary response to nuclear events
2. Domestic Emergency Support Team (from DO])
Primary response to WMD events
3. Strategic National Stockpile (from HHS)
Medical response to bio-attacks. "Ongoing conversations btw FEMA and HHS
on how to manage the program."
4. National Disaster Medical Teams (from HHS)
A "significant" gain for FEMA. 108 teams that can pre-deploy/deploy-in-
response to events. Teams of wide-ranging specialties.
5. Metropolitan Medical Response System (from HHS)

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Program is still in development, with some budget concerns. Intended to be the
mechanism to provide medical support to major communities in times of crisis.
6. Integrated Hazard Information System (FIRESA T) (from Department of Commerce)
Originally developed to monitor for nuclear explosion events. Other uses in
monitoring for natural or man-made disasters is being looked at, though
"unlikely. "
7. Noble Training Center (Ft. McClellan, Alabama) (from HHS)
A "great asset" for medical training. Needs further development to fully leverage
its potential. The nation's only pseudo-hospital training center that can run
through the full range ofchem.lbio-contamination events. Intended to be used
jointly with FEMA, DoD, and HHS.
*NOTE * This could be a potential recommendation to fund the full development
of the center.

Robert Shea then discussed FEMA's FY2004 budget changes, to include:

1. Assistance to Firefighters grants ($500 million)
Much "consternation" about the program from state and local communities.
Secretary Ridge committed to keep the fundamental principle of the grant
program; to effect direct support to local communities from the federal level.
2. Citizen Corps (up to $181 million)
3. State and Local All-Hazards Emergency Operations Planning (no amount yet specified)
4. Interoperable Communications Equipment (no amount yet specified)
This is being run jointly with DO] in some areas. The program is w9rking on
standards (DHS Science and Technology Directorate)
5. Emergency Management Performance Grant (no amount yet specified)

Michael Lowder (FEMA Director of Operations) presented an overview of FEMA' s national

response assets. He stressed that FEMA responds to natural and man-made incidents.
Specifically, he discussed:
1. Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS)
Provides mobile telecommunications, logistics, ops, and admin support to federal,
state, and local first responders ..

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Multi-Radio Van (MRV) highlighted. Five exist nationally. FULL comms
capabilities. Two initially responded to NYC on 9111, third was added. One
initially deployed to Pentagon (then was sent to NYC). One was kept out as
backup. Can be airlifted via C-17s.
2. National Disaster Medical System, teams specialize in:
Disaster Mortuary Teams (DMORTS)
US&R
Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMATs)
Pediatric
Bum
Mental Health
National Medical Response Teams (NMRTs) - WMD response capabilities
International Medical Surgical Response Team (IMSuRT) - deployments
coordinated by DOS.
3. Strategic National Stockpile
Owned by FEMA, but managed by HHS/CDC
Delivers pharmaceuticals and other med materials to incidents.
12, 50-ton "push" packages, avail to arrive on scene within 12 hrs.
Vendor Managed Inventory = agreements exist with private sector pharm.
companies to augment national inventories as required in times of crisis.
4. Urban Search and Rescue
28 total teams
First created to respond to earthquakes
First significant deployment was the Oklahoma City bombing.
Three teams trained and equipped for international deployments (Fairfax County
VA, Miami-Dade, Los Angeles)
6 teams have WMD training and equipment. By 2004 all teams will be WMD
capable.
Teams self-sufficient for 72 hrs. Roughly 210 people per team.
5. Nuclear Incident Response Team
Owned by DOE, but placed under the operational command of FEMA when
activated.

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Nuke accidents, lost materials, or acts of terrorism.
DOD, FBI, Customs, Border Security, FEMA, and DOE
6. Domestic Emergency Support Team
Highly specialized interagency team comprised of crisis and consequence
management components.
Approx. 25-man team. Highly discreet and covert.
Augments Joint Operations Center with tailored expertise, assessment, and
analysis capabilities.
Primary focus is on PREVENTION
DHS, FBI, DOE, HHS, EPA -with DOD SOLIC coordination (dedicated
aircraft)
FEMA representatives serve on FBI JTTFs.

General notes of interst:

l. FEMA "ferderalizes" state/local/private sector assets in some emergency response efforts
= serves to indemnify responder actions.
2. FEMA employees "feeling the burden of more responsibility"
3. FEMA has always been responsible for inter-agency/joint coordination. Even more-so
post 9/1l.
4. FEMA has always had some interaction with private sector, but even more-so post 9/11.
The Director of Preparedness within FEMA is the FEMA lead for private sector interface.
Also plugs into DHS' s Special Assistant to the Sec. for the Private Sector.

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