FAQ's: Defense Support of Civil Authorities

Question: What is Defense Support of Civil Authorities?

Answer: DoD support, including Federal military forces, the Department's career civilian and contractor personnel, and DoD agency and component assets, for domestic emergencies and for designated law enforcement and other activities. The Department of Defense provides defense support of civil authorities when directed to do so by the President or the Secretary of Defense.

Question: How can Defense Support of Civil Authorities be activated?

Answer: There are three primary mechanisms by which DoD takes part in a Federal response to a domestic incident. Federal assistance, including assistance from DoD, can be provided: (1) at the direction of the President; (2) at the request of another Federal agency under the Economy Act, or (3) in response to a request from DHS's Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Stafford Act. The second and third mechanisms require a request for assistance and approval of the Secretary of Defense.

Question: How many requests for assistance has the Department of Defense supported?

Answer: DoD has continued its long tradition of DSCA while maintaining its primary mission of fighting and winning the nation's wars. In 2003, DoD acted on 75 requests for assistance from more than 20 civilian agencies. In 2004, DoD acted on 99 requests for assistance from domestic civilian agencies. During the response to Hurricane Katrina, DoD acted on more than 90 hurricane-related requests for assistance from civil authorities requiring a broad range of military capabilities. In addition to Hurricane Katrina, DoD acted on more than 140 requests for assistance in 2005, including responses to hurricanes Dennis, Ophelia, and Rita, and the provision of UAV support to DHS border security activities.

Question: What is DoD's role in the National Response Plan?

Answer: DoD has significant resources that may be available to support civil authorities. In Incidents of National Significance, DoD's support is provided consistent with the National Response Plan (NRP), which was published in December 2004. The Secretary of Defense retains command of military forces providing defense support to civil authorities (DSCA) - sometimes referred to as "civil support" - as with all other military operations. In accordance with the NRP, when requested, and upon approval of the Secretary of Defense, DoD provides DSCA during domestic incidents. Accordingly, DoD is considered a support agency for all of the NRP's emergency support functions.

Question: What are the roles of the military commands?

Answer: DoD resources employed in support of domestic civil authorities are under the command and control of Commander, USNORTHCOM, for responses in the Continental United States, Alaska, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia; Commander, USPACOM, for Hawaii and U.S. territories, possessions, and protectorates in the Pacific region; or Commander, USSOUTHCOM, for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Question: What role did DoD play in the response to Hurricane Katrina?

Answer: DoD's response to the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Katrina was the largest and most rapid military deployment within the United States since the Civil War. More than 72,000 Federal military and National Guard personnel were deployed in response to Hurricane Katrina -- more than twice the number that deployed in response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 (more than 29,000). These forces were directly employed in saving lives through extensive search and rescue, evacuation, and medical assistance. Other military capabilities employed during the response included 23 ships, 68 fixed-wing aircraft, 293 helicopters, amphibious landing craft, space-based imagery, night vision capabilities, port and waterway surveillance, mortuary teams, and large-scale construction support provided through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Navy Seabees. Additionally, nine DoD installations served as logistical staging areas for the delivery of supplies and as sites for Federal Medical Shelters. Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, was designated as the central collection point for foreign relief donations. During the response to Hurricane Katrina, DoD acted on more than 90 hurricane-related requests for assistance from civil authorities requiring a broad range of military capabilities. Some of these requests were approved orally by the Secretary of Defense or the Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense, and were in execution when the approval paperwork caught up later. DoD felt a sense of urgency and acted upon it, as provided for within the National Response Plan.

Question: What is DoD's role if there were a pandemic influenza outbreak within the United States?

Answer: Under The National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, which was published in November 2005, DoD is responsible, specifically, for developing its own plan to implement this Strategy and, generally, for supporting civil authorities, when authorized by the President or the Secretary of Defense, in the implementation of this Strategy.

In addition to the National Strategy, the Federal Government recently released an Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza. This document provides a framework to the National Strategy, assigns preparedness and response tasks to Federal departments and agencies, and describes U.S. Government expectations of non-Federal entities, including State, local, and tribal governments, the private sector, international partners, and individuals. The Implementation Plan translates the National Strategy into over 300 tasks to achieve the goals of the National Strategy.

Under the Implementation Plan, Federal departments and agencies, including DoD, focus on four Federal planning priorities: (1) protection of the health and safety of personnel and resources; (2) determination of essential functions and services and the maintenance of each; (3) support the Federal Response to a Pandemic; and (4) effective communications. DoD's Implementation Plan addresses each of the planning priorities, in alignment with the three pillars of the National Strategy.

The top priority within DoD is the protection of DoD forces, which are composed of the uniformed military, DoD civilians, and contractors performing critical roles, as well as the associated resources necessary to maintain the readiness of the Total Force. Of equal importance is our ability to execute our primary mission of the defense of our homeland. Priority consideration is also given to protecting the health of DoD beneficiaries and family members, who rely upon military treatment facilities and on private health care providers.

In addition to the protection of DoD forces, DoD has a supporting role in the national and international response to a pandemic influenza. The National Strategy directs DoD, along with all other Federal departments and agencies, to examine ways to support a government-wide response to a pandemic. DoD is developing plans to utilize its medical surveillance and laboratory testing facilities abroad to provide early warning and tracking of a pandemic influenza. Potentially, the military could provide transportation of essential resources with its air and ground transportation assets. National Guard units and members - - to whom the Posse Comitatus Act does not apply when in State Active Duty or Title 32 status - - could provide security for the protection and distribution of pharmaceuticals. Another potential support role for DoD could be the provision of surge medical capability such as health and medical care providers.

Question: What tasks will DoD perform in a pandemic influenza outbreak within the U.S.?

Answer: DoD has identified 19 critical tasks that the Department will perform to provide protection for its personnel, mission assurance, and support to civil authorities, both foreign and domestic, in response to a pandemic influenza outbreak. These tasks are already driving the shape and content of joint training, military exercises, and coordination with interagency partners. These tasks include:

• Medical intelligence
• Force Protection (including Force Health Protection)
• Biosurveillance, disease detection, and information sharing
• Interagency planning support
• Surge medical capability to assist civil authorities
• Medical care to U.S. forces
• Patient transport and strategic airlift
• Installation support to civilian agencies
• Bulk transport of pharmaceutical/vaccines/commodities
• Security in support of pharmaceutical/vaccine production and distribution
• Protect defense critical infrastructure
• Communications support to civil authorities
• Quarantine assistance to civil authorities
• Military assistance for civil disturbances
• Mission assurance: Defense Industrial Base
• Mortuary affairs
• Continuity of operations/government
• Support to international allies and non-governmental organizations
• Public affairs support to civil authorities

Additionally, the five geographic combatant commanders (U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. European Command) are developing more detailed plans to protect DoD personnel, ensure mission continuity, support local or host-nation authorities, and interagency partners. These commanders are synchronizing their plans at the regional level with our international partners, as well as with other Federal, State, and local authorities.

Question: What types of medical supplies and other assets will DoD be able to provide to State and local public health providers to help respond to a national medical emergency, such as a pandemic flu?

Answer: In accordance with Emergency Support Function Annex #8 (Public Health and Medical Services) of the National Response Plan, DoD may provide the following:

• Medical equipment and supplies, including medical, diagnostic, and radiation-emitting devices, pharmaceuticals, and biologic products in support of immediate medical response operations and for restocking health care facilities in an area affected by a major disaster or emergency; . Available DoD medical supplies for distribution to mass care centers and medical care locations being operated for incident victims with reimbursement to DoD; . Available personnel to support inpatient hospital care and outpatient services to victims who become seriously ill or injured regardless of location (which may include mass care shelters); . Victim identification and mortuary services; establishing temporary morgue facilities; performing victim identification by fingerprint, forensic dental, and/or forensic pathology/anthropology methods; and processing, preparation, and disposition of remains; . Available DoD transportation services to evacuate and manage victims/patients from the patient collection point in or near the incident site to National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) patient reception areas; Coordination of arrangements for the procurement and transportation of medical equipment and supplies;
• Available logistical support to health/medical response operations;
• Available medical personnel for casualty clearing/staging and other missions as needed, including aero-medical evacuation and medical treatment. Mobilizes available Reserve and National Guard medical units, when authorized and necessary to provide support; . Available military medical personnel to assist in the protection of public health (such as food, water, wastewater, solid waste disposal, vectors, hygiene, and other environmental conditions); . Defense Coordinating Officers, Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers, and Joint Regional Medical Planners to provide evaluation and risk management support; Coordination of patient reception, tracking, and management to nearby NDMS non-Federal hospitals, Veterans Affairs hospitals, and DoD military treatment facilities that are available and can provide appropriate care;
• Available blood products in coordination with DHHS; and
• DoD confirmatory laboratory testing support in coordination with DHHS.

Question: What is the role of the National Guard in a pandemic influenza outbreak within the U.S.?

Answer: When federalized, National Guard personnel support DoD assigned activities in support of the Federal Government response. When not federalized, National Guard personnel support the State governors in fulfilling the responsibilities of the States.