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Disaster Relief

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Disaster Recovery

Natural disasters are a significant cause of fatalities and economic loss in the United States with recovery as the most expensive and time-consuming phase of disaster management. DHS S&T Community and Infrastructure Resilience Program (C&IR) began the Disaster Response project to develop new processes, products, and standards that will improve operations and outcomes within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its state, local, tribal, and territorial partners.

Last Updated: | Press Releases

S&T Seeks Information on Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released a request for information (RFI) about commercially available self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to meet the needs of emergency responders.

Last Updated: | Publication

Translations: DHS Statement on the Importance of Seeking Safety and Support Regardless of Immigration Status Following Recent Severe Weather in the South and Midwest

The following are translations of the DHS Statement on the Importance of Seeking Safety and Support Regardless of Immigration Status Following Recent Severe Weather in the South and Midwest.

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Compendium of U.S. - Canada Emergency Management Assistance Mechanisms

National-level acts, agreements, frameworks, guidance, plans, and procedures for response operations, communication and coordination, preparedness, and recovery.

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DHS/FEMA/PIA-012 Disaster Assistance Improvement Plan (DAIP)

FEMA’s Office of Response & Recovery (OR&R), Recovery Directorate, National Processing Service Center (NPSC) Operations Branch  sponsors and funds the DAIP.  In accordance with Executive Order 13411 “Improving Assistance for Disaster Victims,” DAIP developed the Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) system.

Last Updated: | Publication

Loaned Executive Program Assignment Announcement for Senior Advisor, Disaster Resilience, S&T

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeks to bring in one or more loaned executive(s) to advise the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Support to the Homeland Security Enterprise and First Responders Group on disaster resilience for flood causes and mitigation. The loaned executive(s) will report directly to the Director of the First Responders Group and will advise on industry best practices, current DHS internal processes, and improved stakeholder engagement to include international natural disaster resilience issues.

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Identification of Disaster Code Declaration

Identification of Disaster Code Declaration 

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Surge Capacity Force

If an incident exceeds the capacity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster workforce, the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to activate the DHS Surge Capacity Force (SCF) to augment the federal response to a catastrophic disaster.

Last Updated: | Publication

Tips for Effectively Communicating with the Whole Community in Disasters

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners remain in close coordination with state, local, and tribal governments to coordinate and provide resources as needed in connection with preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation associated with Hurricane Harvey impacting Texas and Louisiana.

Last Updated: | Site Page

Disaster Response and Recovery

Every year, disasters put millions of Americans in danger and costs billions of dollars in property damage.