The Logistics Section is divided into three branches: the Service Branch, the Support Branch, and the External Support Branch. The Logistics Section Chief supervises these three branches.

In this lesson, you will learn about the Log Chief responsibilities and the organization of the FEMA Logistics Section.

In this lesson, you will learn the organizational structure of FEMA Logistics.

Scott: As a log chief in the region I have two responsibilities. One is a day-to-day where we have our responsibility from a preparedness perspective to work with the states in making them aware of changes and improvements they can do to improve their capability so they can be self-sufficient during times of emergency up to a certain degree before they exceed that capability and they have to turn to us. That is a big piece of what we do on a daily basis.

In addition to that we have responsibilities within the region itself. In my case, maintaining facilities, we maintain the RRCC and we have responsibilities for inventory and preparedness of all the regions’ response equipment. During an actual disaster my responsibilities shift from a preparedness to a response where I work very closely with the Ops Chief ensuring that all the unmet needs that have come in from the state and locals are being met sufficiently.

Matt: I’m the Log Chief on the IMAT team so generally what I’d do is get together with the rest of the team and we’d make our way to the EOC to work directly with the state and the local officials to assist in the direction of federal aid into the affected area.

Now if it’s a notice event the process is kind of the same it’s just a little less formal because it’s kind of implied. We see a hurricane coming or we see a flood happening so there are a series of meetings that take place in the RRCC, the Regional Response Coordination Center and a lot of times those include VTCs with headquarters to discuss what the event is, when a declaration may come, and what types of resource we need or what the requirements are going to be from the state.

My responsibilities in the region on a day-to-day basis are planning and preparing for the next event.

Mike: As a Headquarters element we have responsibilities day to day to maintain our readiness. We do that through a variety of methods. Training and attendance at exercises, participation in conferences, supporting review and providing advice on policy and guidance that will affect and drive the next steps the agency may take in improving its ability to respond.

Some of the primary duties of the Logistics Chief include:

• Ensuring work assignments are clear and sufficient staff is available for support.
• Accounting for all personnel at all times, keeping general welfare and safety a priority.
• Keeping everyone informed of the status of the mission.
• Anticipating service and support requirements.
• Participating in planning activities.
• Ensuring accountability of property in accordance with federal and existing agency property management regulations.
• Documenting in writing all significant decisions and facts relative to Logistics Section activities.

When a disaster incident is very large and/or requires a number of facilities with a large amount of equipment, the Logistics Section must concern itself with a span of control issues. The Logistics Section Chief may have one or more deputies to assist with a complex operation.

Another way to enable more effective supervision and coordination among the individual units is to divide the Logistics Section into three branches: the Service Branch, the Support Branch, and the External Support Branch. Conversely, in smaller incidents or when fewer resources are needed, this branch configuration may be used to combine the task assignments of individual units within the branch structure.

There are three branches in the Logistics Section: the Service Branch, the Support Branch, and the External Support Branch.

In this lesson, you learned about the Log Chief responsibilities and the organization of the FEMA Logistics Section.