This lesson provides an orientation to the roles and responsibilities of the External Support Branch; one of the three branches that constitutes the FEMA Logistics Section. At the end of this lesson, you will be able to identify:

• The purpose and role of the External Support Branch within the organizational structure.
• The External Support Branch Units and the roles and responsibilities carried out by those units.
• The External Support Branch’s best practices.

[FEMA Logistics Specialists work together to preposition supplies ahead of Hurricane Earl]

Narrator: As already stated, FEMA Logistics is responsible for providing support to both the internal FEMA staff and to external customers. These external customers can include disaster responders as well as the disaster survivors themselves. The coordination of support to these external customers is a function of the Logistics External Support Branch.

The External Support Branch is organized to focus attention on the external-to-logistics customers that FEMA Logistics supports. The External Support Branch has four units:

• Disaster Recovery Center Support Unit
• Mass Care Unit
• Camp Unit
• Temporary Housing Unit

These units provide support to the following groups:

• Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)
• Mass Care
• Responder Support Camps
• Temporary Housing
• Incident Support Bases (ISBs)

The External Support Branch is led by the External Support Branch Director. The External Support Branch Director reports to the Logistics Section Chief and is responsible for providing logistical support for selected external operations.

The External Support Branch Director’s responsibilities include:

• Strategic coordination and planning to ensure that the Logistics Section is servicing its customers by rapidly filling requirements and moving resources into the disaster area.
• Using sound cost-avoidance and property accountability principles.
• Ensuring that activities are coordinated with other FEMA response organizations and other federal partners.
• Managing and supervising the branch to provide effective communications, resource tracking, movement coordination, and ISB support.

The External Support Branch provides logistical support to the following groups:

• Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)
• Mass Care
• Responder Support Camps
• Temporary Housing
• Incident Support Bases (ISBs)

On the following pages, you will read about the types of logistical support these groups require.

The External Support Branch provides support to the DRC by completing the following functions:

• Equipping the DRC with telecommunications support, office supplies, service, and laptops
• Maintaining support for the duration of the life of the facility
• Demobilizing and recovering FEMA property upon order
• Remediating (restoring) property and/or facilities following FEMA use, if necessary

The DRC Logistics Unit Leader is responsible for establishing facilities and coordinating ground support, equipment, telecommunications, and associated services for DRC and Mobile Communications Office Vehicles (MCOV).

Coordination with DRC Officials

Primary duties

Primary duties also include:

• Participating in planning activities.
• Placing necessary orders through the Ordering Unit to set up and support DRC/MCOV.
• Determining the suitability of the DRC/MCOV location.
• Performing on-site suitability inspections with IT/Safety/Security/General Services Administration (GSA) as applicable.
• Determining, assembling, delivering, and installing necessary DRC/MCOV equipment and telecommunications in support of the IAP.
• Monitoring ongoing DRC/MCOV operations and providing logistical support as necessary.
• Coordinating with the Facility Unit Leader on all leases and agreements (Memorandum of Understanding).
• Monitoring progress, performance, and compliance of vendors.
• Providing facility maintenance services (e.g., sanitation, lighting, and janitorial).
• Planning, scheduling and demobilizing DRC/MCOV equipment and telecommunications as required.
• Verifying and/or confirming vendor requests for payment.
• Developing, with the Safety Officer, a safety plan to include an evacuation plan.

Mel: In addition to supporting the disaster survivors themselves, providing resources, FEMA also supports all the other responders, the other federal agencies, we provide them with equipment, we provide them with services, we provide them with the resources they need to fulfill that mission assignment that we give them to support the disaster. In larger events we’ll normally have an External Support Branch. The focus of the External Support Branch is fulfilling logistical requirements that are outside of the Joint Field Office. For example, the Disaster Recovery Centers. We’ll stand up a Disaster Recovery Center Support Unit which will work hand in hand with the Individual Assistance Program to provide assistance to those Disaster Recovery Centers. Also they may stand up Incident Support Bases outside of the Joint Field office so we’ll stand up an Incident Support Base Unit within the External Support Branch that focuses on maintaining operations at those Incident Support Bases.

Matt: That’s going to be stood up anytime you’ve got what I would consider a medium to large event where you have a bunch of external moving pieces. Some of the times you may want an External Support Branch fully established is when you have a large number of DRCs, when you have responder support camps, things external to the JFO that require a lot of support.

Scott: The External Support Branch is something that is unique I think to the FEMA agency. Again, when you see an ICS structure you won’t normally see that third branch under logistics. But we have such a broad scope in our mission that in order for us to be successful, in order to maintain the span of control and in order for us to meet all the requirements that are put upon us, FEMA will oftentimes stand up the External Support Branch and we handle, just as its name says, it’s the external support we provide outside of the general logistics environment that’s there to support the federal family.

Under the National Response Framework, Mass Care is a responsibility of Emergency Support Function (ESF) 6. ESF-6’s mission includes the following:

• Provide shelter for survivors.
• Assess state and local government shelter shortfalls.
• Assist with sheltering operations.

Upon request, FEMA Logistics, as a support provider to all other program areas, has a responsibility to support the Mass Care mission. Typical requests can include cots and blankets, power generation, coordination for food service, or even commodities from our ISBs.

[Food storage containers stacked on shipping pallets in Texas]

Narrator: FEMA Logistics handles support to ESF-6 in the External Support Branch by establishing the Mass Care Support Unit.

The primary function of the unit is to provide augmentation to the state and local Mass Care, feeding, and sheltering operations. The Mass Care Support Unit performs a number of activities to help accomplish its function of providing support to Mass Care for disaster survivors. It supports the Mass Care function by:

• Sourcing requirements.
• Ordering required supplies through the Ordering Unit.
• Documenting the transfer of property.
• Recovering accountable property.
• Warehousing, supplying, and delivering supplies.

[Evacuation buses and residents in Louisiana]

Narrator: Voluntary Agencies (VOLAG) may not be able to provide all items necessary (e.g., cots, blankets, generators, care, or feeding). So FEMA Logistics helps provide for the shortfalls in assisting evacuees. The ARF process is used to fill requirements of the Mass Care mission.

The primary duties of the Unit Leader for mass care include:

• Determining unit personnel needs.
• Participating in planning activities.
• Providing logistics support to Operations/ESF-6 as requested.
• Obtaining necessary equipment, maintenance, and service through the Ordering Unit.
• Ensuring facilities and equipment are set up and functioning properly.
• Supervising the setup of kitchens, shelters, and sanitation support equipment.
• Monitoring the use of equipment on a daily basis.
• Demobilizing equipment or services when no longer needed.

Matt: Mass Care Support is a difficult thing to support because there are so many different moving pieces to it. The non profits do provide a lot of support to the sheltering operations. However, they are operating with donated dollar and limited resources. There are occasions where there are certain types of resources they just cannot provide or that they run short of. In that situation FEMA logistics does get involved. Contracts to provide food so that these voluntary kitchens can prepare and feed the people. There’s also contracts for durable medical equipment for the shelters. In some situations you have persons with disabilities in the shelters and they require special types of equipment or support to be comfortable in these shelters.

Scott: The Mass Care mission is a very big piece of the overall response mission in the early stages of a disaster. Although it’s primarily led by the American Red Cross traditionally, FEMA is a co-partner with the American Red Cross for that mission. Between the Red Cross and the VOLAGs the Voluntary Agencies that support that mass care feeding and sheltering mission. FEMA Logistics as a partner to ESF 6 that emergency support function we are oftentimes asked to provide the support necessary to help ensure that that mission goes successfully. There’s sheltering plans all across the country, there’s feeding plans across the country all done under the voluntary agencies and the Red Cross. But when that shortfall occurs or when the unique special circumstances arise where there’s a requirement that goes beyond their capability that’s where FEMA Logistics plays a huge role and can be expected to provide anything from medical beds and medical equipment up to building special facilities that will accommodate whatever the need might be from a normal shelter to medical care.

Mel: We support the Mass Care mission in the line of evacuations we may be tasked with providing transportation to assist Red Cross or other agencies with performing evacuations, in line of shelters we are often tasked with providing resources such as cots, blankets, possibly even feeding to support shelter operations.

The Responder Support Camps are established for federal, state and local responders who need a place that provides shelter, food, and additional basic needs when conventional lodging is not available.

The Camp Unit Leader is responsible for determining, managing, delivering, and supporting facilities, ground support, equipment, and associated services for response worker billeting, feeding, and hygiene support in support of the Incident Action Plan (IAP). LMD maintains national contracts for camp establishment and support. These contracts can be activated upon request from the field.

Primary duties include:

• Determining the number of staff to be housed and support requirements.
• Determining a suitable camp site(s) through site visits.
• Working with a GSA Leasing Agent to procure site(s) in coordination with the Facilities Unit Leader.
• Providing necessary facilities for supporting the response workforce.
• Providing oversight over the national camp contracts.
• Monitoring camp operations for compliance with contract.
• Coordinating demobilization of equipment/services when no longer needed.
• Ensuring that site remediation is accomplished as identified in plans, leases, contracts, etc.

The function of the External Support Branch Temporary Housing Unit (THU) is to operate a temporary housing incident support base. In other words, to manage the base where THUs are pre-positioned before being transferred to a location or an individual disaster survivor.

Temporary housing

Temporary Housing Support Unit Leader (THUL)

The Temporary Housing Support Unit Leader is responsible for determining, delivering, and supporting facilities, ground support, equipment, and associated services for direct housing missions in support of the Incident Action Plan (IAP).

The Primary duties of this position include:

• Participating in planning activities.
• Reviewing requests from and working closely with Operations/IA-Housing Group Supervisor for logistical support.
• Receiving and accounting for Temporary Housing Units ordered through the Ordering Unit.
• Coordinating and monitoring commercial park and emergency housing site preparations.
• Verifying and/or confirming vendor requests for payment.

[Two mobile homes to be used for housing in Minnesota to provide temporary housing for families displaced by floods]

Narrator: The Temporary Housing Support Unit provides temporary housing support to the mission. To complete this function, the External Support Branch establishes and operates a temporary housing incident support base when the housing mission is activated. The unit also:

• Manages inventory of Temporary Housing Units.
• Ensures they are delivered in sufficient quantity to the customer.
• Stores housing units.
• Coordinates the pickup and delivery of housing units.

Narrator: An Incident Support Base (ISB) is a temporary location where response personnel and commodities are received and pre-positioned for deployment as required. ISBs are set up outside of the incident area and are established and managed by the Regional Logistics staff.

ISB operations may be viewed as an extension of the FEMA National Supply Chain Management strategy. An ISB is a storage and property processing location established to support a specific disaster operation. From this location, FEMA will send out resources and national disaster assets to pre-determined locations, such as State staging areas. Other federal departments and agencies may stage tactical teams here or send items that they have recently acquired in support of the disaster operation.

The function of an ISB is to ensure rapid response to a disaster by pre-positioning resources in safe proximity to a disaster impacted area.

When is an ISB required?

Incident Support Base Unit Leader (IBUL)

Incident Support Base Manager (IBMG)

ISBs are typically established if there is an anticipated or actual need for commodities to support disaster survivors. For large incidents they can be established before an incident in anticipation of a Presidential Disaster Declaration, for example, before a major hurricane makes landfall.

ISBs are initiated by the Logistics Management Directorate in coordination with a Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) and either the regional or Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) Log Chief in anticipation of or in direct support of a Presidential Disaster Declaration.

Note: ISB’s are designed to stage resources that may be provided to state and local governments. Once a requirement for commodities arises, the ISB commodities become committed to the disaster-affected state and will be under the operational control of FEMA Operations. The ISB may then be redesignated as a staging area or the commodities shipped to a staging area. Upon filling all state requirements the remaining commodities will then revert to Logistics for retrograde. An ISB and a staging area are functionally identical; the distinction is one of command and control only.

The Incident Support Base Unit Leader (IBUL) is responsible for managing the ISBs needed to receive Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers, storing logistics supplies, and readying resources requiring significant preparation prior to demobilizing for transport. Generators are one example of resources that require preparation prior to demobilizing.

The primary duties of the ISB Unit Leader include:

• Determining unit personnel needs.
• Participating in planning activities.
• Ordering resources, equipment, and supplies needed to operate ISBs through the Ordering Unit.
• Working with the GSA Leasing Agent in coordination with the Facilities Unit Leader to procure a site(s).
• Coordinating with the Facilities Unit Leader to ensure that agreements and leases issued are being addressed by the Finance/Admin Section.
• Coordinating with the Security Manager to provide security for ISBs.
• Coordinating with the Safety Officer to ensure that all ISBs are in compliance with all safety regulations.

The Incident Support Base Manager (IBMG) is responsible for supporting and managing an ISB.

The Primary duties of this position include:

• Establishing an ISB layout.
• Determining any support needs for equipment, feeding, sanitation, and supplies to operate the ISB.
• Ordering supplies through the ISB Leader or directly through the Ordering Unit if authorized.
• Establishing a check-in and check-out function.
• Maintaining and providing status information to the Resource Unit of all the resources in the ISB.
• Developing a site Traffic Control Plan.
• Posting appropriate signage for traffic control and identification of support services.
• Providing for maintenance of equipment.
• Dispatching resources assigned to the ISB in support of the IAP.
• Ensuring that receipts are obtained and issued for equipment and supplies distributed and received at ISB.
• Establishing and maintaining a positive relationship with the property owner or host.
• Keeping the ISB Leader apprised of any agreement and lease issues that need to be addressed by the Finance/Admin Section.
• Maintaining the ISB in an orderly and safe condition.
• Keeping appropriate records of ISB operations.
• Providing the ISB Leader with security needs.
• Developing an ISB Safety Plan and ensuring compliance with all safety regulations.
• Demobilizing the ISB in accordance with a demobilization plan.

The Incident Support Base Unit is the final unit in the External Support Branch. The function of this unit is to establish or execute an ISB. Upon order by higher authority, an Incident Support Base Unit will deploy, occupy, establish, and manage the incident support base until the disaster is declared by the President. After that, the ISB becomes the staging area under the direction of FEMA Operations.

The presentation provides information regarding how the Incident Support Base Unit provides support for ISBs

[FEMA Logistics Center staging area where FEMA contractor installs a GPS tracking transponder on one of 300 trailers in Georgia]

Narrator: The ISB Unit assesses, selects, and establishes a site for the ISB. (In many instances, these sites are pre-identified.) Once the site is selected, a unit will deploy to set up the site. This involves ordering supplies, coordinating transportation and ground support, planning, and appointing an accountable property manager to set up the site.

The Incident Support Base Unit will then bring in required services, supplies, and personnel; receive resources at the support base; and receive inventory and barcode supplies to prepare them for transport. Once the effort is complete, the unit will demobilize and remediate the site and disposition accountable property.

In this lesson, you reviewed the following key points:

• The role and function of the External Support Branch
• The five units that make up the External Support Branch
• The function of the Disaster Recovery Center Unit and how it supports DRC efforts
• The function of the Mass Care Unit and how it supports Mass Care efforts
• The function of the Camp Unit and how it supports responder camp efforts
• The function of the Temporary Housing Unit and how it supports temporary housing efforts
• The function of the Incident Support Base Unit and how it supports ISB efforts