Military Support to Civil Authorities

EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTION 20

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I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. Purpose

To provide effective coordination and use of military assistance and assets to civil authority during an emergency or disaster.

B. Scope

This ESF applies to all requests for military support originated by Pierce County following a local declaration of emergency.

II. POLICIES

It is the policy of Pierce County to facilitate coordination with responding military units during disaster operations by establishing a military liaison at the Pierce County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

III. SITUATION

A. Emergency/Disaster Conditions and Hazards

Refer to the Pierce County Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Analysis.

B. Planning Assumptions

1. The military is capable of providing a wide range of support to local governments in an emergency or disaster.

2. Military assistance is considered supplemental to local efforts and will not be requested unless and until applicable local resources have been, or will imminently be, exhausted.

3. All military assistance, except requests during imminently serious life threatening situations, will be requested through the Washington State Military Department, Emergency Management Division.

4. Military support may be delayed until a State of Emergency is declared by the Governor or there has been a Presidential Declaration.

5. When deployed to provide military support to civil authorities, military forces will work under the direction of local authority, but will retain their unit integrity and military chain of command.

IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

A. The commander of a military installation has the authority to respond to immediate life threatening emergencies. Such requests may be made directly to that installation. Assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic (MAST) may be requested directly to the unit. Other requests for military assistance are made through the state Emergency Management Division duty officer.

B. The military may provide logistic support to incoming Federal resources under the scope of the Federal Response Plan (FRP). In this eventuality, liaison and coordination with the military will be accomplished through normal county policy and procedures.

C. The National Guard is primarily available after activation by the Governor. Local government must demonstrate that the need is indeed beyond local capability or that a special capability only provided by the military is immediately required.

V. RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Primary Agency

Pierce County Department of Emergency Management

1. Establish and maintain ongoing liaison with local military installations as appropriate.

2. Lead agency for the coordination, through the EOC, with military resources sent to assist county operations.

B. Support Agencies

State of Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division

Coordinate and support the county's request for military support.

VI. REFERENCES

None

VII. DEFINITIONS AND TERMS

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VIII. TABS

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