Emergency Response & Planning Flashcards

How many steps make up the planning process described in FEMA's Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101?

Answer: Six

CPG 101 outlines six steps, from forming a collaborative planning team through plan implementation and maintenance.

Which ICS General Staff position is responsible for collecting incident information, tracking resource status, and preparing the Incident Action Plan?

Answer: Planning Section Chief

The Planning Section gathers and evaluates information, tracks resources, and prepares the IAP.

What does ICS consider the optimal span of control for most incident supervisors?

Answer: One supervisor to five subordinates

ICS recommends a span of control of 3 to 7, with 1:5 as the optimal ratio.

Under the National Response Framework, which Emergency Support Function covers mass care, emergency assistance, temporary housing, and human services?

Answer: ESF #6

ESF #6 coordinates mass care, emergency assistance, temporary housing, and human services.

When is Unified Command most appropriate?

Answer: When several agencies or jurisdictions share legal authority or functional responsibility for the incident

Unified Command lets agencies with shared authority set common objectives without giving up their own authority.

Under the Stafford Act, who submits the request to the President for a major disaster declaration?

Answer: The Governor or tribal chief executive

Only a Governor or tribal chief executive may request a Stafford Act declaration from the President.

How long is a typical ICS operational period covered by an Incident Action Plan?

Answer: Generally 12 to 24 hours

Operational periods are usually 12 to 24 hours but can be adjusted to fit the incident.

Which of the following is NOT one of the five mission areas in the National Preparedness Goal?

Answer: Notification

The five mission areas are Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery.

Under FEMA's Community Lifelines construct, which lifeline includes 911, dispatch, and alerts and warnings?

Answer: Communications

The Communications lifeline covers infrastructure, alerts and warnings, 911 and dispatch, responder communications, and finance.

What is the main purpose of a Joint Information Center (JIC) during an incident?

Answer: Coordinating consistent public information from multiple agencies

The JIC brings public information officers together so the public gets coordinated, accurate messages.

Under the Stafford Act, what is the general limit on federal assistance for a single emergency declaration unless the President reports to Congress?

Answer: $5 million

Emergency declaration assistance is generally capped at $5 million unless the President finds a continuing need and reports to Congress.

What is the minimum federal cost share for eligible Public Assistance projects under a major disaster declaration?

Answer: 75 percent

The federal share for Public Assistance is at least 75 percent and can be raised for catastrophic events.

What is the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)?

Answer: A state-to-state mutual aid agreement ratified by Congress

EMAC lets states share resources during governor-declared emergencies, with liability and reimbursement protections built in.

In ICS, where are resources temporarily kept while waiting for a tactical assignment?

Answer: Staging Area

Staging Areas hold resources that are available for immediate assignment, usually within three minutes.

At an initial-response incident where no Planning Section has been set up, who is responsible for planning functions?

Answer: The Incident Commander

In ICS, the Incident Commander performs any General Staff function that has not been delegated.

A more qualified officer arrives and will take over as Incident Commander. What must happen during the transfer of command?

Answer: A face-to-face briefing on incident status, followed by notification of all personnel

Transfer of command requires a full briefing, preferably face to face, and notification to everyone involved.

A short-duration toxic chemical plume will pass over a neighborhood within an hour. Which protective action is usually best?

Answer: Shelter-in-place

For brief releases, sheltering in place often protects better than evacuating through the plume.

Which law requires state and local emergency plans to account for household pets and service animals before, during, and after a disaster?

Answer: Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act of 2006

The PETS Act amended the Stafford Act to require plans for household pets and service animals.

A homeowner's insurance has already paid for their storm-damaged roof. Why will FEMA's Individuals and Households Program not pay for the same repair?

Answer: Federal law prohibits duplication of benefits

The Stafford Act bars FEMA from paying for losses already covered by insurance or another source.

Before requesting a major disaster declaration, which assessment do state and FEMA teams usually conduct together to document impacts?

Answer: Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment

Joint PDAs by federal, state, tribal, and local officials document damage to support the declaration request.