ESF#3. Under the National Response Framework, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is assigned as the primary agency for Emergency Support Function #3 – Public Works and Engineering. The Corps assists the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA by coordinating federal public works and engineering-related support, as well as providing technical assistance, engineering expertise, and construction management to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and/or recover from domestic incidents.
ESF#9. Under the National Response Framework, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is assigned as a supporting agency for Emergency Support Function #9 – Search and Rescue. FEMA is assigned as the primary agency for ESF#9. The Department of Defense, and specifically USACE, maintains a cadre of volunteer Structures Specialists (StS) to augment the National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System. Through a Mission Assignment, the StS may be deployed to support the FEMA US&R management Incident Support Team (IST). The IST makes assignments to the Corps’ StS. For a non-US&R mission, the Corps’ StS can provide “heavy assessment” under ESF#3 for a purely technical purpose.
