Fact Sheet  
Response Planning for Satellite Reentry 

  BACKGROUND  
 
The Department of Defense (DoD) has the lead role through reentry and impact of the satellite.  Experts from across DoD and the U.S. government have been working diligently to assess the potential hazards associated with the satellite debris.  
 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in close coordination with its federal partners from DOD, the Department of Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Guard Bureau, the Federal Aviation Administration and others, have been planning for and are ready to respond to the situation should the reentry impact the Continental U.S. or its territories.   
 
Although this is a unique situation, FEMA often is involved in the consequence planning of events such as the State of the Union, Super Bowl or national conventions.  Plus, lessons learned from the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster over Texas have provided FEMA with critical insight towards planning, preparing and responding to this event. 
 
 
FEMA’S ROLE TO SUPPORT FEDERAL MISSION  
 
FEMA, in its role as the lead consequence management agency, is taking a precautionary posture with response planning in the unlikely event that satellite debris does land on U.S. soil.  
 
FEMA Regional Offices have been reaching out to states and locals to ensure they are aware of the potential impact to the U.S., even though the possibility for impact is low.   
 
FEMA has developed and distributed a first responder guide collaboratively with the Department of Defense and other members of our federal interagency community to support local responders should the event warrant it.   
 
FEMA has developed partnerships with a number of federal agencies who may be involved in the consequence management aspects of the event.   
 
FEMA has its National Response Coordination Center and its Regional Response Coordination Centers on alert in case response is needed.   
 
FEMA has placed Regional Emergency Response Teams on standby to deploy to an affected area should the need arise.   
 
Six Federal Interagency Support Task Forces around the country will be immediately available to assist the state(s) in their response if needed. 
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 These teams are comprised of FEMA’s hazardous material-qualified Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces, HHS medical support personnel, the EPA, FEMA’s Mobile Emergency Response System (MERS), and U.S. Coast Guard hazardous material specialists.   



 
Additionally, FEMA has pre-identified a Federal Coordinating Officer and has assembled deployable support staff at FEMA Headquarters to lead the federal response effort who has been working on planning for the potential event.   
 
In addition, other federal assets are on alert and prepared to respond as needed.  
 
Additional information regarding the satellite reentry and pertinent links can be obtained by visiting the FEMA website at: www.FEMA.gov.  
 
FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.  
  
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