DHS_fema_SR.eps 


 


Fact Sheet 

 


Disaster Emergency Communications 

 


As a national leader in the field of Disaster Emergency Communications (DEC), FEMA coordinates the 
federal government’s response, continuity efforts and restoration of essential communications before, 
during, and after an incident or planned event. Working closely with federal, state, tribal, and other 
mission partners, FEMA helps to unify the efforts of all responders around one common 
communication goal: the delivery of information to emergency management decision makers. Having 
a single, shared communications vision promotes an interagency system of interoperable 
communications capabilities across all levels of government to ensure mission-critical information and 
situational awareness. 

Communications and information systems 

Establishing and maintaining effective disaster emergency communications and information systems is 
critical to FEMA’s role in coordinating the federal government’s response, continuity efforts, and 
restoration of essential services. The DEC Division in the Response Directorate ensures effective 
communications by: 

• Providing and supporting tactical operable and interoperable voice, video, and information 
systems for emergency response teams 
• Developing effective command and control communications frameworks 
• Supporting the coordination and delivery of secure communications solutions 
• Identifying and documenting mission-critical disaster emergency communications and 
information systems capabilities, requirements, solutions, and mitigation strategies 
• Promoting communications interoperability with federal, state, tribal, and local emergency 
response providers 


Rapidly deployable equipment 

FEMA’s DEC Division can rapidly deploy Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) capability to 
provide secure and non-secure voice, video, and information services, operations, and logistics 
support to response operations, FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs), Urban Search 
& Rescue (US&R) teams, National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) teams, and other joint federal and 
State response teams in resource-constrained environments. MERS can build out and support Interim 
Operating Facilities (IOFs), Joint Field Offices (JFOs), Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), and other 
incident infrastructure. Additionally, MERS can bridge disparate communications systems to integrate 
Essential Support Functions (ESFs), National Guard, and federal departments and agencies with 
regional, state, tribal, and local partners. 


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FEMA’s DEC Division and the DEC Branch in the JFO execute FEMA’s ESF #2 co-primary responsibility 
to support public safety communications during a disaster and, in conjunction with the National 
Communications System and ESF #2 support organizations, coordinate the restoration of commercial 
radio, broadcast, and other communications systems and capabilities. 

Preparedness and coordination 

To further facilitate preparedness and coordination, FEMA DEC supports the development of regional 
deliberate and catastrophic disaster plans to include state-specific communications annexes, and 
supports the Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Groups (RECCWGs) in all 
10 FEMA regions to address key emergency communications issues. RECCWG membership includes 
emergency response organizations from federal, state, tribal, and local governments, 
nongovernmental organizations, and private sector entities.