Welcome to Skagit County

September 2nd, 2005

RESOURCE DEPLOYMENT TO AID IN THE RELIEF EFFORT FOR THE HURRICANE KATRINA DISASTER

The impact of Hurricane Katrina has been significant, both for residents of the Gulf Coast and for the entire country. Needless to say, damage caused by this natural disaster has exceeded the local emergency response and management capabilities in the affected areas. It has become necessary for the United States to come together as a national community to assist our neighbors in their time of need.

Deploying resources to an incident like the Hurricane Katrina disaster is not an easy task, but one for which procedures have been established. Sending the wrong resources, or deploying resources inappropriately, only adds to the chaos inherent to this tragedy. In order to best utilize available resources, we must act in a coordinated and organized fashion. It is unacceptable for resources to self-deploy and become part of the problem, rather than part of the solution.

At this time, the National Response Plan (NRP) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) have been activated in response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Also enacted is aid through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). These plans, procedures, agreements, and systems allow for a coordinated and efficient approach to this catastrophe.

As this is an incident of national significance, the federal government is mounting a response with roles that have been pre-determined by the NRP.

As with most incidents, the NIMS is the basis for managing the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Within NIMS are principles that require resources to be checked-in to incidents, incorporated into Incident Action Plans (IAP) and the Incident Command System (ICS), continuously accounted for, and demobilized safely. Freelancing and self-deployment are contrary to the NIMS and absolutely forbidden. To secure and employ appropriate resources within the NIMS, entities like Incident Management Teams and a Multi-Agency Coordinating System are utilized.

In addition to receiving a response from the federal government, affected states can access mutual aid resources from other states through the EMAC. This compact is an agreement among states to share resources in times of emergency. Washington State is a participant in EMAC. In order for non-federal assets to deploy from Washington State, a request must be made at the state level. Internally, Washington State may make resource requests of local government through mechanisms like the fire and law enforcement mobilization systems.

Local emergency response resources should only be sent only in reply to resource requests from the incident. Skagit County Department of Emergency Management will coordinate the deployment of local resources through the state based on communication from Washington State Emergency Management Division. We are not soliciting aid from the public or other local emergency response agencies at this time.

Concerned citizens are encouraged to donate financial resources through legitimate relief organizations like the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Northwest Medical Teams, Mercy Corps, church groups, and other humanitarian organizations. Some of these organizations also make use of volunteer workers. Regardless or origin, all personnel resources should be deployed through, and incorporated into, the established Incident Command System.