Understanding the roles and responsibilities of the US Coast Guard during a federally declared disaster
Abstract
The US Coast Guard fulfils significant roles and responsibilities during federally declared disasters, continuing to carry out its inherent functions within the broad, whole-of-government response. Under the National Response Framework, the Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinates federal assistance according to the Stafford Act. Through this framework, the Coast Guard receives mission assignments to serve as a primary or support agency to perform various tasks essential to recovery from disaster. This paper explains the nuances behind the Coast Guard’s roles and responsibilities during a federally declared disaster. Within a coordinated, well managed, whole-of-government response, the Coast Guard is an essential asset to the nation’s ability to respond and recover from disaster.
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Author's Biography
Carolyn Moberley is the Deputy Commander of the National Strike Force and Executive Officer of the National Strike Force Coordination Center, US Coast Guard. Over her 19-year career, she has supported a wide range of search and rescue, pollution and disaster responses, including Deepwater Horizon, Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.
Kelly Thorkilson is the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Incident Management Assist Team. She has over 19 years of experience in incident and emergency management, pollution response, contingency planning, and Incident Command System instruction. Commander Thorkilson holds certifications as a Coast Guard Type 1 Incident Commander and Planning Section Chief as well as a Type 2 Operations Section Chief.
Charles Clark is the Air Operations Officer at the Coast Guard Incident Management Assist Team. He is a decorated Coast Guard helicopter pilot with over 10 years of operational search and rescue and rotary-wing air intercept experience. Lieutenant Clark has responded to various major incidents including Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Dorian, both in the USA and the Bahamas.
Aaron Mcclellan is the Logistics Department Head at the Coast Guard Incident Management Assist Team. Over his 25-year career, he has responded to a wide array of emergencies and disasters, including as a US Marine search and rescue helicopter crew chief and as a volunteer county fire-fighter. Lieutenant McClellan is certified as a Coast Guard Type 2 Planning Section Chief, Type 3 Operations Section Chief, Safety Officer and Liaison Officer, and is an accomplished instructor who has taught incident command principles to over 400 professionals.
Citation
Moberley, Carolyn, Thorkilson, Kelly, Clark, Charles and Mcclellan, Aaron (2020, June 1). Understanding the roles and responsibilities of the US Coast Guard during a federally declared disaster. In the Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, Volume 13, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.69554/MVIY3534.
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