JP 3-28, page 32
Defense Support of Civil Authorities
Joint Publication: Defense Support of Civil Authorities
29 October 2018 public edition (Wayback JCS copy; S2 cited as JP 328 / JP 3-28 DSCA)
Searchable page text (OCR / PDF)
Chapter I
I-10
JP 3-28
incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity. It includes a core set of
concepts, principles, terminology, and technologies covering the incident command system
(ICS); multiagency coordination systems; unified command; training; identification and
management of resources (including systems for classifying types of resources);
qualifications and certification; and the collection, tracking, and reporting of incident
information and incident resources. The components of the NIMS include resource
management, command and coordination, and communications and information
management support response.
(2) The ICS, multiagency coordination systems, and public information systems
are the fundamental elements of the NIMS that direct incident operations; acquire,
coordinate, and deliver resources to incident sites; and share information about the incident
with the public.
(3) When both local and state resources and capabilities are overwhelmed,
governors may request interstate and federal assistance; however, NIMS is designed to
allow local jurisdictional authorities to retain command, control, and authority over the
response. Adhering to NIMS allows all agencies to better utilize limited resources.
i. The NRF and NIMS are designed to improve the nation’s incident management
capabilities and overall efficiency. During incidents requiring significant federal support,
the NRF and NIMS integrate the capabilities and resources of various governmental
jurisdictions, incident management and emergency response disciplines, NGOs, and the
private sector into a cohesive, coordinated, and seamless national response. A basic
premise of both the NIMS and the NRF is that incidents are generally handled at the lowest
jurisdictional level possible. In the vast majority of incidents, local resources and local
mutual aid provides the first line of emergency response and incident management.
A detailed discussion of the NRF and NIMS is contained in Appendix A, “National Incident
Management System Overview.”
j. Emergency Support Functions (ESFs). ESFs provide the structure to coordinate
federal interagency support for a federal response to an incident. They are resources and
capabilities grouped to provide federal support to states and federal-to-federal support, both
for declared disasters and emergencies under Title 42, USC, Chapter 68, Section 5121, The
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (commonly referred to
as the Stafford Act), where the President has declared a federal disaster or emergency and
for non-Stafford Act incidents (non-Stafford Act events are defined as events that have
recovery requirements exceeding the capability of individuals and the local community,
but do not exceed the capabilities of the state). ESFs are not based on the capabilities of a
single USG department or agency, and the functions for which they are responsible cannot
be accomplished by any single department or agency. Appendix B, “Emergency Support
Functions,” describes the roles and responsibilities of federal departments and agencies as
ESF primary agencies.