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Appendix F. Emergency Support Functions (ESFs)

Table 14: Emergency Support Functions (Last Updated: July 31, 2020)

Emergency Support FunctionPurposeLead Agency(s)
ESF #1 – Transportation AnnexProvides support by assisting local, state, tribal, territorial, insular area, and federal governmental entities, voluntary organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector in the management of transportation systems and infrastructure during domestic threats or in response to actual or potential incidents.Department of Transportation
ESF #2 – Communications AnnexSupports the restoration of communications infrastructure, coordinates communications support to response efforts, facilitates the delivery of information to emergency management decision makers, and assists in the stabilization and reestablishment of systems and applications during incidents.Department of Homeland Security/National Protection and Programs Directorate and Federal Emergency Management Agency
ESF #3 – Public Works and Engineering AnnexCoordinates and organizes the resources of the Federal Government to facilitate the delivery of multiple core capabilities.Department of Defense/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
ESF #4 – Firefighting AnnexProvides federal support for the detection and suppression of wildland, rural, and urban fires resulting from, or occurring coincidentally with, an all-hazards incident requiring a coordinated national response for assistance.Department of Agriculture/Forest Service
ESF #5 – Information and Planning AnnexCollects, analyzes, processes, and disseminates information about a potential or actual incident, and conducts deliberate and crisis action planning activities to facilitate the overall activities in providing assistance to the whole community.Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency
ESF #6 – Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing, and Human Services AnnexCoordinates and provides life-sustaining resources, essential services, and statutory programs when the needs of disaster survivors exceed local, state, tribal, territorial, and insular area government capabilities.Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency American Red Cross
ESF #7 – Logistics AnnexIntegrates whole community logistics incident planning and support for timely and efficient delivery of supplies, equipment, services, and facilities. Facilitates comprehensive logistics planning, technical assistance, training, education, exercise, incident response, and sustainment that leverage the capability and resources of federal logistics partners, public and private stakeholders, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in support of both responders and disaster survivors.General Services Administration Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency
ESF #8 – Public Health and Medical Services AnnexProvides the mechanism for federal assistance to supplement local, state, tribal, territorial, and insular area resources in response to a disaster, emergency, or incident that may lead to a public health, medical, behavioral, or human service emergency, including those that have international implications. Department of Health and Human Services
ESF #9 – Search and Rescue (SAR) AnnexDeploys federal SAR resources to provide lifesaving assistance to local, state, tribal, territorial, and insular area authorities, including local SAR Coordinators and Mission Coordinators, when there is an actual or anticipated request for federal SAR assistance.Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Coast Guard Department of the Interior/National Park Service Department of Defense
ESF #10 – Oil and Hazardous Materials Response AnnexProvides federal support in response to an actual or potential discharge and/or release of oil or hazardous materials.Environmental Protection Agency Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Coast Guard
ESF #11 – Agriculture and Natural Resources AnnexOrganizes and coordinates federal support for the protection of the nation’s agricultural and natural and cultural resources during national emergencies. Works during actual and potential incidents to provide nutrition assistance; respond to animal and agricultural health issues; provide technical expertise, coordination and support of animal and agricultural emergency management; ensure the safety and defense of the nation’s supply of meat, poultry, and processed egg products; and ensure the protection of natural and cultural resources and historic properties.Department of Agriculture Department of the Interior
ESF #12 – Energy AnnexProvides support to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by assisting local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal government entities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector by coordinating government capabilities, services, technical assistance, and engineering expertise during disasters and incidents that require a coordinated federal response. The term “energy” includes producing, storing, refining, transporting, generating, transmitting, conserving, building, distributing, maintaining, and controlling energy systems and system components.Department of Energy
ESF #13 – Public Safety and Security AnnexProvides federal public safety and security assistance to local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal organizations overwhelmed by the results of an actual or anticipated natural/manmade disaster or an act of terrorism.Department of Justice/Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
ESF #14 – Cross-Sector Business and Infrastructure AnnexSupports the coordination of cross-sector operations, including stabilization of key supply chains and community lifelines, among infrastructure owners and operators, businesses, and their government partners.Department of Homeland Security/Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency
ESF #15 – External Affairs AnnexProvides accurate, coordinated, timely, and accessible information to affected audiences, including governments, media, the private sector, and the local populace, including vulnerable populations such as children, those with disabilities, individuals with limited English proficiency, etc.Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency