Below you get a little indicator of the type of Incident Response mechanisms FEMA is using for this. I am not familiar with IMAT, but I am familiar with Incident Command, and that is exactly what will be used to coordinate these efforts. The best part is Australia is fully on board with Incident Command as well, and this is a prime example of using a universal command language and system to unify the effort. –Matt
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US, Australia lead Samoa relief mission
by Amy Coopes
Wed Sep 30, 2009
SYDNEY (AFP) – Australia, New Zealand and the United States led immediate pledges of assistance to the Samoan islands after a devastating 8.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami which killed dozens.
US President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in the remote Pacific territory American Samoa, where at least 14 people were killed when a massive wall of water swept over the US-administered island early Tuesday local time.
“The president tonight declared a major disaster exists in the territory of American Samoa and ordered federal aid to supplement territory and local recovery efforts in the area struck by an earthquake, tsunami, and flooding,” a statement from the White House said.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Australia stood ready to assist the neighbouring island of Samoa, which gained independence from New Zealand in 1962, and where dozens more people died, including a number of tourists.
“We see our friends in Samoa as part of our Pacific family and therefore, when natural disaster strikes, Australia has always stood ready to assist them,” Rudd said.
Two military aircraft were on standby in Sydney awaiting final confirmation from Samoan authorities, and Rudd said Canberra stood ready to provide “all forms of practical assistance in dealing with the aftermath of this natural disaster.”
Neighbouring New Zealand dispatched an Orion aircraft to join the coastal search for survivors and help assess damage to villages, roads and infrastructure, said that country’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully.
“A C130 Hercules is also on standby to carry emergency supplies to Samoa if needed,” he added.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency also sent two emergency teams to the region and pre-positioned supplies in Hawaii that could be used for emergency response.
Australia’s parliamentary secretary for aid Bob McMullan said Canberra would lead a joint Pacific relief response with France and New Zealand on behalf of the international community.
He said the details were yet to be finalised but he anticipated the response would focus on medical and search and rescue efforts.
Temporary shelters and water purification equipment would also be a priority, McMullan said, adding that he expected supplies and personnel to leave for Samoa before nightfall.
“This is a well-governed country with a well developed national response strategy which has gone into place, but it’s just too big a challenge for a country of this size and so of course as a friend and a neighbour and the biggest country in the region it’s our responsibility to assist, which we’re pleased to do,” McMullan said.
He also flagged possible assistance to Tonga, once the situation there had been assessed.
Story here.
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Statement From FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate
Release Date: September 29, 2009Release Number: 1859-Statement
“The Federal Emergency Management Agency has activated its National Response Coordination Center, as well as our Regional Response Coordination Center in Region IX, in order to support American Samoa as they respond to the earthquake and resulting tsunami in the Pacific Ocean. Working closely with the US Coast Guard, FEMA is deploying an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) as well as a Planning and Response Team (PRT) to American Samoa to provide support and on the ground assessment. FEMA, who has provisions pre-positioned in a distribution center in Hawaii, is also preparing to send supplies as needed. We remain in contact with the leadership of American Samoa and our federal partners and will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that there are no unmet needs in the territory or in other potentially impacted regions. As we take the steps necessary to address the situation, our thoughts and prayers are with the people in the affected communities that have been impacted by this event.”
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 29-Sep-2009 22:36:11
Link to FEMA site here.