R. Jerry Adams, Ph.D.

In order to respond effectively to a disaster, every level of government needs to agree on basic command and control responsibilities. The following checklist will help local, state, and federal authorities see discrepancies in their understanding--in time for them to gain agreement before the next disaster, thus saving lives as well as property.

A. Type of respondent (check one):
Mayor/Mayor's Office ___
County/County Commissioner's Office ___
Governor/Governor's Office ___ Red Cross/Private Disaster Relief Agency ___
FEMA/Federal Disaster Office ___
President/President's Office ___

B. Type of disaster (check one):
Hurricane ___
Flood/Tsunami ___
Earthquake ___
Water contamination ___
Air contamination ___
Food/food chain contamination ___
Terrorist Attack/Bomb(s) ___


For the type of disaster selected above, please specify by number (below) who is the lead at a local, state, and national level and overall for each area of command and control authority.
1. local police
2. local fire
3. local hospital(s)/medical emergency team(s)
4. County Health
5. Mayor
6. County Social Services
7. County Commissioner(s)
8. State reserves
9. State police
10. Governor
11. Private Contractor(s)
12. National Guard
13. U.S. Military
14. FEMA
15. Red Cross/Private Disaster Relief Agency
16. FBI
17. Coast Guard
18. NIH/Centers for Disease Control
19. Homeland Security
20. President
21. Other (Specify: ___________________)

Examples:
A Local 5   State 10   Federal 20   and  Overall 20   For declaring an emergency
D Local 5   State -      Federal -      and   Overall 5     For controlling traffic within and out of a city


A Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For declaring an emergency
B Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For emergency communications
C Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For requiring and enforcing evacuations
D Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For controlling traffic within and out of a city
E Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For ensuring transportation for the hospitalized
F Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For ensuring transportation for the poor or handicapped
G Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For identifying emergency shelters
H Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For equipping and staffing emergency shelters
I   Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For equipping and staffing emergency medical centers
J  Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For providing water, food, electricity, and toilets to shelters
K Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For identifying emergency shelters
L  Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For equipping and staffing emergency shelters
M Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For security against looters and mobs
N Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For rescue operations
O Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For matching incoming donations/aid with local needs
P Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For closing/opening interstate/international commerce
Q Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For quarantining R Local __ State __ Federal __ and Overall __ For follow-up support to evacuees