Emergency Preparedness and Response
Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS)
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Some activities and responsibilities for OEMHS are listed below.
- Manage and implement the Agency’s Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) at the Headquarters and Regional levels;
- Coordinate Communication Strategies for a consistent Agency message on emergency management issues to our employees, stakeholders, and partners in emergency management;
- Develop an open source information gathering/analysis and surveillance network to monitor threats to the National Agriculture and Food Sectors;
- APHIS-wide emergency management planning coordination and leadership;
- Emergency response support and cross-program coordination;
- Integration of APHIS emergency management operations into the framework of the National Response Plan (NRP), including the adoption of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS);
- Ensure compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs);
- Improved coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other emergency management entities;
- Clarify and document emergency management policies and procedures;
- Encourage the improvement of emergency administrative support capabilities;
- Support the Emergency Management Leadership Council (EMLC) and APHIS units without their own emergency response staff.
- Develop emergency management training plans for APHIS emergency responders;
- Develop an APHIS emergency responder identification and rostering database;
- Develop all hazards response plans for emergencies APHIS could potentially respond to.