Emergency Services Sector: Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources

Sector Overview

The Emergency Services Sector (ESS) is a system of response and recovery elements that forms the nation's first line of defense and prevention and reduction of consequences from any terrorist attack. It is a sector of trained and tested personnel, plans, redundant systems, agreements, and pacts that provide life safety and security services across the nation via the First-Responder Community comprised of federal, state, local, tribal, and private partners.

The ESS is representative of the following first-responder disciplines: emergency management, emergency medical services, fire, hazardous material, law enforcement, bomb squads, tactical operations/special weapons assault teams, and search and rescue. All first-responders within the ESS are individuals possessing specialized training from one or more of these disciplines.

The ESS has numerous interdependencies with all critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) sectors. Most significantly, it is the primary protector for all other CIKR, including nuclear reactors, chemical plants, and dams. All other CIKR facilities depend on the ESS to assist with planning, prevention, and mitigation activities, as well as respond to day-to-day incidents and catastrophic situations.