DHS/FEMA Technical Assistance Program

The FEMA National Preparedness Directorate, Capabilities Division (formerly part of DHS Office of Grants and Training) delivers Technical Assistance (TA) in prevention and preparedness to state and local governments and special needs jurisdictions.

To support FEMA’s Technical Assistance program, IEM developed a number of critical prevention and preparedness TA programs that state and local agencies accessed for support. Among these are assistance for development/updating emergency operations plans (EOPs) and annexes, critical infrastructure mitigation plans, continuity of operations/continuity of government (COOP/COG) plans, and evacuation plans.

Examples of IEM support through the TA program include:

• Multi-modal EOP with terrorism incident annex for the New Jersey Transit Corporation. The EOP was put to the test in 2005 when a fast-moving fire damaged a railroad bridge and disrupted service. Officials noted that IEM’s processes had a positive impact on their response to this incident.
• Technical assistance workshops and EOP development for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority.
• COOP/COG planning and development assistance for the states of New Jersey and Hawaii; and the cities of Louisville, KY; Milwaukee, WI; New Haven, CT; and Buffalo, NY, among others.
• Terrorism incident annex workshops conducted in Oklahoma City area municipalities and Minnesota border area.
• Critical infrastructure mitigation (CIM) planning assistance for Wisconsin and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Regional capability assessment and planning workshop for Richmond, VA, urban area.
• Terrorism workshop for Cook County, IL, elected officials.