Remote Sensing SOP - FEMA.gov

1 Remote SensingIn Federal Disaster OperationsJune 1999 Standard Operating Emergency Management AgencyFEMA has developed four levels of operational guidance for use by emergency teams andother personnel involved in conducting or supporting disaster operations. This documentcorresponds to the level highlighted in bold 1 OverviewA brief concept summary of a disaster-relatedfunction, team, or 2 SOP orOperationsManualA complete reference document, detailing theprocedures for performing a single function(Standard Operating Procedure), or a number ofinterdependent functions (Ops Manual).Level 3 Field OperationsGuide (FOG) orHandbookA durable pocket or desk guide, containing essentialnuts-and-bolts information needed to performspecific assignments or 4 Job AidA checklist or other aid for job performance or document is consistent with and supports the Federal Response Plan (FRP) forimplementation of the Robert T.

2 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act,as amended, 42 5121, et Sensing Standard Operating 1999iRECORD OF CHANGESC hange EnteredPosted ByRemote Sensing Standard Operating 1999iiTHIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANKR emote Sensing Standard Operating 1999iiiFOREWORDThis Remote Sensing Standard Operating Procedures identifies and outlines thepolicies, procedures, and responsibilities associated with the use of Remote Sensing andancillary data to support and facilitate disaster and emergency response operations. Itdirectly supports -- and is applicable to all Federal departments and agencies operatingunder -- the Federal Response Plan (FRP). Within fema , the responsibility fordisaster-related Remote Sensing coordination is assigned to the Response andRecovery Directorate (at Headquarters) or Division (at Regions).

3 Within a FRPenvironment, the field-level responsibility for Remote Sensing coordination is vested inthe Information and Planning Section of the applicable Federal response element ( ,Emergency Response Team or Regional Operations Center Staff).Questions, comments, and suggested improvements related to this document areencouraged. Inquiries, information, and requests for additional copies should bedirected in writing to fema , Response and Recovery Directorate, Operations andPlanning Division, Assessment and Analysis Branch, 500 C Street SW - Room 606,Washington, DC [Signed June 1999]_____Lacy E. SuiterExecutive Associate DirectorResponse and Recovery DirectorateRemote Sensing Standard Operating 1999ivTHIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANKR emote Sensing Standard Operating 1999vTABLE OF CONTENTSRECORD OF CHANGES.

4 IFOREWORD .. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS ..I-2C. CAPABILITY DESCRIPTION .. Imagery .. Imagery .. I-3D. RESPONSIBILITIES .. Response Team (ERT) Responsibilities .. and Local Responsibilities .. Regional Office Headquarters Responsibilities .. Agency Responsibilities .. States Department of the Interior (DOI).. Applications Committee (CAC) .. Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA).. I-7II. OPERATIONS AND PROCEDURES ..II-1A. ASSUMPTIONS ..II-1B. ESTABLISHING A REQUIREMENT ..II-1C. ASSIGNING THE REQUIREMENT ..II-3D. STAND DOWN ..II-6 III. SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS AND LOGISTICS ..III-1B. COMMUNICATIONS ..III-1C. INFORMATION SYSTEMS ..III-1D. PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.

5 III-2E. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ..III-2 Remote Sensing Standard Operating 1999viIV. PLANS, REPORTS, AND IV-1A. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF INFORMATION .. IV-1B. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS .. IV-2C. PLANNING .. IV-2D. REPORTING .. IV-2E. RECORDS MANAGEMENT .. IV-2F. AFTER-ACTION REPORTING .. IV-2V. OPERATING FACILITIES .. V-1VI. TRAINING AND EXERCISES .. VI-1A. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS .. VI-1B. EXERCISES .. VI-1 APPENDICESAPPENDIX A - A-1 APPENDIX B - ACROYNMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .. B-1 APPENDIX C - POINTS OF CONTACT .. C-1 APPENDIX D - JOB AIDS AND OTHER SUPPORT INFORMATION .. D-1 LIST OF FIGURESFIGURE I-1: Remote Sensing Request and Support Flow ..I-2 FIGURE D-1: RSC Checklist .. D-1 FIGURE D-2: Remote Sensing Request Preparation Checklist.

6 D-2 FIGURE D-3: Sample RFA Form (For EDC Support).. D-4 FIGURE D-4: SAMPLE RFA FORM (For DOD Support) .. D-5 FIGURE D-5: SAMPLE ERT 40-1 FORM (For Commercial Support).. D-6 Remote Sensing Standard Operating 1999I-1I. OVERVIEWThe most critical and coveted, yet situationally difficult category of information to captureimmediately following a disaster is accurate and timely intelligence about the scope,extent, and impact of the event. The reason such information is important should beevident: intelligent and effective response decisions are dependent on a crediblecharacterization of the situation and identification of potential and verifiable jurisdictionalneeds.

7 Unfortunately, the environmental and infrastructural trauma resulting from thedisaster may hinder or prevent the timely acquisition of such information throughconventional collection methods, such as ground surveys or telephonic , it is possible (and in some cases probable) that scattered or sustained outagesto communications systems and transportation corridors will adversely impact the abilityof initial response elements to assess and report on damages and critical needs. It isduring these periods of diminished information collection capability that Remote sensingsystems can provide a highly effective alternative means of gathering intelligence. Thepurpose of this Remote Sensing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) document is toprovide specific guidance on the use of these assets to support effective decision-making during response INTRODUCTION AND Sensing is the acquisition of information via aerial or satellitesensors.

8 Such information, particularly imagery obtained from satellite platforms, maybe of limited value in and of itself. However, when evaluated by expert analysts, suchimagery can reveal or yield important intelligence. That intelligence -- in the form ofanalysis -- may then be integrated into geographic information systems (GIS) toproduce map-based or tabular products that are operationally exploitable by emergencymanagers and decision-makers at all levels of the response Information. This type of information (typicallyelectro-optical photography, but also including radar, infrared, and multispectralimagery) is obtained from sensors aboard manned and/or unmanned aircraft.

9 Eithercommercial or federal sources may be used to provide manned aerial support, asdetermined by the needs of the particular situation. Unmanned aerial support isavailable through military and commercial Information. This type of information (typicallyelectro-optical photography, but also including radar, infrared, and multispectralimagery) is obtained from sensors aboard geostationary or orbiting , commercial or unclassified federal satellites are used to provide imagerysupport, although support may be requested from classified National Technical Means(NTM) satellites under certain capabilities available through Remote Sensing systems are integral tothe situation assessment process and, as such, directly support information andplanning activities.

10 Remotely sensed information can prove valuable to emergencymanagers throughout the life cycle of the event, from emerging threat through the post- Remote Sensing Standard Operating 1999I-2disaster recovery phase. This SOP describes the methods to be used for requesting orcoordinating Remote Sensing support of Federal Response Plan (FRP) operations andactivities. The procedures in this SOP are not applicable to activities or requirementsoccurring outside the authority of the SUMMARY OF OPERATIONSThe disaster-related Remote Sensing tasking and acquisition process begins with theidentification of an information requirement that can only be satisfied through theapplication of Remote Sensing .