JP 3-28, Civil Support - Federation of American Scientists

Department of Defense Operational Environment
(10) Since CS missions may involve lifesaving responses, this process will be rapidly executed
to expedite the prompt movement of forces and support. DOD cannot provide support without SecDef
approval of an official request from state or federal agency or direction from the President, or unless
specifically authorized in existing policy or regulation.
(11) If a disaster is of such proportions to generate mass casualties in need of evacuation,
DOD supports the primary agency(ies) for this function under the National Disaster Medical System
(NDMS) (once the NDMS has been activated and an official request for patient evacuation has been
submitted by proper state authorities).
(12) The CCDRs responsible for CS (CDRUSNORTHCOM; Commander, US Pacific
Command [CDRUSPACOM]; and Commander, US Southern Command [CDRUSSOUTHCOM])
incorporate plans for CS by task organizing their commands to accomplish CS missions as well as other
assigned missions. DOD is a signatory to numerous response plans as well as various memoranda of
understanding and memoranda of agreement with other agencies; therefore, DOD may play a critical
role in CS and may be relied upon by many agencies.
(13) The response measures taken by DOD will be in accordance with (IAW) the unmet
demands of the incident, its capabilities, current laws, Presidential directives, executive orders (EOs),
and DOD policies, directives, and orders.
3. Immediate Response
a. Under imminently serious conditions, when time does not permit approval from higher
headquarters, any local military commander, or responsible officials of other DOD components may,
subject to any supplemental direction provided by their higher headquarters, and in response to a
request from civil authorities, provide immediate response to save lives, prevent human suffering, or
mitigate great property damage.
b. In the case of a requirement for an immediate federal response to a serious situation in the
maritime domain, the MOTR plan allows rapid response to short-notice threats and directs interagency
partners to begin coordination activities (MOTR conference calls) at the earliest possible opportunity. It
also provides guidance in predesignating federal agencies with lead responsibilities, clarifying interagency
roles and responsibilities, and establishing protocols and procedures that are utilized for a coordinated
response to achieve the USG’s desired outcome. MOTR lead and supporting roles are developed
from the following criteria:
(1) USG desired outcome.
(2) Agency authorities.
(3) Agency capabilities.
(4) Agency capacities.
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