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

CHAPTER III
OPERATIONS
“Our job will be to preserve the Nation’s security by defending the American people
where they live and work, and support civilian authorities as needed. We will also
prepare for the inevitability of uncertainty and surprise. This will be a team effort
from start to finish.”
1. Categories and Types of Operations
General Ralph Eberhart, USAF
Commander, US Northern Command, (2002-2004)
CS operations, for the purposes of this publication, are divided into the three broad categories of
domestic emergencies, designated law enforcement support, and other activities, based on the CS
definition. These categories, in many cases, can overlap or be in effect simultaneously, depending on the
particular circumstances of the incident. Under the categories, there are broad types of CS missions,
with examples illustrated in Figure III-1. This figure provides the structure for discussion and understanding
of CS.
a. Disasters and Declared Emergencies. DOD support in a domestic disaster or a Presidential
declaration of emergency is in support of the primary or coordinating agency(ies). Military commanders
and responsible DOD civilians may, under certain conditions, respond under immediate response authority
in order to save lives, prevent suffering, and mitigate great property damage under imminently serious
conditions. Requests for support could come with some advance notice (weather forecasts and hydrology
surveys), with short notice (intelligence indicators and geological activity indicators), but may also occur
without notice.
(1) Presidential Declarations. Under Stafford Act authority, two types of actions may be
taken, summarized as follows.
(a) Major Disaster. The President issues a major disaster declaration after
receiving a request from the governor of the affected state. Major disaster declarations may be
issued after a natural catastrophe or, “regardless of cause, fire, flood, or explosion.” A declaration
authorizes DHS to administer various federal disaster assistance programs for victims of declared
disasters. Each major disaster declaration specifies the type of incident covered, the time period
covered, the types of disaster assistance available, the counties affected by the declaration, and
the name of the FCO.
(b) Emergency. The declaration process for emergencies is similar to that used for
major disasters; the President may, however, issue an emergency declaration without a gubernatorial
request if primary responsibility rests with the federal government. An emergency declaration may be
issued on “any occasion or instance” in which the President determines that federal assistance is required.
Under an emergency declaration, the federal government funds and undertakes emergency response
activities, debris removal, and individual assistance and housing programs. Disaster relief fund expenditures
III-1