Emergency Support Functions: Mass Care and Emergency Assistance

The Emergency Support Function (ESF) is responsible for providing emergency services to disaster survivors. These services range from temporary housing, rescue services, coordination, and other emergency assistance to local, state, federal, and other emergency agencies. Disasters do occur unexpectedly, and as such, the emergency response must be swift and well-coordinated. The ESF ensures that communities hit by disasters receive these services within the shortest time possible to avert human loss. Moreover, the ESF is keen to safeguard people with disabilities and marginalized communities when disaster strikes. As such, ESF collaborates with other community-based agencies to ensure that the vulnerable population is protected and have access to emergency services in times of need. During disasters, the local, state, and federal levels of governments ensure that people living in their jurisdiction receive the necessary emergency services. However, when the rescue operations overwhelm these government agencies, the ESF steps to provide further assistance.

In another instance, the ESF can provide core emergency services in situations that the government agencies do not offer. For example, the ESF can provide people with disabilities and other vulnerabilities with temporary unit housing during disasters. Giving priority to these marginalized communities can significantly mitigate inequality issues during disaster and emergency rescue operations. A category five or higher hurricane can be very catastrophic, overwhelming the local, state, and federal agencies in deploying emergency rescue services to the victims. In such a scenario, the ESF can help these agencies coordinate rescue operations to the affected communities. Hurricanes of such magnitude can destroy large portions of land, leave people devastated, and be cut off from accessing emergency services. At the community level, the ESF would be utilized to ensure individuals receive these services swiftly.

Reference 

FEMA. (n.d.). Emergency Support Function #6 – Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Temporary Housing, and Human Services Annex . fema.gov. https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1470149820826-7bcf80b5dbabe158953058a6b5108e98/ESF_6_MassCare_20160705_508.pdf