Everyone wants to be prepared when disaster strikes.
We support governments and emergency personnel around the world to prepare for, mitigate, and respond to emergencies.
The fundamental objective of our emergency management program, in collaboration with the Forest Service, is to help partner countries integrate relevant and adaptable components of the U.S. National Incident Management System into their disaster management systems. The aim is to increase emergency management capacity while ensuring sustainability and institutionalization of introduced systems.
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is a management framework for integrating personnel, equipment, procedures, facilities and communications during emergency events. NIMS enables a structured response to all types of incidents, including: Wildfire | Hurricanes | Floods | Earthquakes | Planned Events
THE GOAL: Assist countries and regions to shorten their emergency response time and distribute resources and aid more effectively to save lives and protect property.
We apply Forest Service’s domestic and international expertise to enhance disaster management systems around the globe. We support uptake of the following NIMS components:
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This phase establishes the area of focus for the program through consultations, review of current disaster management practices, identification of relevant U.S. concepts and systems, and initial adaptations for the local context. Partner institutions and focal points are identified and formalized.
SAMPLE ACTIVITIES: Brainstorming Workshop | Consultations | Develop Training Plan | Policy & Plan Review
Provides robust, intensive training in identified systems, with focus on a train the trainer program. It includes course contextualization and coaching and mentoring of the initial offering of course.
SAMPLE ACTIVITIES:
Formal Training: ICS, EOC, Interagency Coordination, Exercise Design, Leadership, Emergency Support Function, Wildfire Suppression & Prevention | Consultation for Course | Contextualization | Study Tour
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Supports the field-level use of systems during actual disasters or planned events. It may include pilot testing of systems at a local or regional level to evaluate and further contextualize training materials and operational procedures.
SAMPLE ACTIVITIES: Formation of Incident Management Teams | Develop & Conduct Exercises | Coaching & Mentoring During Disasters & Incidents | Support for Planned Events
Assists the host government in integrating adapted disaster management systems into national legal and policy mechanisms and establishing standards for training and certificate programs.
SAMPLE ACTIVITIES: Embedded Technical Assistance | Development of Field Operations Guides | Training & Certification Standards | Position Task Books | Exercise Programs
USDS IPT is continuing its partnership with Mississippi State University to support Wildlife Disease Ecology & One Health programs aimed at safeguarding public health, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring rapid responses to emerging disease outbreaks. IPT has added $159,062to its grant, bringing total project funding to $580,876 to date.
This initiative strengthens national preparedness by training students and researchers to understand how landscape changes, including deforestation and illegal logging, impact both human and wildlife disease dynamics. One notable focus is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD),which affects deer populations in at least 29 states, including Mississippi.CWD threatens herd health, hunting opportunities, and imposes economic challenges on wildlife management agencies.