Emergency Management and Physical Security | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Emergency management is a key part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission of protecting fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Our emergency management experts provide strategy and support in preparing for and responding to natural and man-made disasters.

What We Do

Our Services

The National Response Framework

The Fish and Wildlife Service provides support to National Response Framework activations, including Emergency Support Functions. Among them:

Three people-- two in orange USFWS vests-- load a boat with supplies. — A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service team prepares to transport supplies by boat to Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge in Connecticut after Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Transportation

The Fish and Wildlife Service can provide supplementary transport assets, such as light fixed-wing aircraft, vessels, boats and other watercraft, all-terrain vehicles and snow machines.

The Fish and Wildlife Service can provide support personnel, certified pilots and vessel operators.

Telecommunications and IT

As a participant with the National Interagency Fire Center and National Interagency Radio Support System, the Fish and Wildlife Service maintains radio communications systems in support of firefighters, law enforcement officers and incident response specialists.

The Fish and Wildlife Service may provide communications technical and support personnel to complement other Interior Department communications assets.

Public Works and Engineering

The Fish and Wildlife Service can provide engineering support to assist in evaluating damage to water control systems, such as dams, levees and water delivery facilities and structures.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is a member of the Interior Department’s Dam Safety and Security Committee.

People in yellow shirts and hard hats approach a downed tree. — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service firefighters join an effort to clear downed trees at El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Firefighting

The Fish and Wildlife Service assumes responsibility for fighting wildfires on lands within its jurisdiction. It assists the U.S. Forest Service and other federal and state agencies as requested.

The Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a cadre of certified firefighting personnel within the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is a member of the National Wildland Fire Coordination Group.

Emergency Management

The Fish and Wildlife Service assumes responsibility for managing or coordinating emergency responses on lands within its jurisdiction and assists other federal and state agencies on adjacent lands as requested.

Many National Wildlife Refuge System law enforcement and fire fighting personnel are certified in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency response capabilities.

Some national wildlife refuges support local community emergency management functions through local memorandums of agreement.

A small deer visits a feeder while another grazes in the background. — A Key deer gets a dose of antiparasitic topical medication as it feeds at National Key Deer Refuge in Florida after an outbreak of screwworm in 2017.

Resource Support and Logistics Management

The Fish and Wildlife Service may provide supporting material, property, facility, and transportation during emergencies as requested.

Hazardous Materials Response

The Fish and Wildlife Service has trained professional who provide scientific and technical advice, information, and assistance to prevent or minimize injury to natural, cultural and historic properties.

Fish and Wildlife Service personnel respond to spills of hazardous materials, providing scientific and technical advice about impacts on fish and wildlife and the environment. The Service maintains expertise in mitigating the effects of oil spills and hazardous materials.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

(Natural, Cultural and Historic Properties)

Fish and Wildlife Service personnel provide scientific and technical advice, information, and assistance to prevent or minimize injury to natural, cultural and historic properties.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is a member of the Interior Department's Environmental Safeguards Group.

Public Safety and Security

The Fish and Wildlife Service may provide trained personnel and resources from its Office of Law Enforcement and National Wildlife Refuge System law enforcement in support of public safety and security within the legal authorities granted.