§ 502.4 - Department of Defense policies and delegation of authority.

(a) Responsibility for alleviating disaster conditions rests primarily with individuals, families, private industry, local and State governments, the American National Red Cross, and those Federal agencies having special statutory responsibilities.

(b) DOD components are authorized to assist civilian authorities as necessary or as directed by competent authority.

(c) Where the disaster is of such imminent seriousness that delay in awaiting instructions from higher authority is unwarranted, a military commander will take such action as may be required and justified under the circumstances to save human life, prevent immediate human suffering, or mitigate major property damage or destruction. The commander will immediately report to higher authority the action taken and request appropriate guidance.

(d) DOD components have been directed to develop, as appropriate, contingency plans for major disaster operations and insure that these are coordinated with appropriate civil authorities at State and local level.

(e) DOD components overseas will participate in foreign disaster relief operations as directed by unified commanders.

(f) The Department of the Army has been directed to assume responsibility for military support in disasters within the continental United States (48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia). This includes responsibility for effective utilization, coordination, and control of resources made available by the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Air Force, and other DOD components as appropriate.

(g) The Department of the Navy has been directed to coordinate with the Department of the Army in planning and supporting civil authorities in disaster relief operations.

(h) The Department of the Air Force has been directed to coordinate with the Department of the Army in planning and supporting civil authorities in disaster relief operations including activities of the Civil Air Patrol.

(i) The Joint Chiefs of Staff have been directed to issue instructions to appropriate unified commanders to insure proper planning and use of military resources for disaster relief operations in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.