§ 502.5 - Department of the Army policies and designation of responsibilities.

(a) Military commanders will conduct relief operations in the event of emergency as described in § 502.4(c), or when directed by higher military authority or by direction of OEP under Pub. L. 875.

(b) Use of military resources and other military participation in disaster relief will be on a minimum essential basis and terminated at the earliest practicable time. Military assistance in rehabilitation following a disaster is not authorized, except as directed by the OEP, or in support of emergency operations conducted by the Corps of Engineers as authorized by law.

(c) Federal troops used in disaster relief activities will be under command of, and directly responsible to, their military superiors.

(d) National Guard forces, if not in active Federal service, will remain under control of the State governor and will be considered part of the local resources available to civil authorities. Federally owned National Guard equipment may accompany a unit when ordered into disaster relief operations by a governor.

(e) The Commanding General, U.S. Continental Army Command (CG -USCONARC) is delegated responsibility for the conduct of Army support activities. Specifically he—

(1) Is, under the provisions of §§ 502.1 through 502.5, assigned responsibility for the conduct of military disaster relief in the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia.

(2) Will be prepared to conduct disaster relief operations as appropriate in Mexico or Canada upon direction of the Department of the Army.

(3) Will coordinate and insure establishment of joint control of the disaster relief efforts of all DOD components. In local disasters not warranting a declaration of a major disaster, local civil authorities can be expected to make appeals for assistance direct to installations or activities other than those operated by the Department of the Army.

(4) Will report to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations by the fastest electrical means when resources of DOD components are committed to disaster relief or when disaster conditions prevail that make commitment of DOD resources imminent.

(5) Will, as appropriate, furnish available personnel and resources to District and Division Engineers of the Corps of Engineers prosecuting a flood fight under provisions of Pub. L. 99, or acting in response to a disaster relief directive from OEP under provisions of Pub. L. 875.

(6) Will establish and maintain liaison with the Directors of OEP and OCD, the American National Red Cross, and such other Federal, State, and local governmental agencies as are necessary to discharge responsibilities under §§ 502.1 through 502.5.

(7) Has full authority to approve or disapprove personal requests for military assistance made by a State governor or a member of Congress. This authority will not be delegated lower than ZI army commanders. Information on such requests and action taken will be furnished to Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations, Department of the Army, Washington, DC, 20310.

(8) Will insure that ZI army commanders have an effective natural disaster information plan for use in the event of military operations. The plan should provide for early dispatch of information personnel to the scene.

(f) ZI army commanders are specifically charged, under the overall direction of CG USCONARC, with supporting disaster relief operations, and they—

(1) Will establish and maintain, as appropriate, liaison with Regional Directors, OEP and OCD, area offices of the American National Red Cross and other Federal, State, and local governmental agencies.

(2) Will establish and maintain, as necessary, working relationships with appropriate DOD component headquarters, class II installations and Division/District Engineers to insure coordination of the overall military disaster relief effort within the Army area and will secure necessary information from such installations as required for reports.

(3) Will assume control of resources made available by class II installations and activities for disaster assistance. If class II installation or activity resources are required but have not been made available by the activity commander, the ZI army commander will forward a request with justification through command channels to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations, Department of the Army. In those cases where commanders are unable to communicate with Headquarters, Department of the Army, and where in the opinion of the ZI army commander concerned, the extreme emergency warrants the temporary use of such resources, he will direct their use and report this action through command channels to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations.

(4) Will, upon request, make resources available to District and Division Engineers performing a flood fight under provisions of Pub. L. 99 and/or support the Corps of Engineers response to directive from OEP under provisions of Pub. L. 875.

(5) Will coordinate the military relief effort with assistance provided by the Corps of Engineers under statutory authorities of the Chief of Engineers or as directed by the OEP under Pub. L. 875.

(g) Class II installation and activity commanders are responsible for supporting disaster relief efforts under the provisions of §§ 502.1 through 502.5, and they—

(1) Will take action in local disasters of imminent seriousness as appropriate. Such action will be reported concurrently to his headquarters and to the respective ZI army commander.

(2) Will, upon the request of the ZI army commander, designate those resources under their control which can be made immediately available for disaster relief operations. Only such resources will be placed under the operational control of the ZI army commander or Division/District Engineer conducting relief operations.

(h) The Chief of Engineers is responsible for the provision of disaster assistance by applicable Division and District Engineers when required by disaster of imminent seriousness and as authorized by statutory authorities or as directed by the OEP under Pub. L. 875. He will—

(1) Insure that Division and District Engineers establish and maintain appropriate liaison with ZI army commanders, regional Directors of OCD and OEP, the American National Red Cross, and other Federal, State and local governmental agencies as necessary to discharge assigned responsibilities.

(2) Furnish the ZI army commanders concerned all pertinent information on floods or other natural disas- ters including activities undertaken by the Corps of Engineers. Information furnished will be by the fastest electrical means and consistent with reporting requirements placed on ZI army commanders.

(3) Insure that Engineers preplanned procedures for disaster operations are coordinated among Division/District Engineers and the ZI army commanders, and include provisions covering flood emergencies.