Incident Command Post (ICP) staffing and assistance.

NOAA Fisheries offers local expertise and technical assistance and guidance to Unified Command Centers regarding our trust resources.  Depending upon the location and nature of a disaster event, agency employees may staff the Command Post, or otherwise support wildlife response, shoreline cleanup and assessment technique operations, and other field activities as assigned.  Our ICP services may include:

• Coordinating reconnaissance for protected resources.
• Receiving reports of oiled, injured or distressed marine mammals and sea turtles through the wildlife reporting hotline (if activated), and relaying information to network responders in the field.
• Activating and coordinating personnel, equipment, transportation, and material response resources through the Command Post.
• Coordinating de-oiling and rehabilitation of affected marine mammals and sea turtles.
• Coordinating necropsy and sampling protocols.
• Considering and implementing hazing options.
• Working with the Environmental Unit to implement best management practices.
• Facilitating ephemeral data collection for the Natural Resource Damage Assessment team.
• Reporting out numbers of affected animals.
• Facilitating contact between NOAA Fisheries public information officers and the Joint Information Center on issues related to our trust resources.

The nature and duration of services provided will depend on the services requested by the ICP, the type and scope of event, and the availability of staff resources.