Tribal Lands and Assistance Center (TLAC) focuses on providing Tribes with emergency management resources and assistance related to the release of hazardous substances including petroleum/oil spills. See TLAC’s Superfund – Removal Actions webpage for more information. In addition to spill response, this webpage provides an approach for developing relationships that will also enhance your Tribe’s response capabilities in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, nuclear accident, or disease/virus outbreak.
Meet Your Response Partners Prior to an Emergency
Whether your Tribe has very little resources or unlimited resources to respond to an oil spill or hazardous substance release, preparing for these events with nearby Tribes, other local response organizations, and state and federal partners will improve response times and access to resources in a timely manner. Consider the following:
- Reach out to local Tribes to work with Tribal Emergency Response Commissions (TERCs) and Tribal Emergency Planning Committees (TEPCs) in your region.
- Locate Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to share information and conduct exercises.
- Keep updated with State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) and Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) activities.
- Contact federal emergency response agencies for upcoming meeting and exercise dates and learn more about federal roles and responsibilities.
- Reach out to your Emergency Communications Coordinator through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
- Request assistance from FEMA to develop and facilitate exercises.
- Contact local facilities for facility response plans (FRPs) and risk management plan (RMP) information and inquire about their participation and support with annual response exercise.
- Sign up for incident notifications with the USCG National Response Center.
- Join monthly calls facilitated by Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Division of Emergency Management and Department of Homeland Security’s as described below.
Join the Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G) Monthly Conversations
There are multiple agencies that assist federally-recognized Tribes during emergencies and disasters, as well as providing information and technical assistance, for Tribal emergency management programs. The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Division of Emergency Management (BIA EM) coordinates interagency emergency management activities related to Tribal affairs to enhance preparedness and resilience of Tribal communities for disasters and to support response activities during incident. BIA EM manages and operates the National Emergency Management Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G) to support Tribes during and after emergencies.
Contact Patrick Vacha, BIA EM Acting Director, at Patrick.Vacha@bia.gov to request email notification of events, trainings, resources, and monthly call-in information.
Join the Tribal/US Department of Homeland Security Coordination and Collaboration Monthly Calls
Contact David Munro, DHS Tribal Government Affairs Director, at david.munro@hq.dhs.gov to request email notification of events, trainings, resources, and monthly call-in information.
Additional Information:
Department of Homeland Security Organization
DHS Tribal Consultation Information
DHS Tribal Affairs Webpage and Message from Secretary Mayorkas
Watch FEMA’s Tribal Recovery Video Series
In 7 short videos, the Tribal Disaster Recovery Video Series outlines the tribal declaration pilot guidance, the disaster assistance process, and key decision points for tribal leaders. You can also download a copy of the FEMA Tribal Disaster Declaration Card. Both of these products will be a resource for all Tribal Nations and tribal leaders across the United States.
Get to Know Your Federal Neighbors
Do you know the people at the Department of Defense (DoD) facility nearest to your Tribe? If not, reach out and establish a relationship with their emergency management department. In the event of a disaster such as flooding, where your Tribal members are under imminent threat, DoD will provide immediate response.