MEETING OF THE NATIONAL DISASTER SUPPORT TASK GROUP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05703A000800020004-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2003
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: March 17, 1970
• Content Type: MFR

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PNS
,MEMORANDUM FOR: ACi
4V
Attached are three reports prepared by
on some low-key support we are
is monitoring ft+o this
effort, which is advisory only.
is also aware of these
efforts and is monitoring Agency interest.
DECLASS REVIEW by NIMA/DOD
MAY F BE M 10-101
D NO. 'OI ICH RELACES
1 AUG 54 WH USED.
3/27L7 0
(DATE)
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17 March 1970
Copy
SUBJECT: Meeting of the National Disaster Support Task Group
1. The initial meeting of the National Disaster Support Task
Group was convened at 1400 hours on 17 February 1970 at the USGS
facility in Reston, Virginia. I I was present for CIA
and I was present for NPIC. Other atten ees were:
2. welcomed the group to the Reston USGS
Facility, Committee Chairman, began.the meeting
by reading e e er written to the members of the National Disaster
Support Task Group by A copy of that letter is
attached. As stated, e aim o. Inc e Task Group is to establish an
altering system in.order to prepare for disaster coverage acquisition,
locate sources for obtaining the needed coverage, formulate an
interpretation component and institute a dissemination procedure
for both raw and analyzed data. mentioned that an
internal OEP group would be conducting a Parallel effort, the
significance of which was not mentioned. It is intended that our
Task Group will have a plan of disaster support implemented
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SUBJECT; Maat.ing of the.National Disaster Support Task Group
by the spring flood season. This means we mist be ready in six
to eight weeks.
3. An informal briefin pertaining to 'Command Control
Centers' was presented b
L_ 11 1
This
l 1.
X1 of the
is the group that established, for Mayor Washington, the command
center during the April riots in the District 'of Columbia. It
was their contention that within the Civil Defense network are
established command posts which could serve in a similar capacity
during civil emergencies. It is a waste to have these. emergency
posts standing by waiting for a war situation and not make use
of them for non-military emergencies. The point was made that
such utilization would better prepare the command post personnel
for a military activity since such civil situations would present
a real-life exercise.
Regarding the establishment of a national disaster support
program, it was opinion that a small nucleus of interested.
persons was needed to start the ball rolling. It was pointed
out that they were addressing such a nucleus. With. this in mind,
the first problem is to determine whom the disaster support system
is to be tailored to. It appears that this is
Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, who receives
his reponsibility from the President.
The next step is to survey our own group to determine which.
present resources might fit into the program. Procedures of
action should be established and funding provided by a charter.
1 0 briefers suggested that positive procedures of action,
a communications network, delegation of responsibility, and an
authoritative command chain be formulated.
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SUBJECT: Meeting of the National Disaster Support.Task.Group
S? I Jrequested that the Support Task Group
members consider, prior to the next meeting, the availability
of the following resources within their own agencies.
a. What is available in present conmand and control
nets?
b. What procedures are necessary to activate these
nets? If special action is required, what is-the cost?
c. What authority is required for network activation?
d. Once an emergency situation is declared, what
latitude of agency action will be permitted?
e. Since different disaster situations require different
methods of analysis and action, it must be determined to what
degree each agency will participate per specific type of
emergency. This tasks each member with determining what
types of disasters his agency has interest in and will
actively support. This is directly related to agency
functions and responsibilities.
The next step is to classify disasters as to type, marry this
with agency interest/responsibility and determine the required
action. This done, a plan of attack and mutual support will have
been established.
6. I spoke on-a retrospective look at the
Federal action taken to combat the devistation of Hurricane
Camille. In order to ascertain the extent of damage, the USAF
flew a reconnaissance mission to acquire the imagery, interpreters
at Reston, Va. accomplished the readout and the information was forwarded.
to the President. On the surface, this appears to be a simple,
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SUBJECT: Meeting of the National Disaster Support Task
Group
straightforward, efficient approach. However, when one looks into
the subsurface details, he forms a different opinion. In the total
Federal Camille disaster assistance effort, numerous agencies such
as Dept. of Agriculture, NASA, and Corps.. of Engineers, each had
coverage flown resulting in a duplication of effort. 25
mentioned that in providing the Office of Emergency Preparedness with
the requested coverage, the USAF employed a panoramic camera system
while metric quality photography was the actual need. F_ _j 25
countered with the statement that system type had not been specified
and the Air Force had used the closest a'iailable reconnaissance air-
craft. It was also stated that processing and printing of the material
had not been accomplished in a timely manner and the information dis-
tribution to the White House was not handled in.an expedient fashion.
It is the aim of out Task Group to correct these problems. The question
we must address is - Who is going to get what to whom when.
_7. Concerning the role of CIA and NPIC in su orting the
National Disaster Effort, I spoke with following 25
the meeting and he indicated that we wai an earn what the directly
concerned agencies have available as a course of action prior to
any commitment of CIA/NPIC resources. The next meeting is scheduled
at 1300 hours at Reston, Va. on 9 March 1970.
Section I'
Image Evaluation Branch
APSD/TSSG/NPIC
Attachment: a/s
Distribution:
Cy 1 - NPIC/TSSG/APSD, w/a IEB, 450.011
2 - NPIC/TSSG/APSD, w a IEB Chrono 3/J0
3 - NPIC/PPBS. Attn:
4 - NPIC/ODIR, w/a
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NPjC/TSSG/ SD I B
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SUBJECT: National. Disaster Support Task Group
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February
1970
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The attempt to support -Hurricane Camille damage assessment by use
of aerial photography demonstrated pointedly the need for a coordinated
interagency plan for the efficient collection and dissemination of imagery
and information to support national disaster applications. During the
Camille disaster overlapping photography was collected without coo_.rdi-?
nation by the Corps of Engineers, U. S. Air Force, ]SSA, NASA and
others. In ol1 to the redundant e~"ort in collection neither the
photo grap y nor derived information could be made available to national
planners nor local officials, both 'etderal and, State, in a sufficiently
time-urgent manner.
As a result of this experience I am rec'crnmenaing that a taste group be
formed to achieve implementation of a coordinated interagency plan for
the collection. and dissemination of photography and rely? ted information
in support of rational disasters; I believe that such a plan should be
drawn up and tested as soon as possib e:. The spring flood season might
furnish a suitable opportunity for Ghe es ing of this plan.
In an effort to meet this goal of a coordinated plan by Spring ].970, 25
Director of the O {ice of E'fr~er, envy Preparedness, at
my request, has no ni a. ;ed OEP, 25
as the Chairman of the Task Group. In order to commence this study as
soon as possible: I would appreciate designation of your representatives to
this panel by February 10, 1970, so th:.t soon after define the
scope and duration of this important matter. It is anticipated the panel's
first meeting will be February 16, 10)70.
While the need for a. coordinated plan for national. disaster is urgently
required noti-.T, the benefits Of such a mechanism of coordinated agency
planning a ~?e also applicable in a routine; ,;vay in the broader earth resource
program. I would expect that the procedure worked out to use efficiently
the imagery acquired through current channels v,,,ould be. considered as
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a model of the data reduction concept .or the earth resources program.
Later, I believe we will wish to consider as appropriate such matters
as the joint agency staffing of a task group facility locally and nationally
as required; automated data processing systems; large volume data
.storage, retrieval and dissemination system; and others.
.I.welcome your advice and cooperation in this matter.
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