Overview'of'Emergency'Support'Functions''
ESFs% are% the% primary,% but% not% exclusive,% response% coordinating% structures% at% the%
federal%level%(p.%21).%Communities,% states,%regions,% and%other%tribal,%territorial,%insular%area,%
and%federal%departments%and%agencies%may%use%the%ESF%construct,%or%they%may%employ%other%
coordinating%structures%or%partners%appropriate%to%their%location,%threats,%or%authorities%(p.%
21).%%Each% ESF%is% composed%of%a%department%or%agency%that%has%been%designated%as%the%ESF%
coordinator,%along%with%a%number%of%primary%and%support%agencies%(p.%21).%Primary%agencies%
are%designated%on%the%basis%of% their%authorities,%resources,%and%capabilities%(p.%21).%Support%
agencies%are%assigned%based%on%resources%or%capabilities%in%a%given%functional%area%(p.%21).%%
The%federal%ESFs%bring%together%the%capabilities%of%federal%departments%and%agencies%
and%other%national-level%assets%(p.%37).%Most%federal%ESFs%support%a%number%of%the%response%
core% capabilities% (p.% 37).% The% core% capabilities% are% delivered% to% stabilize% the% community%
lifelines%(p.%37).%Any%core%capability%may%be%required%to%help%stabilize%any%community%lifeline;%
therefore,% any% ESF% can% contribute% toward% the% stabilization% of% any% community% lifeline% in%
coordination%with%the%lead%ESF%(p.%37).%
%
Table'I.%Description%of%Emergency%Support%Functions%
%
