About NCH

Fort Jackson, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. A National Historic Landmark, Fort Jackson was flooded during the 2005 Hurricane SeasonEmergency Support Function (ESF) #11 Protection of Natural and Cultural Resources and Historic Properties (NCH) is part of the National Response Framework (NRF), The NRF is how the Federal Government plans for and responds to disasters by utilizing the capabilities identified in the ESFs. The NRF coordinates response activities undertaken by the federal government to stabilize and preserve resources that have been impacted by a major disaster or emergency. ESF #11 NCH is just one component of ESF #11 Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Utilizing ESF #11 NCH capabilities, the Federal Government manages and coordinates the appropriate actions to protect, conserve, rehabilitate, and restore NCH Resources. We provide personnel, equipment, and supplies in support of State, Tribal, Territorial, and local authorities or other federal agencies involved in NCH resources protection efforts.

The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the primary agency for managing the ESF #11 NCH capabilities, and it coordinates Federal actions to help safeguard State, Tribal, and local resources.

ESF #11 NCH can only be activated once the President of the United States has issued a Presidential disaster Declaration for an area or region. When that declaration occurs, State governments requesting aid submit Action Request Forms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If FEMA approves a request, it will send a Mission Assignment (MA) to the appropriate ESF. If the MA requests assistance for NCH resources, it will be sent to DOI, detailing the type of aid requested. In order to staff the MA, DOI solicits the aid of staff from its bureaus and support agencies which have the necessary skills and expertise required to undertake response work.

Some examples of work we performed under ESF #11 NCH are:

  • Identify and consult on archeological sites
  • Consult on Threatened and Endangered Species 
  • Provide technical preservation assistance for museums and archival collections 
  • Create GIS maps of historic districts in impacted area 
  • Conduct building and site condition assessments 
  • Stabilize damaged paper and digital records

Additionally, we work with a variety of other government agencies and non-governmental organizations to both respond and offer advice and recommendations to individuals and institutions on how to prepare for and respond to disasters dealing with natural and cultural resources.

 

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