This program defines the role of the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) and its relationship with federal, state and county agencies during emergencies which necessitate the mass evacuation of United States citizens from foreign countries to California.
California Department of Social Services is the lead State agency in the Repatriation Program. The joint Cal EMA, California Health and Human Services Agency and the California Deparment of Social Services plan defines the roles and responsibilities of federal and state agencies, in cooperation with selected airports, cities, and counties in response to emergency situations which necessitate the mass movement of noncombatant United States repatriates from foreign countries to a designated Port of Entry (POE).
Background Information
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for coordinating the provision of temporary assistance to U.S. citizens residing or traveling abroad in the event of their emergency repatriation to the Continental United States (CONUS). This responsibility has been delegated to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). To address the operational and policy requirements of providing these services to U.S. citizens, ORR, in coordination with other federal agencies, state governments and non-governmental organizations, developed an Operational Guide to the National Emergency Repatriation Plan.
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the July 19, 2006, Lebanon Emergency Repatriation, ORR revised the 1983 National Emergency Repatriation Plan in order to develop operational guidelines for immediate implementation of the plan. The new Operational Guide sets forth agency policy and establishes procedures for implementing the repatriation of large groups of American citizens. These guidelines incorporate protocols established by the National Incident Management System (NIMS) using Incident Command System (ICS).
To ensure operational readiness of all sectors of the repatriation process, ORR has consulted with partnering federal agencies, including the Department of State (DOS), the Department of Defense (DOD), state departments of emergency operations and non-governmental organizations that provide assistance to repatriates.
Additional Resources