The Natural Disaster Operational Workgroup (NDOW) was
created as a result of the Hurricane Ike Texas response to improve coordination
between State and Federal Agencies operating under Emergency Support Functions
(ESF)s 3 and 10. Like the NRF, NDRF, and NIMS the NDOW seeks to establish an
operational structure and common planning framework. The NDOW established a
framework of standard operational procedures, standardized data quality
objectives, one common database system, training, and exercises for effective
coordination of multi-agency response to man-made and natural disasters. The
NDOW framework is a concept of operations and is not intended to impose new,
additional, or unfunded net resource requirements on State or Federal agencies.
In support of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the framework
optimally engages existing State and Federal resources and authorities,
incorporating the full capabilities of all sectors. The NDOW intends to
institutionalize and expand the use of standardized procedures throughout all
Gulf Coast Regional Response Team (RRT) agencies to ensure effective incident
response in support of community recovery.
The NDOW is comprised of the following agencies:
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region
6 (EPA)
- United States Coast Guard, District 8 (USCG)
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
- Texas General Land Office (GLO)
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
