Response System

The FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Unmanned Aviation Systems (UAS) Ad Hoc Group (AHG) has developed the FEMA US&R Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Operations Handbook that prescribes System protocol and procedures related to the use of sUAS. This handbook sets forth overarching direction for System personnel operating sUAS during a Stafford Act deployment. Each Task Force operating their sUAS during federal response operations will be responsible and held accountable for adhering to the policies laid out in this handbook.  

All System task forces are asked to review the attached doctrine titled “FEMA US&R Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Operations Handbook”.  Any comments are to be submitted online using the System’s US&R Comment Review Form.  For every comment being made a new form needs to be submitted; do not combine issues or comments into one form.  If the comment’s recommendation is fully supported after review, it will move forward to the next approval step.  If further work is required for the document to be finalized after the 21-day review process, it will be sent back for additional work, adjudication of comments, and resubmission into the approval process.  If a task force accepts the document as reviewed with no suggested changes, one comment form should be submitted stating that the task force has no comment.  Task Force Representatives should ensure that all comments are submitted by September 11, 2026, 23:59 EDT.

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Questions regarding this document review process may be directed to the appropriate Divisional Task Force Representative, or the Advisory Group Chair.