Disaster Assistance Response Teams : a French perspective

1
Disaster Assistance Response Teams a French
perspective

• Major General Pascal Vinchon
• 5th Annual Defense Technology Forum of the
  Defense Attachés Association
• Washington- May 9, 2006

2
Overview

• French capabilities and organization
• French views on command and control
• DAR an important requirement here to stay
• How should we plan for disaster response?

3
French capabilities and organization

• Emergency Preparedness Directorate (DDSC)
• 2,500 civilian and military personnel
• 240,000 firemen
• Several hundred thousand workers

4
DDSC units

• Four operational and logistical support centers
• Eighteen mine clearance centers
• Twenty helicopter bases
• One aircraft base
• Three Civil Security Training and Intervention
  Units (UIISC)

5
UIISC

• Earthquake response (DICA)
• Medical response (ESCRIM)
• Technological intervention (DIT)
• Water treatment
• NRBC decontamination

6
French views on command and control

• supporting role
• given a mission
• respond to a civilian command, control and
  coordination center
• rely on the host nation authorities

7
French divers in Louisiana
8
DAR an important requirement here to stay
9
How should we plan for disaster response?

• No new military capabilities developed to
  exclusively respond to disasters
• Military can probably be the first in, but it
  must be the first out
• Help international organizations to be more
  reactive
• Trust and empower the host nation