(BOP) - On August 13, 2023, Emergency Support Function #13 (ESF #13) was activated to provide support to Maui First Responders in the wake of the Hawaii wildfires. The mission of ESF #13 is to provide federal public safety and security (force protection) assistance to Federal, State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal organizations overwhelmed by an actual or anticipated disaster or Act of Terrorism. Since 2006, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been the lead coordinating department of the federal government for ESF #13.
Since arriving on Maui, ESF #13 has provided force protection for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Urban Search and Rescue Teams, the Department of Health and Human Services Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, and to augment the Maui Police Department in the aftermath of the Hawaii wildfires.
There are more than 150 federal law enforcement officers assisting on Maui in support of ESF #13. DOJ law enforcement personnel on the ground include Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) logistics employees from the Federal Correctional Complex in Petersburg, Virginia and Regional Law Enforcement Coordinators from the Office of Emergency Preparedness, Correctional Programs Division, in Washington, DC. Other DOJ agencies assisting include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshals Service.
Since arriving at the Incident Command Post on Maui, FBOP Regional Law Enforcement Coordinators have served as the Deputy Incident Commander and the Operations Section Chief, and deployed members of the ESF #13 Logistics Section to acquire and provide equipment and resources necessary to support the mission.
ESF #13 will remain active on Maui until the mission is complete.