This Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) independent training course manual from the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) provides information and resources that will enable participants to plan an effective damage assessment program and conduct rapid and effective damage assessments in order to save lives, protect property and the environment, and begin the process of recovery and mitigation. Course Objectives - Explain basic concepts related to damage assessment; describe how risk and vulnerability assessment information is used for damage assessment planning; explain the process for planning the damage assessment program; describe how training and exercises are used to enhance the damage assessment program; describe basic operations of local damage assessment; describe damage assessment after-action activities. Primary Audience - Local officials who are responsible for assessing, collecting, and reporting damages during and after any event that causes damage of private, public, and critical infrastructure. As a bonus, this compilation includes Disaster Response: Staff Officer's Handbook with Observations, Insights, and Lessons - Comprehensive Information on Military Response to Natural Disasters, Emergency Management, Terrorism. This is a uniquely valuable, informative, and up-to-date guide to military emergency management response, covering all aspects of defense support to civilians in times of crisis. Contents: Introduction * Chapter 1 - The Language of Disasters and Incidents * Chapter 2 - The Legal Framework * Chapter 3 - The National Response Framework and National Incident Management System * Chapter 4 - Department of Defense Role in Incident Response * Chapter 5 - Emergency Support Functions * Appendix A - Unit Planning Considerations * Appendix B - Casualties * Appendix C - Biological Incidents * Appendix D - Nuclear and Radiological Incidents * Appendix E - Catastrophic Incidents * Appendix F - Terrorist Incidents * Appendix G - Mass Evacuation Incidents * Appendix H - Nongovernmental Organizations * Appendix I - Legal Considerations and Law Enforcement * Appendix J - Operations Security * Appendix K - Airspace Command and Control * Appendix L - Search and Rescue * Appendix M - After-Action Reviews * Appendix N - Composite Risk Management * Appendix O - State Points of Contact * Appendix P - Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers * Appendix Q - Websites. Natural and man-made disasters in the United States cause pain and heartbreak to our fellow citizens. Picking up the pieces of shattered lives and homes is devastating, even to the stoutest among us. While the military cannot repair the emotional damage, it can mitigate the effects of tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, wildland fires, oil spills, and terrorist attacks.