What is the primary role of the Federal Coordinating Officer?

The primary role of the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) is to integrate federal emergency management activities during a disaster response. This involves coordinating the efforts of various federal resources and ensuring that state and local emergency management officials are supported effectively. The FCO serves as a liaison between the federal government and the state government, facilitating the integration of federal support into ongoing operations and help streamline the overall response.

In this role, the FCO is responsible for making sure that all federal assets are deployed and utilized efficiently, coordinating with state and local officials to align federal resources with the actual needs on the ground. This integration is crucial for an effective response, as it helps to establish a unified command structure and ensures that all levels of response efforts are synchronized.

The other roles mentioned, such as overseeing training of local agencies, calculating federal response costs, or coordinating international responses, are not primary functions of the FCO. The FCO's focus is specifically on emergency management activities within the United States, making the integration of these efforts their key responsibility.