Every effective response begins with understanding the people, skills, and experience a mission may require.
This directory outlines the capabilities that may support a ZDR3 deployment. A capability describes a function, not necessarily a single job title. One responder may bring several capabilities, and the makeup of each team will vary based on the incident, facility needs, available personnel, and operational conditions.
Use the sections below to explore what each capability contributes, the types of facility professionals who may be a good fit, and typical staffing or experience considerations.
These descriptions and role examples are intended to illustrate common functions and are not all-inclusive. Individual responders may possess some, but not all, of the skills or experience associated with a capability.
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Crew Lead
Provides leadership and supervision for a deployed response team, ensuring assigned objectives are completed safely, efficiently, and in coordination with ZDR3 and the impacted facility.
Common facility roles: Department managers, team leads, and experienced responders
Possible team size: 1
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
Communications Lead
Coordinates the team’s communication and documentation needs before, during, and after deployment. This role maintains communication with ZDR3, the home institution, and designated partners while ensuring response activities are documented and shared through approved channels.
Common facility roles: Department managers, team leads, communications professionals, and administrative personnel
Possible team size: 1
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
Personnel Support Lead
Supports the health, welfare, and logistical needs of deployed personnel by coordinating lodging, meals, supplies, responder wellbeing, and other team support requirements.
Common facility roles: Department managers, team leads, experienced responders, and administrative personnel
Possible team size: 1
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
Safety Lead
Monitors responder safety by identifying hazards, promoting safe work practices, and implementing risk-reduction measures. The Safety Lead may pause or stop unsafe work and should remain independent of the Crew Lead or Incident Command role to maintain objective oversight.
Common facility roles: Department managers, experienced responders, facilities personnel, and operations personnel
Possible team size: 1
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
Needs Assessor
Evaluates conditions at an impacted facility, identifies operational priorities and resource needs, and documents findings that support response planning and resource allocation.
Common facility roles: Department managers, experienced responders, facilities personnel, and operations personnel
Possible team size: 1
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
On-Scene Liaison
Serves as the primary ZDR3 response representative at the impacted facility. This role supports operational coordination, information sharing, logistics, and responder support throughout the incident.
Common facility roles: Department managers, team leads, experienced responders, communications professionals, and administrative personnel
Possible team size: 1
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
Responder
Carries out assigned operational tasks in support of incident objectives while following established procedures, working safely, and contributing individual skills to the response effort.
Common facility roles: Zoo and aquarium staff
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
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Animal Husbandry, Aquatic
Provides care, feeding, observation, handling, and welfare support for aquatic species during emergency operations at an impacted facility or a facility temporarily housing displaced animals.
Common facility roles: Aquarists, marine mammal trainers, and curators
Possible team size: Mission dependent
Relevant experience: On-the-job and taxa-specific experience
Deployment: On scene or remote
Animal Husbandry, Terrestrial
Provides care, feeding, observation, handling, and welfare support for terrestrial species during emergency operations at an impacted facility or temporary housing location.
Common facility roles: Zookeepers, animal care specialists, and curators
Possible team size: Mission dependent
Relevant experience: On-the-job and taxa-specific experience
Deployment: On scene or remote
Animal Recapture & Restraint
Supports the safe location, capture, restraint, and recovery of animals that have escaped, been displaced, or require controlled handling during an emergency.
Common facility roles: Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, zookeepers, and animal care specialists
Possible team size: 2 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job, certification, and taxa-specific experience
Deployment: On scene
Animal Immobilization
Provides the expertise and equipment required to chemically or physically immobilize animals for safe handling, transport, medical treatment, or other response activities.
Common facility roles: Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, zookeepers, and animal care specialists
Possible team size: 2 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job, certification, and taxa-specific experience
Deployment: On scene
Life Support Specialist
Provides expertise in aquatic life support systems, including water-quality management, filtration systems, pumps, and related infrastructure.
Common facility roles: Life support system operators and aquarists
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience and certification
Deployment: On scene or remote
Veterinarian
Develops and carries out anesthesia protocols for animal transport and care while providing animal health assessments, triage support, biosecurity guidance, and veterinary consultation.
Common facility roles: Veterinarians
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: Professional certification and taxa-specific experience
Deployment: On scene or remote
Veterinary Technician
Provides technical and nursing support for veterinary care, including patient monitoring, treatment assistance, permitted medication administration, and recordkeeping.
Common facility roles: Veterinary technicians
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: Certification, on-the-job, and taxa-specific experience
Deployment: On scene
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Media & Public Relations
Supports internal and external communications, stakeholder outreach, media coordination, and public-information efforts during a response.
Common facility roles: Communications professionals, public relations staff, marketing specialists, and public information officers
Possible team size: 1 to 2
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene or remote
IT Support
Provides technical support and troubleshooting for computers, networks, communications systems, software, and other technology used during response operations.
Common facility roles: Information technology professionals
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
General Communications Support
Supports operational communications through information management, documentation, stakeholder outreach, situation reporting, and coordination among field personnel, facilities, and incident management.
Common facility roles: Communications professionals, public relations staff, marketing specialists, and public information officers
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
Photography and Videography
Captures photo and video assets that document response operations, damage assessments, training, and approved public-information efforts.
Common facility roles: Photographers, videographers, communications staff, marketing professionals, and media specialists
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
Drone Operator
Operates unmanned aircraft systems for aerial reconnaissance, damage assessment, situational awareness, search operations, mapping, and documentation in accordance with applicable regulations.
Common facility roles: Licensed drone pilots
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: Certification
Deployment: On scene
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Chainsaw Operations
Performs tree and vegetation removal to restore access, eliminate hazards, and support facility recovery.
Common facility roles: Certified chainsaw operators, facilities personnel, horticulturists, and grounds staff
Possible team size: 2 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience and certification
Carpentry
Repairs or constructs wooden structures to restore facility operations, improve safety, and support animal housing and containment.
Common facility roles: Carpenters, construction professionals, maintenance technicians, and skilled tradespeople
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Debris Removal
Removes storm debris and other hazards to improve safety, restore access, and support facility operations.
Common facility roles: Facilities staff, maintenance personnel, and grounds crews
Possible team size: 2 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Electrical
Installs, repairs, troubleshoots, and maintains electrical systems required for animal care, facility functionality, and recovery.
Common facility roles: Electricians, electrical technicians, facilities personnel, maintenance professionals, and electrical engineers
Possible team size: 2 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience and certification
Fencing
Installs, repairs, reinforces, or constructs fencing and containment systems to maintain animal security and facility operations.
Common facility roles: Maintenance personnel, facilities personnel, and trades professionals
Possible team size: 2 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
General Repairs
Performs repairs and general maintenance, including fence repair, pressure washing, and netting repair, to restore facility functionality.
Common facility roles: Maintenance personnel, facilities personnel, and trades professionals
Possible team size: 2 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Floodwater
Provides operational support in flood-affected environments, including flood protection, mitigation, facility support, and recovery activities.
Common facility roles: Facilities staff, maintenance personnel, and grounds crews
Possible team size: 2 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Hazardous Materials
Supports incidents involving hazardous substances or conditions that require trained personnel with a functional understanding of contamination risks and response procedures.
Common facility roles: HAZWOPER-trained responders and personnel with other relevant hazardous-materials training
Possible team size: Mission dependent
Relevant experience: Certification
Training: HAZWOPER
Heavy Machinery Operator
Operates specialized equipment, such as tractors, skid steers, or backhoes, to support debris removal, site access, material movement, and recovery.
Common facility roles: Equipment operators and construction professionals
Possible team size: 2 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience and certification
Plumbing
Installs, repairs, and maintains water and wastewater systems necessary for animal care and facility operations.
Common facility roles: Plumbers, facilities technicians, and maintenance personnel
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience and certification
Safety and Security
Provides safety oversight, risk assessment, site security, access control, and incident monitoring to protect responders, animals, staff, and facilities.
Common facility roles: Safety officers, security personnel, law-enforcement professionals, emergency managers, and facilities personnel
Possible team size: Mission dependent
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience and certification
Tree Work
Performs technical tree assessment, pruning, stabilization, and removal activities.
Common facility roles: Arborists, forestry professionals, certified tree workers, and horticulturists
Possible team size: 2 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience and certification
Welding
Performs metal fabrication and repair for infrastructure, enclosures, gates, trailers, and equipment.
Common facility roles: Welders, fabricators, maintenance technicians, and trades professionals
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience and certification
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Administration, Coordination & Logistics
Supports documentation, recordkeeping, data management, scheduling, resource coordination, and other administrative needs required for effective response operations.
Common facility roles: Administrative professionals, office managers, executive assistants, and project coordinators
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene or remote
Food Services
Provides food preparation, distribution, and meal support for responders, volunteers, and support personnel during response and recovery activities.
Common facility roles: Food-service professionals, chefs, kitchen staff, hospitality personnel, and volunteers
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
Grant and Donation Facilitation
Assists impacted facilities with identifying, securing, coordinating, and managing grants, donations, and other financial or material support.
Common facility roles: Development professionals, grant writers, nonprofit administrators, fundraising specialists, and finance personnel
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: Remote
Incident Base Support
Supports ZDR3 and facility response teams through supply management, responder support, operational coordination, and acquisition of approved photo and video assets.
Common facility roles: Support staff
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
Mental Health Support
Provides emotional and psychological support through Psychological First Aid, Critical Incident Stress Management, peer support, stress-management assistance, and referrals when needed.
Common facility roles: Mental-health professionals, crisis counselors, and chaplains
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: Certification and on-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene or remote
On-Scene Liaison Support
Assists the ZDR3 On-Scene Liaison with coordination, communications, logistics, security, facility errands, documentation, and other incident-management needs.
Common facility roles: Administrative professionals, office managers, executive assistants, project coordinators, and facilities personnel
Possible team size: 1 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Deployment: On scene
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Animal Transport
Assists with the safe preparation, loading, movement, unloading, and relocation of animals during evacuations and other emergency operations.
Common facility roles: Animal transport specialists, zookeepers, veterinary personnel, and life-support system operators
Possible team size: Mission dependent
Relevant experience: On-the-job and taxa-specific experience
Deployment: On scene or remote
Boat Operator
Operates watercraft to transport personnel, animals, equipment, and supplies or to support reconnaissance and other response activities.
Common facility roles: Licensed or experienced boat operators, rescue personnel, and law-enforcement officers
Possible team size: 3 or more
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience and certification
Deployment: On scene
Slack Water Operations
Conducts water-based operations in calm or slow-moving water to support transportation, animal movement, reconnaissance, rescue, and recovery.
Common facility roles: Boat operators, rescue personnel, firefighters, law-enforcement officers, and water-rescue technicians
Possible team size: 3 or more
Relevant experience: Certification
Deployment: On scene
Swift Water Operations
Conducts specialized rescue, evacuation, transportation, and recovery work in moving or flood waters where advanced water-rescue training is required.
Common facility roles: Swift-water rescue technicians, boat operators, firefighters, emergency responders, law-enforcement officers, and specialized rescue personnel
Possible team size: 3 or more
Relevant experience: Certification
Deployment: On scene
Truck Driver
Transports equipment, supplies, donations, and other resources to impacted facilities.
Common facility roles: Drivers and operations personnel
Possible team size: 1 to 2
Relevant experience: On-the-job experience
Training or requirements: Valid driver’s license; commercial driver’s license when required
Deployment: On scene
Build a Response Team
Explore the response capabilities to understand how individual skills can be combined into a coordinated team for a particular incident or operational need.
