AFNORTH Imagery Requirements & FEMA Uploader

Airborne reconnaissance and imagery delivery are critical functions of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) aircrews. Most imagery missions are conducted as Air Force Assigned Missions, approved by 1st Air Force (1AF), 11th Air Force (11AF), and PACAF C-NAF. These missions support emergency responses and typically require geo-tagged imagery to be uploaded to platforms such as the FEMA Image Uploader and the Hazard Data Distribution System (HDDS).

Imagery uploaded to the FEMA Geo-Portal is automatically accessible through HDDS, eliminating the need for multiple uploads. Specific instructions for imagery uploads, software updates, and camera kit guidance are linked under the Related Documents and Related Links sections to the right.

CAP Corporate Equipment Requirements

Due to the sensitive nature of collected imagery, 1AF, 11AF, and PACAF require the use of CAP corporate-owned camera equipment. In emergencies, approval to use member-furnished resources must be obtained in advance. Such approvals may come with restrictions or additional guidance. Some missions, such as counterdrug or homeland security operations, may require imagery to be provided directly to the customer without uploading it to any platform.

FEMA Support for Mission Imagery

Imagery collected during emergency missions, including those conducted under CAP corporate missions, is often used by federal agencies to inform disaster declaration decisions. FEMA supports the storage of this imagery for consistency, and CAP regularly uploads it to the FEMA Geo-Portal. State emergency management agencies also frequently utilize the FEMA Geo-Portal and HDDS for their operations, so this process should not impose an additional burden.

For any questions regarding imagery requirements, contact the CAP National Operations Center (NOC) at opscenter@capnhq.gov .

Public Affairs (PA) Imagery vs. Mission Imagery

It is important to distinguish mission imagery from public affairs (PA) imagery intended for news and social media release:

Mission Imagery: Must be captured with CAP corporate camera equipment unless prior approval is granted by 1AF, 11AF, or PACAF. This imagery is typically geo-tagged and uploaded to designated platforms.
PA Imagery: May be captured using member-furnished equipment such as cameras, phones, or smart devices. However, certain missions, particularly those related to counterdrug or homeland security, may have a strict no public affairs posture, prohibiting the capture or release of PA imagery to protect sensitive information.

Incident Commanders (ICs) and their staff should brief members on the PA posture for each mission. Members are advised to seek prior authorization before taking or posting any video or photos during missions to avoid the accidental release of sensitive information.

Public Release of Imagery

Imagery that has been publicly released by mission agencies can be stored for internal use, including training, and may be reused for news or social media. For imagery that has not been publicly released, incident staff must obtain permission from the agency before releasing it to the public or storing it for future use.

This approval must be documented in WMIRS under the incident files to ensure long-term recordkeeping. Additionally, imagery that is not for public view should be confirmed as delivered to the customer and deleted from CAP equipment within 72 hours of the mission’s conclusion.