This article examines engagements between civilian actors, the Philippine<br />security forces and the US military during disaster response operations. The<br />Philippine disaster framework recognises the military’s role in disaster relief and has<br />existing mechanisms for accepting international assistance and procedures for<br />military-to-military cooperation in this task. The local authorities accord the military<br />a central role in the disaster operations, contrary to notions of it being the ‘last<br />resort’. Tasking and coordination proceeded separately along civilian versus military<br />lines, with limited interface between the two groups. The army reservists had greater<br />linkages with civilian actors than did the army regulars, who dealt exclusively with<br />the foreign teams. The US military’s activities were confined to search and rescue<br />and to providing critical logistics, which the Philippines actors lacked.