• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

NAVFAC Deploys Teams to Assist Gulf Coast Military Installations

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050901-02
Release Date: 9/1/2005 9:16:00 AM

From Naval Facilities Engineering Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Damage Assessment Teams (DAT) from across the nation have deployed to Gulf Coast naval installations ravaged by Hurricane Katrina Aug. 31.

The teams will offer engineering and contracting support to affected installations.

“Our team is prepared to provide immediate damage assessments for the installation commanders,” said Lt. Cmdr. Darren Sweet, from NAVFAC Southern Division in Charleston, S.C. “We want to assist the local bases by offering the very best engineering and contracting support in their recovery efforts.”

Twenty-four hours after Hurricane Katrina came ashore in New Orleans, NAVFAC DATs were en route to the Gulf Coast naval installations with structural and mechanical engineers, architects, roofing specialists and construction contract specialists from NAVFAC commands in Charleston, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Norfolk, Va.; Port Hueneme, Calif.; Great Lakes, Ill., and Washington, D.C.

Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., will be the staging area for the teams as they move westward into the affected areas. The teams, traveling by trucks or vans, will use military air transportation as necessary to get to their destinations.

While Sweet’s team is assessing the damages, Capt. Paul Walden, Navy Region Southeast Regional Engineer, will be sending another NAVFAC team to Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss. This team will ensure the installation operations and facilities are able to meet mission readiness, which will include securing U.S. government property and restoration of basic installation functions such as opening roadways, sanitation, water, electricity and communications.

“Our priorities are focused on the personal health and safety of our Sailors, their families, Navy civilians and other impacted citizens,” said Walden.

Among the installations NAVFAC will aid with engineering damage assessment are Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans; Naval Support Activity New Orleans; Naval Station Gulfport, Miss; Naval Station Pascagoula, Miss.; and Stennis Space Center, Miss.

The Navy Public Works Center Jacksonville Transportation Department coordinated transportation for medical personnel who will be assisting in the disaster area.