• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence

• Security Menu                     

• Systems
• Industry
• Operations
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Space

Corps of Engineers preps for Hurricane Ernesto

August 28, 2006

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Aug. 28, 2006) – In anticipation of Hurricane Ernesto making landfall along the gulf coast, the South Atlantic Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency and hurricane response operations.

Thousands of Army corps personnel have been involved in response and recovery operations since 2004 when four hurricanes stuck Florida and last year when Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita brought unprecedented winds and surf throughout the gulf coast. The corps has over 360 personnel still deployed supporting FEMA’s recovery operations for Hurricane Katrina.

“Right now, we’re tracking the path of Ernesto as it approaches Florida,” said Lt. Col. Leon Parrott, emergency operations chief in the command center.

While still not knowing exactly what path Ernesto will settle on, planners are not standing by and guessing what assets will be needed. Teams are already designated and ready to move into impacted areas with necessary support like ice, water, power and debris removal to support FEMA.

The command conducts its emergency response activities under two basic authorities: the Flood Control and Coastal Emergency Act and the Stafford Disaster and Emergency Assistance Act, officials said. Under the Stafford Act, the Corps supports the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA in carrying out the National Response Plan, which calls on more than 20 federal departments and agencies to provide coordinated disaster relief and recovery operations.

The Corps of Engineers has a primary role in support of the National Response Plan, officials said. The plan describes the basic structure by which the federal government will mobilize resources and conduct response and recovery activities to assist states and local governments in coping with the consequences of significant natural or man-made disasters, to include terrorist events.

Within this plan, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the primary agency for planning, preparedness and response under the Emergency Support Function #3, Public Works and Engineering, Army officials said. They said the type of assistance provided by the corps includes restoration of critical public services and facilities, including: supply of adequate amounts of potable water and ice; temporary restoration of water supply systems; provision for temporary emergency electrical power; and, temporary emergency housing.

(Story provided by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers PAO)