LINCROFT, New Jersey – Through several mission assignments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was able to work with state and local governments to provide preliminary technical assessments and technical assistance to critical public facilities damaged by Hurricane Sandy.
USACE worked with its partners to identify infrastructure damage. These facilities included hospitals, fire and police stations, and public works facilities including sewage treatment plants.
Teams conducted site assessments and provided technical assistance to locals in the form of descriptions of noted damages. They suggested further actions and provided recommendations for emergency repairs or further investigation and study.
“We inspected shore protection, storm water outfalls, sewage treatment facilities, ferry terminal, levees and state parks,” said Charles Ifft, the USACE infrastructure assessment mission manager.
Other USACE teams in New Jersey recently completed inspections on all critical public facilities reporting damages.
“The preliminary assessment of critical public facilities in New Jersey is complete for all 158 critical public facilities reporting damages,” said Tim Brown, the USACE critical public facilities mission manager. “We found 31 sites that needed temporary facilities, including eight fire stations, eight police stations, four schools, two city halls, one emergency management service and eight public works facilities.”
Work included helping complete grant application project worksheets, which require detailed documentation of damages, technical scope of work, a site plan and a detailed cost estimate. The team also assisted in the preparation of environmental documentation required by local, state and federal laws.
“A successful critical public facilities mission incorporates the combined USACE functions of contracting, real estate, environmental, project management, design and construction oversight,” said Brown.