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  • October

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contractors (contracted through FEMA) corralled debris into a centralized location in preparation for debris removal by crane.

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins largest Virginia debris removal mission in 20 years at Claytor Lake

    PULASKI COUNTY, Va. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Norfolk District, officially began debris removal operations at Claytor Lake, Oct. 19, following Hurricane Helene's aftermath. This is the largest debris removal mission in Virginia since 2003, and it aims to clear approximately 300 acre-feet of debris from the waterways to ensure public safety and restore normal conditions in the region.

  • September

    U.S. Army Sgt. Nathan Holmes, 249th Engineer Battalion Charlie Company Prime Power production specialist, relays facility data to fellow soldiers during Exercise Empire Rising 2021 at the Washington Aqueduct in Washington D.C., July 14, 2021. The 249th EB provides technical expertise and performs assessments to determine generator requirements at facilities as well the connection materials required at critical public facilities during emergencies. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

    National Capital Region emergency response partners weather the storm

    During a recent emergency exercise, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District; 249th Engineer Battalion Charlie Company Prime Power; and emergency management partners helped enable community restoration efforts in the region by successfully assessing temporary emergency power needs for critical facilities. This opportunity prepared the emergency response agencies to resolve post-storm power outages during their most challenging time – hurricane season.

  • May

    Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Milhorn, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deputy commanding general for Military and International Operations, center left, listens as Brig. Gen. Paul Owen, the Corps' South Pacific Division commander, center right, talks about the Corps' FEMA mission in support of LA-area hospitals during an April 28 tour of Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.

    Corps general tours military, DOD, VA projects during weeklong visit to California

    LOS ANGELES – One of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ top generals for military and international operations made his first visit to Southern California during a weeklong tour of some of the agency’s Los Angeles District projects. Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Milhorn, the Corps’ deputy commanding general for Military and International Operations, toured several project sites across the desert and the coastline – from the National Training Center at Fort Irwin to Vandenburg Air Force Base – during his visit to California.
  • A team that includes subject-matter experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the California Department of Public Health and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services conduct a final inspection of work at Adventist Health White Memorial Medical Center in Boyle Heights, California, April 16, as part of FEMA’s support to California in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Corps completes final inspection of LA-area hospital COVID-19 additions

    LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District led a final inspection of work April 22 at Mission Community Hospital in Panorama City, California, as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s support to California in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • April

    Christina Eddleman, environmental engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District, deployed to Lafayette, Louisiana, for 30 days in March 2021 to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s temporary housing mission. USACE supports FEMA in emergency operations under the National Response Framework’s Emergency Response Function 3: Public Works and Engineering. (Courtesy photo provided by Christina Eddleman)

    My Hurricane Laura Deployment Experience

    Working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given me a lot of opportunities to learn, grow, and challenge myself. Most recently, I was deployed down to Lafayette, Louisiana, along with several other USACE teammates, and we were assigned to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s temporary housing mission.

  • March

    A multidisciplinary team from the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an assessment of a local site for conversion into a federally supported community vaccination center, March 23, 2021, in Norfolk, Virginia. FEMA officially opened that location today as a Type 2 center, capable of administering approximately 3,000 vaccinations a day and directly supporting President Joe Biden’s goal of administering 100 million vaccinations within the first 100 days of his administration.

    Norfolk District’s site assessment for FEMA assists Virginia vaccination center opening

    A multidisciplinary team from the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an assessment of a local site for conversion into a federally supported community vaccination center here last week.

  • February

    Hurricane Maria devasted the agriculture and livestock industry on the island making it one of the costliest storms to hit the islandof Puerto Rico. An arial shot of the island taken on Oct. 5, 2017.

    Walla Walla District cost engineers provide expertise and support to FEMA and other federal agencies

    Natural disasters like floods and hurricanes can severely damage homes, businesses and infrastructure. Those who suffer damages in natural disasters can apply to FEMA for financial assistance. When this happens, a cost estimate is needed to determine how much money it would take to either repair or replace the structure in question.

  • November

    Dr. Igor Linkov, U.S Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Risk and Decision Science Team lead, wears an example of the protective masks being used in the COVID-19 pandemic.

    ERDC researcher uses lessons learned from historic pandemics to address COVID

    COVID-19 proved to be unexpected to many people in the world, but Dr. Igor Linkov, Risk and Decision Science (RaDS) Team lead at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Environmental Laboratory, found himself on familiar ground.

  • October

    IN THE PHOTO, members of the Infrastructure Assessment Planning and Response Team assess an area damaged by Hurricane Laura in southwestern Louisiana. The Corps evaluated a total of 52 fire stations, 53 water and wastewater facilities, and one hospital while deployed to Louisiana. (Courtesy photo)

    USACE supports storm survivors with safe structures

    Responding to disasters is one of several missions the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is tasked with. Part of answering this call is through specialized teams that go out and conduct infrastructure assessments in disaster areas. "On Aug. 29, the Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed an Infrastructure Assessment Planning and Response Team (PRT) management cell to Louisiana," Infrastructure Assessment Action Officer Doug Weber said. "When I first started on the Infrastructure Assessment team, I thought it was all about placarding peoples’ homes for safety, " Mission Specialist Adrienne Murphy said. "But in our last two deployments, we’ve been asked to perform inspections of drinking water systems, wastewater systems, and public facilities like hospitals and fire stations."

  • September

    Drone operators from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineering Research and Development Center, or ERDC, in Vicksburg, Miss., deploy forward to southwest Louisiana mid-Sept. 2020 in support of Operation Blue Roof for Hurricane Laura response. Charles McKenzie, left, and Michael Baker operate a drone in Sulfur, La., Sept. 20. On the front end of the Blue Roof mission, drones can be used to help our staff assess homes to determine eligibility for the program. On the back end, they help our quality assurance specialists verify the fiber reinforced sheeting was installed per contract specifications.

    Blue Roof recipients witness USACE innovation

    Innovating and improving processes are what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers do, especially when it comes to hurricane recovery operations. So when it came time to respond to a Hurricane like Laura, the Corps came ready to deliver temporary roofing with an upgraded Blue Roof Program.
  • LGL meets with Beauregard Parish official

    Local Government Liaisons reach the hearts of communities

    Often during disaster response, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Planning and Response Teams such as, temporary emergency power, debris removal and Operation Blue Roof are the Corps activities in the limelight; however, the little-known and little-seen Local Government Liaison, or LGL, national cadre is operating in the background, providing a critical lifeline of communication between Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state, local officials, and the Corps.
  • IN THE COLLAGE, Southwest Louisiana homeowner and blue roof recipient Brennon Williams' home before the blue roof installation. Williams’ home was one of 3,730 to receive a blue roof during Hurricane Laura recovery efforts. (Courtesy photos)

    Corps, Samaritan's Purse go above and beyond for Laura survivor

    "The day I met Mr. Williams, I was looking for his house and drove past it because I didn't see it; all I saw were trees," Roofing Quality Assurance Specialist George Hayes recalled. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting anyone to be home. So many folks evacuated after the storm, I just figured no one was home. As I got closer to the door, I heard his little dog bark. I yelled, "Is anyone home?" and I saw a movement through the window. The door opened, and he drove his wheelchair out onto the front porch. My heart just sank." At that moment, Hayes knew he needed to go above and beyond to help this man.
  • IN THE PHOTO, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors install a generator at one of several facilities requesting temporary power after Hurricane Laura damaged their installation. The temporary power mission is one of the Corps' primary missions in supporting Louisiana's recovery from Hurricane Laura. (Courtesy photo)

    USACE provides power to hard-hit Louisiana

    Living in the 21st century, most Americans have electricity on demand. When it isn’t working, it usually doesn’t take longer than a day to get it turned back on. But what happens when a storm like Hurricane Laura hits? Close to 200,000 residents living in southwestern Louisiana lost power on Aug. 27. Many of them are still without it, weeks after the storm has come and gone. Delivering power to southwest Louisiana is one of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' top priorities. USACE is installing generators in several critical facilities like water pump stations, sewage lift stations, hospitals, radio towers, and corrections facilities, to name a few. The 23-person team responsible for installing these generators ensured they were in Louisiana before Hurricane Laura even made landfall.

  • August

    Members of our Emergency Power Planning and Response Team pose for a quick picture before getting to work. The Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deployed an Emergency Power Planning and Response Team (PRT) to support FEMA's Hurricane Laura relief efforts, Aug 26.

    Memphis Team deployed to Louisiana in support of Hurricane Laura relief efforts

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District deployed a 13-member Emergency Power Planning and Response Team (PRT) to support Federal Emergency Management Agency's Hurricane Laura response, on Aug 26.

  • May

    The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Team developed a three-step process for assessing regionally adjusted COVID-19 outcomes in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.

    ERDC researchers model COVID-19 for the Nation

    VICKSBURG, Miss. – When the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Dr. Brandon Lafferty sleeps these days, he dreams about predictive models. That’s because since mid-March, Lafferty, a researcher from the ERDC Environmental Laboratory, has been helping lead ERDC’s Modelling and Simulation Team develop the ERDC Susceptible Exposed Infected Recovered ⸺ or SEIR ⸺ model for COVID-19, and it’s an intense effort.

  • April

    A contractor removes debris March 23, 2020 from a row where homes once stood in Putnam County, Tennessee. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent a team to support a FEMA assignment to provide debris technical assistance in the wake of tornadoes that devastated middle Tennessee March 3, 2020. (USACE Photo)

    Debris team wrapping up FEMA technical support mission in Middle Tennessee

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 23, 2020) – The Corps of Engineers’ team supporting clean-up efforts in Middle Tennessee in the wake of deadly tornadoes that devastated the region in early March is wrapping up its FEMA technical support mission where contractors have removed an estimated 450,000 cubic yards of debris, enough to fill 137 Olympic-size swimming pools.
  • Meetings are taking place inside the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton Virginia between local, state and federal representatives on how best to convert the building into an alternate care facility. The Federal Emergency Management Agency tasked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate and recommend sites for Alternative Care Facilities in Virginia, and Governor Northam approved locations in Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. Norfolk District personnel, along with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia National Guard and emergency management personnel from local and regional governments are now meeting with health care professionals and representatives from area health care systems to plan how best to convert the selected sites to meet their needs. The Corps has received three mission assignments from FEMA to begin construction on the Alternate Care Facilities shortly. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick Bloodgood)

    USACE to begin construction on alternate care facilities in Virginia

    The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has received three mission assignments from FEMA to construct alternate care facilities in Northern Virginia, the Hampton Roads region and in the Richmond, Virginia area.
  • Meetings are taking place inside the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton Virginia between local, state and federal representatives on how best to convert the building into an alternate care facility. The Federal Emergency Management Agency tasked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate and recommend sites for Alternative Care Facilities in Virginia, and Governor Northam approved locations in Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. Norfolk District personnel, along with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia National Guard and emergency management personnel from local and regional governments are now meeting with health care professionals and representatives from area health care systems to plan how best to convert the selected sites to meet their needs. The Corps has received three mission assignments from FEMA to begin construction on the Alternate Care Facilities shortly. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick Bloodgood)

    USACE to begin construction on alternate care facilities in Virginia

    The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has received three mission assignments from FEMA to construct alternate care facilities in Northern Virginia, the Hampton Roads region and in the Richmond, Virginia area.

  • Huntsville Center professionals working around the clock so assessment teams can hit the ground running

    U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville professionals work with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' geographic districts, FEMA and Health and Human Services to provide deliverables to assessment teams, including plans and specifications for the rapid conversion of hotels, dorms, convention centers and large arena-type facilities into alternate care facilities.

  • March

    Woman in blue jacket points to a computer showing flood areas in Virginia

    Norfolk District pours out the word on Virginia Flood Awareness Week

    This week is Virginia Flood Awareness Week, addressing the nation’s most common and costly natural disaster. The observance foreshadows the Atlantic hurricane season, which starts June 1, and is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Dam Safety and Floodplain Management – the commonwealth’s national flood insurance coordinator.
  • Woman in blue jacket points to a computer showing flood areas in Virginia

    Norfolk District pours out the word on Virginia Flood Awareness Week

    This week is Virginia Flood Awareness Week, addressing the nation’s most common and costly natural disaster. The observance foreshadows the Atlantic hurricane season, which starts June 1, and is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Dam Safety and Floodplain Management – the commonwealth’s national flood insurance coordinator.

  • January

    Tom Fayram, deputy public works director for Santa Barbara County, briefs Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite (center), commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at the Montecito debris basin in Montecito, California, Jan. 18 during a visit to the site of a deadly mudslide. The Corps, as assigned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is removing more than 450,000 cubic yards of debris from 11 basins and 10 channels in areas of Santa Barbara, California, hit hard by the disaster that left 18 people dead.

    USACE commanding general views emergency response to Santa Barbara mudslides

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commanding general was in California Jan. 18 to visit the site of a deadly mudslide. Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite toured areas of Santa Barbara hit hard by the disaster that left 18 people dead and three missing.

  • September

    Corps of Engineers, partners lead Hurricane Evacuation Study for Maryland

    Maryland typically has to deal with the impacts of tropical storms or nor’easters rather than hurricanes. However, the state is not immune. Maryland was significantly impacted by Hurricane Isabel that made landfall in 2003. The state experienced substantial storm surge of 6 to 8 feet above normal tide levels in some areas and even breached the Army Corps’ ecosystem restoration project at Poplar Island in two spots due to elevated water levels and large waves. So, how is Maryland getting prepared for the next major storm? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, is currently managing a Hurricane Evacuation Study for the state though the National Hurricane Program.

  • Baltimore District, partners lead Hurricane Evacuation Study for Maryland

    Maryland typically has to deal with the impacts of tropical storms or nor’easters rather than hurricanes. However, the state is not immune. Maryland was significantly impacted by Hurricane Isabel that made landfall in 2003. The state experienced substantial storm surge of 6 to 8 feet above normal tide levels in some areas and even breached the Army Corps’ ecosystem restoration project at Poplar Island in two spots due to elevated water levels and large waves. So, how is Maryland getting prepared for the next major storm? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, is currently managing a Hurricane Evacuation Study for the state though the National Hurricane Program.
  • Department of Planning and Natural Resources Office Manager for Business and Administration Services talks to a home owner, helping Operation Blue Roof team members as they walk house-to-house. With five team members on the island, the Temporary Roofing Planning and Response Team is currently going house-to-house gathering Right of Entry forms. The forms allow Corps personnel on private property to assess homes and Corps contractors authority to repair the roofs. More Temporary Roofing team members are on their way. Operation Blue Roof’s purpose is to provide homeowners in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced plastic sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs.

    First Blue Roof Being Installed in the Virgin Islands

    The first residential temporary roof made of blue plastic sheeting was installed today on the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The program, available to qualified homeowners and known as Operation Blue Roof, can make some damaged structures habitable again until more permanent repairs can be made.
  • ATLANTA, GA – Sandy Berens of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Logistics Planning and Response Team (LPRT) is a part of a crew of ten logisticians from all over the United States. The team based here is working with FEMA and the ESTES freight transportation provider to match, move and maneuver empty trailers, on September 19, 2017. These empty trailers are then filled with commodities by FEMA to support and sustain the lives of those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and now Maria.

    Match, Move, and Maneuver

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Logistics Planning and Response Team (LPRT) has a crew of ten logisticians from all over the United States. The team based here is working with FEMA and the ESTES freight transportation provider to match, move and maneuver empty trailers.
  • ATLANTA, GA- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Southern Atlantic Division’s (USACE SAD) Brigadier General Diana Holland, went to FEMA’s Region 4 Response Coordination Center (RRCC) in Atlanta, GA, Sep. 7, 2017.

    South Atlantic Division's Commander Visits FEMA in Preparation for Hurricane Irma

    ATLANTA, GA- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Southern Atlantic Division’s Commander(USACE SAD) Brigadier General Diana Holland, on September 7 visited FEMA’s Region 4 Response Coordination Center (RRCC) in Atlanta, GA where Joint agencies track the storm as well as plan for Hurricane Irma’s impact on the region.

  • May

    Skull Valley Reservation, Utah.

    District, Goshute Tribe and interagency partners work toward flood resiliency in Skull Valley

    If you want to build resistance to floods, you first need a team with a plan. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District and interagency partners are building a floodplain management plan with the Skull Valley Goshute Tribe in Utah.

  • March

    Army Corps, Susquehanna River Basin Commission partner to provide data to FEMA to revise flood maps in Pennsylvania

    March 9, 2017, marked the Susquehanna River Basin Commission’s first day in the field on Swatara Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River in east central Pennsylvania, for a project in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, to provide information to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region III that will help FEMA update their flood risk maps.

  • Army Corps, Susquehanna River Basin Commission partner to provide data to FEMA to revise flood maps in Pennsylvania

    March 9, 2017, marked the Susquehanna River Basin Commission’s first day in the field on Swatara Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River in east central Pennsylvania, for a project in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, to provide information to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region III that will help FEMA update their flood risk maps.