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Hurricanes Irma and Maria News Releases

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Hurricanes Irma and Maria News Stories

  • March

    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 Beverly Community Hospital in Montebello, California, March 19, 2021, as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s support to California in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Corps completes final inspection of Beverly Community Hospital COVID-19 additions

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers led a final inspection of work March 19 at Beverly Community Hospital as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s support to California in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • February

    Martin Reed, contracting officer’s representative with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rapid Response Technical Center of Expertise at the Omaha District, left, provides project updates to Brig. Gen. Paul Owen, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division commander, center, during Owen’s Feb. 9 visit to Beverly Community Hospital in Montebello, California. Accompanying Owen were Col. Julie Balten, Los Angeles District commander, second from right, and David Van Dorpe, LA District deputy engineer.

    South Pacific Division commander reviews medical upgrades at LA-area hospitals battling pandemic

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division commander visited two Southern California hospitals Feb. 9, 2021, to meet with on-site personnel and examine construction progress first-hand on hospital upgrades in support of COVID-19 relief efforts.

  • November

    Shown here, team members inspect a clinic facility on the installation.

    Two years after quake, military repair projects continue as USACE reflects on response efforts

    With the epicenter about 10 miles north of Anchorage, the Cook Inlet Earthquake registered a 7.1 magnitude and rocked most of Alaska’s population during the morning of November 30, 2018. First responders sprang into action, but once the dust settled the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District emerged as a reliable military partner inspecting and repairing infrastructure on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
  • Col. Luzzatto visits Rockaway

    Rockaway Project Resumes as Crews Increase Efforts

    Rockaway, NY - Beach work on the Rockaway Peninsula is in full swing as the long-awaited East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet, and Jamaica Bay Project gets underway in Rockaway, New York. There has been an authorization for the project since 1965, the Rockaway shoreline has experienced severe hurricanes and northeasters over the last 40 years. In 1960 Hurricane Donna caused $8,774,000 (1960 price level) in damages, including 6,000 homes and hundreds of commercial establishments and 1962 another storm inflicted $8,450,400 (1962 price level) in damages to the Rockaway Peninsula.
  • See some of our fiscal year 2020 highlights!

    Kansas City District delivers $740 million program for the Heartland

    As the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District wrapped up final contract awards for fiscal year 2020, the team wants to share a summary of a few major accomplishments and how they tie into the district mission and benefit the Heartland region. The district awarded 1575 contracts worth $740.1 million in fiscal year 2020 – ending September 30.

  • October

    Aerial view of levee setback construction progress along L-536.

    Omaha District executes historic $1.65 billion program

    There were many challenges this year; recovering from the catastrophic Lower Missouri River Basin flooding event of 2019, protecting the workforce and public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, and hurricane first responder deployments. But in the face of unprecedented adversity, USACE Omaha District rose to each challenge through leveraging industrious teamwork and continuing to successfully support its worldwide missions. The District ended the year executing its largest program ever at $1.65 billion.
  • Oregon Wildfires Temporary Housing Mission

    Oregon Wildfires Temporary Housing Mission

    Jason Ritter, Randy Campbell, Mike Johnson, Steve Caldwell and Cecil Cox have deployed to support wildfire recovery efforts in Oregon supporting the Portland District. FEMA Region X approved 3 counties in Oregon for a temporary housing mission. Wildfires have displaced nearly 800 families who are eligible for federal assistance.
  • workers repairing a levee in Atkins, Arkansas

    Work nears completion on Conway and Pope County Levee

    In 2019, floods damaged levees across the Arkansas River Valley. As part of a joint effort with levee districts throughout the state, the Little Rock District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rushed to identify the damage and make repairs. Now, with fall crisp in the air, contractors working in the newly consolidated levee district of Conway and Pope County, are well ahead of schedule.
  • 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."
  • A California Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk places a 3,000-pound sandbag at the Whittier Narrows Dam Basin in Montebello, California, as part of an exercise during which the district teamed up with the California Army National Guard to demonstrate flood-mitigation capabilities.

    LA District teams up with California Guard for flood-control exercise

    Partnership was the keyword Oct. 8 as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District teamed up with the California Army National Guard for a flood-control exercise at the Whittier Narrows Dam Basin.

Blue Roof Logo

Operation Blue Roof 1-888-ROOF-BLU (7663-258) is a priority mission managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The purpose of Operation Blue Roof is to provide homeowners in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs.

Call centers for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be established as communications on the islands improve.


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Overview

  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is prepared and ready to respond to natural and human-made disasters and overseas contingencies. When disasters occur, USACE teams and other resources are mobilized from across the country to assist our local districts and offices to deliver our response missions.
    • USACE has more than 50 specially-trained response teams supported by emergency contracts to perform a wide range of public works and engineering-related support missions. 
    • USACE uses pre-awarded contracts that can be quickly activated for missions such as debris removal, temporary roofing, commodities distribution, and generator installation.
  • Every year, USACE, as part of the federal government’s unified national response to disasters and emergencies, deploys hundreds of people to provide technical engineering expertise and to promote capacity development at home and abroad. 
    • In 2016, USACE had 1096 personnel deployments in response to one or more of 33 disaster declarations.
      USACE serves as the lead agency to respond with public works and engineering support and to coordinate long-term infrastructure recovery.