The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working in partnership with the local, state, and federal response to Hurricane Ida. USACE personnel are deployed and engaged, coordinating with local, state, and federal partners in the affected areas. Our number one priority continues to be the life, health, and safety of all who are affected by Hurricane Ida.
USACE has deployed Emergency Support Function 3 (ESF 3) Team Leaders/Assistant Team Leaders, a Temporary Power Planning & Response Team (PRT) and 249th Engineer Battalion Soldiers. USACE has also deployed a Temporary Roofing planning group, and technical Subject Matter Experts, including Debris, Hydraulic and Infrastructure SMEs, in support of the local, state, and federal response.
USACE conducts its emergency response activities under two basic authorities – Public Law 84-99 (Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies), and when mission assigned by FEMA under the Stafford Disaster and Emergency Assistance Act.
- Under Public Law 84-99 (Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies), USACE provides disaster preparedness services and advanced planning measures designed to reduce the amount of damage caused by an impending disaster.
- Under the Stafford Act, USACE supports the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency in carrying out the National Response Plan, which calls on 30 federal departments and agencies to provide coordinated disaster relief and recovery operations.
Temporary Power:
USACE is part of a Power Restoration Task Force along with partners from the state of Louisiana, FEMA, Department of Energy, and private sector to plan and prioritize assessments.
The first generator was installed on August 31, at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home.
Assessment & installation priorities include hospitals, medical facilities, and nursing homes.
Temporary Roofing:
USACE received a FEMA mission assignment for temporary roof installations. Operation Blue Roof is a priority mission managed by USACE for FEMA. The mission’s purpose is to provide homeowners and permanently occupied rental properties in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs. This is a free service to homeowners. To learn more about Operation Blue Roof and to apply visit: Blueroof.us OR call 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258).
Eligible Parishes for Operation Blue Roof are: Ascension, Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Terrebonne.
Unwatering:
USACE has received a FEMA mission assignment to remove excess water in South Louisiana. Pumps have been deployed to Kraemer in LaFourche Parish and Lafitte in Jefferson Parish. . Unwatering in Kraemer has been completed, and USACE is coordinating the un-installation of pumps.
In lower Plaquemines Parish, USACE will undertake controlled engineered cuts in the levees to promote drainage. Understanding that we remain in hurricane season, these sections can be closed in advance of a pending storm.