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Hurricanes Irma and Maria News Releases

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Hurricanes Irma and Maria News Stories

  • May

    The completed alternate care facilty at Kalispell, Mont., has 98 patient care rooms, seven nurse’s stations, four restrooms, three pharmacies (which can be converted into patient care rooms) and a medical supply storage room.

    Corps completes 100-bed alternate care facility in Kalispell, Montana

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, completed construction on an alternate care facility in Kalispell, Montana, May 24, two days earlier than required. The ACF also came in more than 10% under budget.
  • The screenshot illustrates the May 22 debut of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Susceptible Exposed Infected Recovered (ERDC-SEIR) model on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website. The ERDC-SEIR is one of 16 models featured on the CDC’s COVID-19 model ensemble website, and the ERDC COVID-19 Modeling and Analysis Team will continue to provide results to the CDC going forward.

    ERDC COVID-19 model debuts on CDC website

    The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) COVID-19 Modeling and Analysis Team (C-MAT) developed a COVID-19 model that debuted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website, May 22. The ERDC model, also referred to as the ERDC-SEIR (Susceptible Exposed Infected Recovered) model, is one of 16 models featured on the CDC’s COVID-19 model ensemble website.
  • Chicago Sanitary and Fish Canal electric dispersal barrier fence near LaGrange

    USACE Chicago District responds to record rainfall, activates Emergency Operations Center

    On May 17, 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to record rainfall and flooding of the Chicago River and surrounding areas.
  • 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.
  • Ryan Field, left, project manager, and Jeremy Ayala, construction representative, both with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, District, compare the plans May 12, for what will be an alternate care facility in Kalispell, Mont., to the progress made on day two of construction. The state of Montana requested FEMA to task the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, to build the ACF on the vacant, undeveloped, third floor of Montana Children’s, the new pediatric facility of the Kalispell Regional Medical Center. The temporary facility would accommodate non-acute patients in case Montana faces an increase in COVID-19 patients in the fall. When completed, the ACF will have 98 patient care rooms, seven nurse’s station, four restrooms, three pharmacies and a medical supply storage room.

    USACE helps Montana, FEMA prepare for COVID-19 future

    In the three-and-a-half months since the first COVID-19 case was diagnosed in the U.S., the state of Montana has the second lowest number of total cases, and the lowest number of cases per capita of any state in the country. Those low numbers did not stop the state’s leaders and FEMA from enlisting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, to prepare for the future fight against the virus.
  • Gaya Gamage (left), and Samantha Schwoerer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Far East District mail clerks, working in mailroom at the district headquarters, Camp Humphreys, South Korea, May 12.

    Customer service, morale; driving forces for FED mailroom operations during COVID 19

    CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea— Receiving mail and packages can often be a morale booster for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Far East District employees while serving overseas. The COVID 19 pandemic continues to change operations almost daily, however, the district consolidated mailroom has continued its mission throughout this challenging period.
  • Kelly Irvin of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center uses augmented reality technology developed in the Information Technology Laboratory to inspect a mock boiler room. The software is being used across the nation to assess potential sites for COVID-19 alternate care facilities, while limiting the number of people who have to physically examine the facilities.

    ERDC delivers augmented reality solutions in the fight against COVID-19

    Scientists and engineers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) are using augmented reality technology to assist peers throughout the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in virtually conducting site assessments of alternate care facilities (ACFs) across the country. Augmented reality technology, developed by researchers at the ERDC Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), offers a way for the USACE to assess potential ACF locations while assisting with social distancing and safety considerations.  
  • Brian Adkins, electrical engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Omaha District, documents the elevator controls during a site assessment of a building in Omaha, Neb., the state is considering turning into an alternate care facility in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. When requested by states and/or territories and funded by FEMA, USACE is conducting site assessments for potential alternate care facilities. A site assessment does not guarantee construction at that site.

    Assessments critical step in battling COVID-19 pandemic

    When the COVID-19 pandemic started to spread throughout the Midwest, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, was tasked by FEMA to start assessing sites for possible use as alternate care facilities.
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    Army Corps Completes Construction of Alternate Care Facility at State University of New York College at Old Westbury, Long Island, N.Y.

    Construction of the alternate care facility at the State University of New York College at Old Westbury on Long Island to facilitate care for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients was completed May 3.

  • April

    US Army Reserve FEST members assist USACE’s COVID19 response projects for Navajo Nation

    Within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Albuquerque District has the lead assisting the Navajo Nation with their COVID19 response. The Albuquerque District is primarily assisting in the area of constructing alternate care facilities for the Navajo Nation and Indian Health Service.

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.