Emergency Operations -- Headquarters U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USACE Emergency Operations

UPPER HASTINGS RANCH, Calif. 25 Feb 2025

USACE Emergency Operations

In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is prepared and ready to respond as part of the federal government’s unified national response to disasters and emergencies. In any disaster, USACE’s top priorities are:

Save lives and protect property;
Support immediate emergency response priorities for USACE, DoW, FEMA and the Federal Government.

During natural disasters and other emergencies, USACE can respond under its own authority, Public Law 84-99; as a component of the Department of Defense; and as the designated lead agency in support of FEMA for Emergency Support Function Number 3, Public Works and Engineering (ESF #3.)

USACE deploys hundreds of its trained personnel and resources across the United States and its territories to respond to emergencies and aid in disaster response and recovery every year.

As the coordinating and primary agency for Emergency Support Function #3 – Public Works and Engineering; USACE is responsible for coordinating and executing several missions in the post-disaster environment, and it is commonplace for FEMA to request additional support and technical assistance beyond ESF #3 core mission areas.

Public Law 84-99 (Section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1941)(PL 84-99)

Command Sgt. Maj. Zachary Plummer assists the street team to repair a temporary flood protection barrier along the Mendenhall River

Under PL 84-99, USACE may undertake Disaster Preparedness activities to coordinate, plan, train, and exercise with key local, state, Tribal and Federal stakeholders/partners under USACE statutory authorities and in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

PL 84-99

National Emergency Preparedness Program

Drought

Floods

Emergency Support Function #3 – Engineering and Public Works

George Delancey and Greg Rudy with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District debris team, assess the extent of debris created by Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina, Oct. 5, 2024.

USACE assists the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA by coordinating and organizing public works and engineering-related support as the agent for the Department of War.

Debris Management	Temporary Roofing
Emergency Power	Temporary Housing & Critical Public Facilities
Emergency Response	The Urban Search and Rescue Program
Operation Blue Roof	Infrastructure Assessment Mission

Support to the Department of War and other Federal Agencies

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Debris Removal Planning and Response Team and the 1st Navy Mobile Construction Battalion Seabees conduct debris translocation for the public safety of Agat Village, Guam,

USACE responds to disasters around the world as part of the DoW response or upon the direction of the Department of State. Because of its unique mission, USACE has many subject matter experts in areas such as Emergency Management, Flood Risk Management, landslides, construction, Urban Search and Rescue, oceanography, hydrology and hydraulics, and engineering fields that respond when needed.

Contracting in Disasters

Contractors are a critical force-multiplier during any disaster response. In the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), we rely heavily on these partners in industry to help us meet mission requirements quickly, efficiently and effectively.

To facilitate rapid engagement with the industrial base, USACE maintains an inventory of already awarded contract tools, pre-positioned to support major emergency response missions.

This suite of targeted contract tools provides USACE with a rapid response capability to support a wide range of mission requests.

Contracting in Disasters

Contractor Capabilities Form