FEMA Disposal of Ice
Release Date: July 16, 2007
Release Number: FNF-07-044
1. Why did FEMA choose to store the ice for the 2006 hurricane/disaster season?
Based on preliminary predictions of another 2006 active hurricane season, the decision was made to retain and store the ice for the 2006 hurricane season. This decision was based on the experiences of Katrina and long lead times to produce ice. Additional considerations were given to the massive amount of ice required in the previous 2004 hurricane season when four major hurricanes devastated the state of Florida. Considerations were also based on the initial planning of the Catastrophic Incident Supplement (CIS) and to support FEMA's all-hazard mission. The cost to ship to storage was $31 million.
There is a cost for preparedness. If we had not had this ice on hand and had an active hurricane season last year, the criticism would be louder than perhaps now for not being prepared. However, over the past two years, FEMA has worked toward a smarter business model.
2. What will FEMA do for ice for the 2007 hurricane/disaster season? How is FEMA ensuring that they won't encounter the same results as in 2005?
FEMA will rely on local purchase or vendor managed arrangements through the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) who has the mission lead for ice support under the National Response Plan. Their advanced contract initiatives and predictive model forecasts for commodities is a robust and reliable capability that makes them the source of choice for ice support. The new USACE ice contract guarantees 3,000,000 pounds of ice within 24 hours of receiving a task order and an increase in delivery over the next 48 hours to sustain a support capability of 1 million persons per day.
3. What was the purchase price of the ice?
The ice was originally purchased in 2005 and the Advanced Contracting Initiatives (ACI) cost per pound was $0.28.
4. Where was the ice being stored?
Based on preliminary predictions of another 2006 active hurricane season, the decision was made to retain and store the ice for the 2006 hurricane season and for possible future responses. FEMA had placed the ice in 22 geographically dispersed Americold Logistics, Inc. frozen storage facilities nationwide. Facilities were located in areas such as New York, Massachusetts and Tennessee. Due in large part to a non-eventful 2006 hurricane season, none of the ice brought back into storage was used for a disaster mission.
5. Does FEMA have a policy for how long it will store ice?
FEMA will no longer store ice. We will, instead, rely on the USACE to address future needs as the mission lead for ice support under the National Response Plan.
While there is no official published shelf-life for ice, the industry standard assumes a shelf life of up to one year. In the past, FEMA's policy for ice storage has been to adhere to the industry standard of one year. As such, FEMA decided to store the ice in preparation for the 2006 hurricane season.
6. How did FEMA arrive at the decision to dispose of ice in this manner?
As the ice began approaching a two year anniversary, FEMA attempted to locate other federal, non-profit and private sector agencies who may have had uses for the ice, but found no recipients. FEMA determined that Americold Logistics, Inc. offered the most cost effective method of disposition.
7. When will FEMA begin to destroy the ice? How long will it take?
FEMA will not destroy the ice. FEMA negotiated a supplemental agreement for its ice storage vendor to dispose of ice that it purchased in support of the 2005 hurricane season. The vendor, Americold Logistics, Inc. has begun to melt ice across 22 locations nationwide, the destruction began in June and will take approximately 11 months for the contractor to destroy the ice at a one time cost of $3.4 million.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 17-Jul-2007 13:16:07