News Release
| Release Number: | 05-125 |
| Dated: | 9/8/2005 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Editor’s Note: The Corps of Engineers will try to set up interviews with deploying employees, as requested. Please call (503) 808-4510 as early in the day as possible.
Portland, Ore. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has now deployed 30 employees from its Portland District office to support hurricane recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast region. Officials expect that number to increase to near 40 by the end of next week.
The Corps has pre-designated teams that are trained and ready to move into impacted areas to provide critical support, including: restoration of critical public services and facilities, including supply of adequate amounts of potable water and ice, temporary restoration of water supply systems, provision of temporary emergency electrical power, temporary emergency housing, structural evaluation of buildings and damage assessment, and clearance, removal and disposal of debris. The teams are located throughout the Corps’ 41 District offices and can deploy on short notice.
The deployees from Portland, who are all volunteers, are supporting the Corps’ Mississippi Valley Division based in Vicksburg, Miss., which oversees operations along the Mississippi River, to include western Mississippi and the News Orleans area. The Portland volunteers are helping remove, sort and dispose of debris, design and construct temporary housing, and other vital infrastructure work. In addition, the Portland District sent its rapid response vehicle, packed with the latest communications technology, to serve as a mobile command center in the affected area.
Additional Portland District team members may be deployed, as needed.
The Department of Defense has designated the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the primary agency for planning, preparedness and response under the Emergency Support Function #3, Public Works and Engineering.
The Army Corps of Engineers conducts its emergency response activities under two basic authorities: the Flood Control and Coastal Emergency Act (P.L. 84-99, as amended) and the Stafford Disaster and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288, as amended). Under the Stafford Act, the Corps supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency in carrying out the National Response Plan, which calls on 26 Federal departments and agencies to provide coordinated disaster relief and recovery operations.
Nearly 60 Portland District employees deployed to Florida and Georgia last year in response to the four hurricanes that hit the area and another 80 employees have or are serving oversees in the Global War on Terrorism.