Homeland Security’s Pre-Positioned Disaster Supplies (PPDS) Program

The Pre-Positioned Disaster Supplies (PPDS) Program Was Developed To Position Life Saving And Life Sustaining Disaster Equipment And Supplies As Close To A Potential Disaster Site As Possible.  The Goal Is To Substantially Shorten The Response Time From Incident To Delivery Of These Initial Critical Assets.

How is determination made as to what states get what supplies?

The strategy is to place PPDS containers in Hurricane/typhoon-prone states first, then earthquake-prone, then highly populous metropolitan areas. We continue to work through our regional offices to identify the states that would like to participate and are currently focusing on the states located on both the Gulf and Eastern Coasts.  PPDS containers are also stockpiled at various locations where containers are staged and Ready for transport as threats arise.

Back To Top

What is the process for requesting the PPDS containers?

Once a state is identified and is willing to participate, the respective FEMA region then processes a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the state. Once the MOA is signed by both the state and FEMA's Response Division Director, transportation arrangements are made and the container is delivered to the state.

Back To Top

PPDS Assets:

Initial Response Resources (IRR) Containers:

250-person container (20') contains:  generator (5kW); folding cots; blankets; pillows; portable toilet including disposable bags and privacy tent; personal hygiene kit; washcloths; first aid kit; CPR mask; halogen light set with tripod; 80' extension cord; 100' extension cord; fire extinguisher (5 lb); Tyvek coverall suit (XXL); cyalume light stick; gas can (5 gal); wheelchair; tool kit (home repair); hand truck.

500-person container (40') contains:  generator (5kW); folding cots; blankets; pillows; portable toilet including disposable bags and privacy tent; personal hygiene kit; washcloths; first aid kit; CPR mask; halogen light set with tripod; 80' extension cord; 100' extension cord; fire extinguisher (5 lb); Tyvek coverall suit (XXL); cyalume light stick; gas can (5 gal); wheelchair; tool kit (home repair); hand truck.

IRR Home Recovery Kit (HRK) Container (20'):

Contents:  100 rolls of roofing tarps (20'x100'); furring strips; air compressor (5.5 hp); roofing nailing kit and nails; roofing axe; wrecking bar; heel bar; gas can (5 gal); generator (5kW); halogen floodlight; hammers; hand truck (800 lb); hard hats; 16' extension ladder; circular saw; reciprocating saw; carpet/fabric shears; 30' tape measure; 5-pocket apron; 80' electrical cord; safety eyewear; gloves; utility knife and blades; 4 rolls of 600', ½", polypropylene rope.

150-person IRR Mobile Trailer (one prototype):

Contents:  generator (5kW); folding cots; blankets; pillows; portable toilet including disposable bags and privacy tent; personal hygiene kit; washcloths; first aid kit; CPR mask; halogen light set with tripod; 80' extension cord; 100' extension cord; fire extinguisher (5 lb); Tyvek coverall suit (XXL); cyalume light stick; gas can (5 gal); wheelchair; tool kit (home repair); hand truck.

300-person IRR Mobile Trailer (one prototype): 

Contents:  generator (5kW); folding cots; blankets; pillows; portable toilet including disposable bags and privacy tent; personal hygiene kit; washcloths; first aid kit; CPR mask; halogen light set with tripod; 80' extension cord; 100' extension cord; fire extinguisher (5 lb); Tyvek coverall suit (XXL); cyalume light stick; gas can (5 gal); wheelchair; tool kit (home repair); hand truck.

Special Event Cache (53' trailer):

Contents:  500 folding cots; 1000 blankets; 340 personal wash kits with bottled water; 24 portable toilet kits; 120 plastic tarps (20'x20'); 500 flashlights with batteries.

Back To Top

PPDS supplies in states to date:

Alabama:  1, 20' HRK container; 1, 40' (500-person) IRR container

Alaska:  1, 40' (500-person) IRR container

Florida:  4, 40' (500-person) IRR container

Hawaii:   3, 20' HRK container; 3, 40' (500-person) IRR container

Louisiana:  1, 20' HRK container; 1, 40' (500-person) IRR container

Maryland:  1, 40' (500-person) IRR container

South Carolina:  1, 40' (500-person) IRR container

Texas:  1, 40' (500-person) IRR container; 1, 150-person IRR Mobile Trailer; 1, 300-person IRR Mobile Trailer

Virginia:  1, 40' (500-person) IRR container

Washington:  1, 40' (500-person) IRR container

MOA's pending:  California, Delaware, Mississippi

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.  FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Back To Top

Last Modified: Monday, 19-Jun-2006 16:43:38 EDT