The Great Lakes and Ohio Division’s Readiness and Contingency Operations office is engaged in planning, training and response activities for natural disasters, national emergencies and civil support.

Specifically, the RCO executes Corps authorities for:

• Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies including inspecting federal levees and qualifying non-federal levees and floodfighting authorities.

• National Emergency Preparedness Program.

In addition, the RCO supports the Corps’ role as lead of Emergency Support Function 3 (ESF #3) of the National Response Plan by supporting the readiness and deployment of Corps volunteers to work on federally declared disasters.

Typical ESF#3 assistance provided by the Corps includes:

• Needs Assessments:  Participation in damage/needs assessments.

• Temporary Power:  Provision of emergency power to public facilities.

• Ice and Water:  Management and emergency contracting to support public health and safety, such as providing potable water and ice.

• Debris Management:  Emergency debris clearance and removal and disposal management of debris from public property.

• Emergency Infrastructure Assessments:  Assessments of damaged streets, bridges, ports, waterways, airfields and other facilities necessary for emergency access to disaster victims.

• Critical Public Facility Restorations:  Emergency restoration of critical public facilities (including temporary restoration of water supplies and wastewater treatment systems).

• Demolition / Structural Stabilization:  Emergency demolition or stabilization of damaged structures and facilities.

• Technical Assistance:  Technical assistance including inspection of private residential structures and commercial structures.