Picatinny establishes task force for future emergencies in wake of Hurricane Sandy

November 21, 2012

By Picatinny Arsenal Public Affairs Office

Story Highlights

  • In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, a task force at Picatinny Arsenal has been established to collect lessons learned.
  • "We are looking for those things we did well and more importantly those things we can improve on," Picatinny Senior Commander Brig. Gen. John McGuiness said.
  • The storm left widespread destruction and caused extensive power outages and gasoline shortages.
  • Fallen trees and downed power lines at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy mirrored destruction elsewhere in New Jersey and in the region. Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been established at Picatinny Arsenal to collect lessons learned so that the installation and its workforce can be better prepared for the next disaster.

    Picatinny Arsenal damage from Hurricane Sandy 1 of 5

    Fallen trees and downed power lines at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy mirrored destruction elsewhere in New Jersey and in the region. Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been...

  • Lack of power and scarcity of gasoline presented daunting challenges to the workforce and managers. Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been established at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., to collect lessons learned so that the installation and its workforce can be better prepared for the next disaster.

    Picatinny Arsenal damage from Hurricane Sandy 2 of 5

    Lack of power and scarcity of gasoline presented daunting challenges to the workforce and managers. Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been established at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., to collect lessons learned...

  • Utility crews and other responders near a fallen tree that took down power lines on Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been established at Picatinny Arsenal to collect lessons learned so that the installation and its workforce can be better prepared for the next disaster. Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been established at Picatinny Arsenal to collect lessons learned so that the installation and its workforce can be better prepared for the next disaster.

    Picatinny Arsenal damage from Hurricane Sandy 3 of 5

    Utility crews and other responders near a fallen tree that took down power lines on Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been established at Picatinny Arsenal to collect lessons learned...

  • Fallen trees created widespread problems during and after the hurricane. A tree felled by Hurricane Sandy blocked a road and took down power lines nearby. Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been established at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., to collect lessons learned so that the installation and its workforce can be better prepared for the next disaster.

    Picatinny Arsenal damage from Hurricane Sandy 4 of 5

    Fallen trees created widespread problems during and after the hurricane. A tree felled by Hurricane Sandy blocked a road and took down power lines nearby. Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been established...

  • Strong and persistent winds broke this tree at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., in half. Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been established at Picatinny Arsenal to collect lessons learned so that the installation and its workforce can be better prepared for the next disaster.

    Picatinny Arsenal damage from Hurricane Sandy 5 of 5

    Strong and persistent winds broke this tree at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., in half. Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been established at Picatinny Arsenal to collect lessons learned so that the installation...

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. (Nov. 21, 2012) -- Against the backdrop of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, a task force has been established at Picatinny Arsenal to collect lessons learned so that the installation and its workforce can be better prepared for the next disaster.

"We are looking for those things we did well and more importantly those things we can improve on," Picatinny Senior Commander Brig. Gen. John McGuiness said in an email message to the Picatinny workforce.

McGuiness named Col. Steve Cummings, the garrison chief of staff and project manager for Close Combat Systems, to lead the task force, which will produce an after-action report due Feb.1, 2013.

In his message, McGuiness praised personnel from the garrison, Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, and organizational representatives who worked at the EOC during the height of disaster.

"They did a great job gaining control of the situation on post and working the priorities so that we could restore power and repair the damages so that we could open," McGuinessl said. "They did this at their own personal sacrifice, in some cases not knowing what the condition their own homes were in."

Hurricane Sandy's rain and winds left widespread destruction that also caused extensive power outages and gasoline shortages in the area.

Page last updated Wed November 21st, 2012 at 00:00