When disaster strikes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) activates the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Emergency Support Function - 3, Public Works and Engineering, team to be among the first responders. USACE's role is to support FEMA as well as state and local authorities through missions assigned by FEMA to help the affected area recover and return to a normal state as soon as possible.
Prior to landfall of Hurricane Sandy Oct. 30, ESF-3 subject matter experts were identified - some prepositioned just outside the expected impact area - to ensure USACE would be on the scene as quickly as possible and set up, ready to get to work helping survivors.
The New Jersey Recovery Field Office, co-located with the Joint Field Office in Lincroft, N.J., was established Nov. 11. At its peak, the RFO had 148 USACE employees assigned.
In New Jersey, USACE provided temporary emergency power and technical assistance in debris removal, infrastructure assessment, critical public facility assessment and temporary housing through mission assignments from FEMA.
Subject matter experts in the five mission areas worked with FEMA and local and state authorities to assess the extent of damage, develop project worksheets and suggest possible solutions.
By Nov. 30, missions were wrapping up and the RFO closed operations, transferring any reach- back assistance needed to the Philadelphia District.
Temporary Power
To help meet the most immediate need in New Jersey, USACE installed 102 emergency generators at critical public facilities to provide life-saving power to police and fire stations and medical facilities; life-sustaining facilities such as shelters, water and wastewater treatment and pumping facilities; and other municipal facilities required to reinstitute local command and control and post-event recovery.
When power was restored to those locations and the generators were no longer needed, USACE started the process of returning the generators to storage. The generators were de-installed and returned to the staging area on Naval Engineering Station No. 547 in Lakehurst, N.J., where they were serviced and prepared for return to storage in FEMA distribution centers to await the next disaster.
With the exception of 10 generators that remained installed until a future date when they would no longer be needed, all assigned generators were returned to storage by Dec. 3.
Debris
USACE placed debris subject matter experts in eight New Jersey counties who worked with FEMA, state and local authorities to assess the quantities and types of debris and recommend courses of action for its removal.
Monmouth and Ocean counties were the hardest hit by the storm. Other counties receiving technical assistance were Atlantic, Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Middlesex and Union. Quantities of various types of debris are still being calculated but are estimated to total around 6.2 million cubic yards, or enough debris to fill the MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Ordinarily USACE would coordinate the hiring of debris removal contractors. However, in New Jersey, local authorities felt confident they could handle the debris removal mission. USACE subject matter experts worked directly with applicants (state, county or municipality) to analyze what the needs were and how to respond.
"Our experts help municipalities identify their best option for debris removal," said Bo Ansley, the debris subject matter expert and USACE mission manager. "This disaster has been unique. We helped local authorities ensure the debris is removed correctly and maximizing recycling options."
Infrastructure Assessment
USACE received 22 assignments from FEMA for technical assistance to evaluate damage to the state's infrastructure. USACE engineers performed comprehensive reviews of various types of facilities.
"We inspected shore protection, storm water outfalls, sewage treatment facilities, ferry terminal, levees and state parks," said Charles Ifft, the USACE infrastructure assessment mission manager.
Teams conducted site assessments and provided technical assistance to locals in the form of descriptions of noted damages. They suggested further actions and provided recommendations for emergency repairs or further investigation and study.
Critical Public Facilities
Critical public facilities are local fire departments, police departments, public schools, emergency management services, hospitals and public works facilities.
"A successful critical public facilities mission incorporates the combined USACE functions of contracting, real estate, environmental, project management, design and construction oversight," said Tim Brown, the USACE critical public facilities mission manager. "Close coordination and partnership with FEMA, state and local governments, and other federal agencies is essential."
In the case of Hurricane Sandy response, technical assistance provided by the USACE team included helping complete project worksheets for grant applications. The project worksheets require detailed documentation of damages, technical scope of work, a site plan and a detailed cost estimate. The team also assisted in the preparation of environmental documentation required by local, state and federal laws.
"The preliminary assessment of critical public facilities in New Jersey is complete for all 162 critical public facilities reporting damages," Brown said. "We found 28 sites that needed temporary facilities, including six fire, seven police, four schools, two city halls, one emergency management service and eight public works facilities."
Temporary housing
One option considered for temporary housing of storm survivors was using housing at Fort Monmouth. Fort Monmouth was closed by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program in September 2011.
The state-approved housing plan included remodeling Bldg. 365, which had 60, one-bedroom studio-style apartments, three of which were in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The remodel will result in 45 apartments: six, one-bedroom units that are ADA compliant; three, three-bedroom units that are ADA compliant; 24 standard one-bedroom units; and 12 standard three-bedroom units.
"The initial mission to assess the facilities on Fort Monmouth found that the units had been maintained since residents of the post departed," said Wyatt Kmen, the temporary housing mission manager in the NJ-RFO. "We worked as quickly as possible to get these apartments ready for occupancy by mid-December."
Any additional need for housing identified by FEMA may be supported by the Philadelphia District.
Wrapping up
Once the RFO closed and most of the USACE employees returned to their home stations, a handful of folks remained behind to finish up missions. The critical public facilities team stayed behind to wrap up project worksheets and temporary housing provided management of the renovation at Fort Monmouth. Other missions included external affairs and logistics.
As those missions are completed, the folks are heading back to their home organizations, where they will get back into their regular routines - until the next time.
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