22The Military Engineer l November-December l 2009 USACE Deploys Response Teams Following Pacific Tsunami USACE, under the leadership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), deployed teams to American Samoa in response to the Sept. 29 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, in support of President Barack Obamas major-disaster declaration. Na- tionwide USACE Planning and Response Teams (PRT) and subject-matter experts were in American Samoa to provide as- sistance. The USACE Honolulu District de- ployed team members with expertise in handling debris, emergency power support and water systems to American Samoa to help assess and evaluate the extent of the damage and work with the local American Samoa government to assist with repair plans. The management cell of USACE Ho- nolulu Districts Emergency Power PRT joined 15 soldiers from the 249th Engi- neer Battalion (Prime Power) in American Samoa. This team oversaw the installa- tion of FEMA generators at critical life- saving and life-sustaining public facilities like shelters, sewer and water treatment plants and emergency management and response facilities such as police and ?re stations and medical facilities. USACE Honolulu District established a Reception, Staging, Onward Move- ment and Integration center (RSOI) at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, to coordinate transportation, lodging, training and integration of all USACE responders nationwide deploying to Samoa, Guam, the Philippines and Indonesia for this event and others. Honolulu District engineers and project managers worked with project sponsors in American Samoa to gather initial damage assessments using satel- lite imagery to augment on-scene eval- uations. Among the areas assessed were shore-protection projects, small boat harbors and ?ood-control projects. If any of these projects were damaged, Honolulu District employees were to conduct an engineering evaluation of the damage for possible government rehabilitation. With several other potential weather- or nature-related events possible in the near future, additional USACE PRTs have been alerted and are on standby for deployments in the Paci?c region. FEMA is the lead agency for coordi- nating government response to natural disasters. USACE PRTs provide essential support for Emergency Support Func- Military News (continued) Strength, the number one factor in fence life, is en-sured by high-tensile steel pickets (1 or 3/4) and rails that are fusion welded at every intersection. Montage II® and Montage Plus® ATF™ (All Terrain Fence) are the only welded steel fences with the capability to follow severe grade changes. Wide steel pales (2-3/4) provide moderate screening and strong resistance to vandals. Unlike easily cut chain link fences, Impasse® ornamental steel security fences will delay intruders for several minutes, giving valuable time to initiate and implement ample countermeasures. Montage II, Montage Plus & Impasse Available on GSA Schedule ME 0905.indd 14/6/2009 7:56:26 AM
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