Following a natural disaster or emergency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can provide state and local officials with a variety of support regarding emergency power needs at critical public facilities in support of FEMA as part of the federal government’s unified national response under the National Response Framework.
The Corps has Emergency Power Planning and Response Teams throughout the country with the capability to deploy and provide support ranging from technical expertise to “turn key” installation of emergency generators at critical public facilities, such as hospitals and shelters.
The Emergency Power PRTs work closely with the 249th Engineer Battalion, who provides technical expertise and performs assessments to determine the generator required at each facility, as well as, the connection materials required at critical public facilities during emergencies.
The Emergency Power PRTs work closely with FEMA, the Department of Energy, local and state entities, and contractors to execute this mission.
Key Points on the Emergency Power Mission PRTs
- Emergency Power PRTs, 249th Engineering Battalion and contractors can provide many services during emergency situations, which include:
- Assessing the emergency power requirements needed at a facility
- Assessing the conditions and capabilities of existing emergency generation equipment
- Installation, operations, fueling and maintenance of emergency power generation equipment
- Safety inspections and damage assessments of electrical distribution systems and equipment
- Preparation and installation of generators, along with their operation and maintenance
- De-installation and return of generators once the normal power grid is operational.
- During emergency power response activities, priorities are ultimately determined by state and/or local officials and fall into the following categories:
- Life saving (911 centers, police and fire stations and medical facilities)
- Life sustaining (shelters, water and wastewater treatment and pumping facilities)
- Other municipal facilities to reinstitute local command and control and post-event recovery