Baltimore-based U.S. Army Corps of Engineers debris team deploys to Hawaii in advance of Hurricane Lane

Published Aug. 22, 2018

BALTIMORE – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, has deployed a specially trained debris management team to Hawaii in preparation of response and recovery efforts anticipated for Hurricane Lane, a Category 4 hurricane heading toward the state.

Five personnel, including one military officer and four civilians, departed Wednesday morning to Honolulu, in order to pre-stage along with other personnel from across the Army Corps associated with various emergency response capabilities.

"Our team is pre-staging for the storm and proud to assist in the national response to a storm that may cause significant impacts to Hawaii in the coming days,” said Baltimore District Chief of Emergency Management Dorie Murphy. “I’m confident that Baltimore District’s highly competent and experienced debris management team will be a true asset to the larger response mission.”

When damage and debris are so extensive that local and state capabilities are exceeded, FEMA can assign the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a mission to provide debris management assistance. Baltimore District’s Debris Planning and Response Team is one of seven specially trained Corps debris teams across the country.

Support can range from technical support and advice to local authorities who may not be familiar with removal and disposal processes for large amounts of storm or other debris, or it can involve physically carrying out various debris removal activities.

Baltimore District personnel are prepared to support a large debris removal mission in Hawaii, with additional personnel prepared to deploy in the coming days and weeks as the mission grows.

Baltimore District is also prepared to deploy its Mobile Communications Vehicle, which provides a full spectrum of communications including radio, satellite and cellular capabilities. The MCV was deployed to Puerto Rico to help jumpstart response and recovery efforts there last fall after Hurricane Irma and Maria - returning stateside earlier this year.

Baltimore District’s debris experts recently supported debris removal associated with the wildfires in California as well as impacts from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Of note, the team supported debris removal in New York following Hurricane Sandy, as well as the large and unique debris removal mission after 9/11.

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Contact
Chris Gardner
410-962-2626
christopher.p.gardner@usace.army.mil

Release no. 18-060