News Release Manager

Memphis Corps of Engineers employees deploy for Hurricane Irene emergency power mission

Published Aug. 26, 2011

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 26, 2011 – Nineteen members of the Corps of Engineers Memphis District’s Temporary Emergency Power Team are now deploying to east coast cities to prepare for Hurricane Irene’s landfall. They will be important players in providing emergency power to critical local government facilities like police and fire stations, shelters and emergency medical facilities.

“One team member will deploy to New York City to work in the FEMA Region II Headquarters,” Steve Barry, the Corps’ Chief of Emergency Management in Memphis said. “He will work as an emergency power subject matter expert there.”

The other 18 members of the Temporary Emergency Power Team will set up headquarters at Westover Air Force Base near Chicopee, Mass. From there they will deploy across the region as required by mission requirements.

“Some of the jobs they will perform will include assessments of emergency power needs, liaison with contractors providing emergency generators and equipment, and quality assurance,” Barry said.

The Memphis District Temporary Emergency Power Team is one of several on standby across the nation. They remain ready to respond on short notice to locations around the world.

Temporary emergency power is one of several missions assigned to the Corps of Engineers by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Federal Response Plan. Other missions include ice and water distribution, debris removal, temporary roofing and temporary housing.


Contact
Public Affairs Office
901-544-3005

Release no. 11-32