The Corps maintains 43 Planning and Response teams around the county to be able to respond quickly and effectively when disasters strike. These personnel participate in disaster training simulations and multi-agency regional training exercises. If and when a disaster takes place, the Corps moves quickly to provide immediate services to help save lives and prevent property damage.
In addition to these immediate measures, the Corps responds to emergencies by developing long-term solutions to emergency management issues. Shore protection projects are frequently implemented following storm events to prevent future damages. The Galveston seawall, built in the early 1900s, is one of the oldest examples of such a project. Today, beach nourishment projects and those utilizing a combination of responses are often carried out after severe storms.
Nourished beaches and dunes absorb wave energy and provide a buffer between floodwaters and landward developments. Underwater shoals cause waves to break before reaching the shore, thereby dissipating much of their energy. Applying a systems-based approach to sediment management can help keep coastal areas safe from flooding and wave damage, thus mitigating the threats to a coastal area.