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Value to the Nation: Emergency Operations

Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and other disasters are an unfortunate part of life. It is impossible to completely prevent them. A tornado, hurricane, flood, earthquake or other disaster can tear through our communities in moments destroying homes and businesses, uprooting families and leaving behind a path of destruction.

Emergency Response and Disaster Recovery

Each year, USACE sends hundreds of people to respond to disasters around the world. When disasters occur, it is not just a local USACE district or office that responds. Personnel and other resources are mobilized across the country to carry out our response missions. In any disaster, USACE's three top priorities are to:

  • Support immediate emergency response priorities
  • Sustain lives with critical commodities, temporary emergency power and other needs
  • Initiate recovery efforts by assessing and restoring critical infrastructure

Emergencies Photo 1

$434M in repair damage

Emergency Photograph 2

$608M provided to 69 projects in 18 states and one territory

Emergency Photograph 3

$17.4B for disaster recovery

More Information

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 Emergency Operations
  • Critical Public Facility Restoration
  • Debris Management
  • Emergency Infrastructure Assessments
  • Infrastructure System RSF
  • Emergency Power Planning and Response Teams
  • Temporary Housing
  • Temporary Roofing (Operation Blue Roof)
  • Urban Search and Rescue Teams
 Economic Impact

The economic impact of a disaster can be tremendous, destroying or disabling businesses, crippling critical infrastructure, and causing untold property damage. Floods alone are estimated to cause billions of dollars in damage each year in the United States. USACE disaster preparedness and emergency response efforts help to reduce the effects of disasters on businesses and communities. Read more…

 Environmental Benefits

When responding to an emergency situation USACE's first priority is saving lives and property. However, our response teams are also sensitive to the tremendous impact disasters can have on the environment. Many of the steps our teams take during an emergency are designed to lessen this environmental impact including:

  • Preventing contamination of rivers, streams, lakes and other waterways;
  • Protecting against erosion; and
  • Clearing hazardous debris.

Emergency Sidebar

For more information visit the USACE Headquarters Emergency Operations web page.