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The Defense Logistics Agency is Prepared to Help FEMA During This Year's Hurricane Season

Posted on: Friday, 10 July 2009, 11:32 CDT

FORT BELVOIR, Va., July 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Defense Logistics Agency is ready to provide meals, cots, blankets, fuel, and other support to Americans in need during this year's hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30.

As the Department of Defense's combat logistics support agency, DLA is responsible for providing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, other federal agencies, and joint and allied forces with a variety of logistics, acquisition and technical services. These services include procuring and distributing nearly four million items such as rations, medical supplies and equipment, clothing and textiles, repair parts for land, sea and air weapons systems and platforms, fuel and energy services.

In addition to supporting America's service members, DLA supports U.S. Northern Command, Colorado Springs, Colo., and partners with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide logistics support during natural and other disasters.

"There is nobody in the world that buys in bulk like DLA, and we do that very well," said Steve Quinn, DLA's liaison officer to FEMA. "We are FEMA's logistics partner, and we have a strong and productive relationship with them. Even when we assist FEMA, DLA is still there to support our warfighters."

The Joint Logistics Operations Center located at DLA is responsible for coordinating with its field activities to provide items such as meals, water, medical supplies, and fuel requested by FEMA during natural disasters, including hurricanes.

DLA prepares annually for assisting in natural disasters, and last month, the agency conducted a mock exercise with FEMA called Able Provider 2009 using electronic communication to prepare for potential hurricanes. The exercise tested the military's and FEMA's ability to respond to two simulated hurricanes in the southeastern part of the United States just days apart.

"Hopefully we won't have to put into action the plan that we exercised but if we do, I am confident we are prepared to respond," said Marine Col. Scott Dalke, division chief of Joint Logistics Operations Center.

After Hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit last September, DLA provided FEMA with more than 30 million meals. DLA's Defense Energy Support Center, which purchases fuel and manages fuel contracts for the Department of Defense, also sent 15,000 gallons of ultra-low sulfur diesel and 5,300 gallons of unleaded gasoline to a FEMA staging area in Carville, La.

DLA's Deployable Distribution Center provided support in Texas after Hurricane Ike in 2008. The center is a portable, self contained structure that provides storage in harsh environments. The structure can be adjusted depending on the amount of items that need to be stored. The Deployable Distribution Center employees helped FEMA set up a logistics staging area near San Antonio, Texas, and at other sites to distribute food and supplies.

The agency provided more than 45 million meals, distributed more than 2.2 million units of water, $3.5 million of medical supplies, 60,000 blankets and 50,000 cots after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The agency also provided $5.5 million of pharmaceutical and surgical items for the Navy's hospital ship, USNS Comfort, which deployed to aid Gulf Coast residents.

After those hurricanes, the Defense Energy Support Center provided more than 560,000 gallons of fuel to FEMA and more than 3.4 million gallons for the military and other federal agencies to assist in evacuation efforts. The fuel purchased also powered cargo planes and trucks to deliver water, diapers, and emergency supplies. Fuel shipments were expedited and alternative methods of fuel delivery were used to assist those helping evacuees as quickly as possible.

In February, DLA procured 2.2 million meals for shipment to Kentucky and Arkansas winter storm victims, and to restock FEMA distribution warehouses.

"Over time we have grown to understand what FEMA's mission requirements are and how they operate," said Quinn. "FEMA knows what type of direct support we can provide to them in time-sensitive situations."

DLA works with FEMA and DoD's U.S. Northern Command throughout the year to prepare for natural disasters, including wildfires and floods. In addition, the agency assists in humanitarian efforts around the globe.

Last August, DLA procured more than 100 tons of supplies for the citizens of the Republic of Georgia following its conflict with Russia. During the summer of 2006, the agency provided jet fuel, 2,000 cases of meals, more than 1,400 blankets, and 2,000 cots to support the evacuation of Americans in Lebanon during a surge of violence.

DLA employs 23,000 civilian and military employees, with Fiscal Year 2008 business revenues of $42 billion. For more information about DLA, go to www.dla.mil.

Photos are available at http://www.dla.mil/DLAPUBLIC/DLA_MEDIA_CENTER/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?ID=453.

Caption information:

Harlingen Texas relief: Army Spc. Gilberto Garcia unloads cases of food the Defense Logistics Agency provided to the Federal Emergency Management Agency at a distribution point in Harlingen, Texas, July 25, 2008. (Photo by Army 1st Sgt. Lek Mateo)

Georgian soldier: A Georgian soldier assists in the delivery of humanitarian supplies the Defense Logistics Agency provided to the U.S. State Department in August after Georgia's conflict with Russia. (Photo by Marine Maj. Rob James)

SOURCE Defense Logistics Agency

Source: PR Newswire

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