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Emergency Management

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can provide assistance to state and local agencies following natural disasters or other emergencies. Emergency preparedness and response is a state and local responsibility but on those occasions when the nature of the disaster exceeds the capabilities of these agencies, the Corps may assist to prevent the loss of human life and reduce damage to public property.

Contact us

Phone: 503-808-4510
Email: cenwp-pa@usace.army.mil

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Emergency management

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Emergency Management

The Readiness Section plans for and manages this assistance, including:

  • Flood response and technical assistance
  • Field investigations
  • Rehabilitation and inspection of flood damage reduction projects
  • Public works and engineering support during national disasters

USACE most commonly supports disasters and emergencies under the authority of Public Law 84-99, Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, under a Presidential Disaster Declaration, can task the Corps to provide assistance for response and recovery missions under Public Law 93-288 (the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended).

Silver Jackets is a national initiative under USACE's Flood Risk Management Program. The program provides communities with an opportunity to work with all appropriate state and federal agencies to develop localized and comprehensive flood risk management programs. The program uses state flood risk management teams as a critical tool to accomplish their mission.

USACE has the lead for all intergovernmental Silver Jacket teams in the U.S. As the lead agency for the Oregon Silver Jackets team, Portland District chairs all meetings, ensures all coordination and action items are complete, coordinates the signing of a team charter, etc. This lead role supports the Corps’ effort to link appropriate state and federal agencies to accomplish Oregon's flood risk management goals. The Corps hosts the national Silver Jacket site and Oregon's internal site for data sharing.

The following agencies participate in the Oregon Silver Jackets program:

Building community awareness

The Corps also supports efforts to increase community and individual awareness of flood risks and potential, the resources available from public agencies to prepare for floods and empower the public to take individual actions to reduce their risk. Readiness emergency managers train and exercise with state and local government, volunteer organizations and the private sector to ensure disaster response is coordinated and effective.