Subject: Tropical Storm Nate and Hurricane Maria

FEMA

Subject: TS Nate and Hurricane Maria

Moderator: William Booher

10-06-2017/3:00 pm EDT

Confirmation # 7612850

Page 1

Subject: Tropical Storm Nate and Hurricane Maria

Moderator:William Booher

October 6,2017

3:00pmEDT

Operator:GooddayeveryoneandwelcometotheFEMAPressCall.Today’sconferenceisbeingrecorded.AtthistimeIwouldliketoturntheconferenceovertoWilliamBooher.Pleasegoaheadsir.

William Booher:Goodafternoon.ThisisWilliamBooherDirectorofPublicAffairsatFEMA.TodayisOctober6.ThankyouforjoiningustodayforanupdateonpreparationsforTropicalStormNateintheGulfCoastaswellasthefederalresponseeffortsinPuertoRicofollowingHurricaneMaria.Thiscallisontherecordandjournalistswillbeabletoaskquestionsfollowingbriefopeningremarks.Duetotimeconstraintsweaskthatyoulimityourfollowupquestionstoone.

ForourfirstupdateonTropicalStormNatepreparationswe arejoinedbyNationalHurricaneCenterActingDeputyDirectorDr.MarkDeMaria,FEMARegion4ResponseDivisionDirectorGwenKeenanandFEMARegion6ResponseDivisionOperationsIntegrationBranchChiefBulletYoung.Dr.DeMariaI’llturnthecallovertoyou.

Dr.MarkDeMaria:Thankyou.Asof1pmCentraldaylighttimeNatewasabout120milessoutheastofCozumel,Mexico.It’smovingprettyquicklytothenorth-northwestatabout21milesperhour.Themaximumwindsatthatpointwereabout50milesperhour.AndweexpectthestormtocontinuemovingquicklythroughtheYucatanChannelanduptowardstheU.S.GulfCoastwithstormconditionsstartingtoreachthatareaSaturdayeveningandthencontinuingintoSundaymorning.

TheconditionsintheGulfofMexicowerefairlyfavourableforfurtherstrengtheningandwedoexpectNatetobeahurricanebeforeitreacheslandandatlandfall.Becauseofthatwe’vegothurricanewarningsupforeasternLouisianaallthewayacrosstotheAlabama-Floridaborderwithtropicalstormwarningsoneitherside.AtthispointtheCityofNewOrleansisinatropicalstormwarningbecauseit’salittlebitfurtherinlandbutwe’llmonitorthatinthenextday.

TheGulfCoastisespeciallypronetostormsurgebecauseoftheveryshallowwaterinthecoastalshelf.AndsowehaveastormsurgewarningupforEasternLouisianaagainthroughroughlytheAlabama-Floridaborder.Andwe’relookingatpossibleinundationshouldariseoftheoceanthereoffourtosevenfeetsothat’spotentiallylife-threateningstormsurgeconditions.Becauseit’safastmoverwewon’tseerainfall,like,wedidinHarveybutwe’reexpectingthreetosixincheswithlocallyheavieramounts.

SoifanyquestionsI’llturnitbacktoyou.

William Booher:Thankyoudoctor.We’llnowturnitovertoFEMARegion4ResponseDivisionDirectorGwenKeenan.

Gwen Keenan:Goodafternooneveryone.I’mGwenKeenanFEMARegion4ResponseDivisionDirector.JustwantedtogiveyouanupdateonourpreparationsforTropicalStormNate.FromourregionalresponseofficeinAtlantawe’recloselymonitoringtheprogressofthestormandcommunicatingwithallofourstatepartners.BeginningtomorrowatnoonourRegionalResponseCoordinationCenterwillactivate.TheCenteristhehubofcoordinationthroughallthefederalagenciestoprovidesupporttotherequestsfromthestatethatmaybeaffectedbyNate.

WhileFEMAcoordinatesthestate’sresourcesit’sthefullfederalfamilythatmakesitpossibletorespondandit’sintheOperationsCenterthatwebringtogetheralltherightpeopletomakesurewehavealltheresourcesthatthestatesmayneed.Todayourprioritiesareplanningtheresourcestosupporttherequestsbythestate,positioningstaffandresourcesaheadofthestormandanticipatingtheneedsofthestateafterNate makeslandfall.InordertocoordinaterequestswehaveFEMAliaisonofficersatthestateemergencyoperationscenterstoensurethatanyrequestsfromthestatearerelayedbacktous.We’vealsoprepositionedotherpeopleandsuppliesaheadofthestorminAlabama,Florida,GeorgiaandMississippishouldtheyberequested.

Justaswe’releaningforwardtopreparefortheonsetofthestormwe’dliketotakethisopportunitytoremindcitizensthatit’simportantforthemtodotheirpart.Ifyoucouldhelpusgetthewordoutonthisfrontwe’dliketoencourageeverybodytolistentolocalweatherforecasts,checkroadandtrafficinformationandmakesurethatthey’relisteningtolocalauthoritiesforanyissuesoremergencyactionsthatmaybeprovided.AndparticularlyforpeoplethatliveintheprojectedpathofNate. Theyshouldlistenandfollowinstructionsofstate,local,territorialortribalofficialsandthenifthey’reinstructedtoevacuatetheyneedtoevacuate.

Alsowe’dliketoremindpeopleiftheyhaven’talreadydownloadedtheFEMAappthattheycandosoanddoacustomizablechecklistforemergencysupplies,directionstoshelters,disastersurvivaltipsaswellasNationalWeatherServiceupdates.Thisconcludesmybrief.

William Booher:ThankyouGwen.We’llnowturnitovertoFEMARegion6ResponseDivisionOperationsIntegrationBranchChiefMr.BulletYoung.

Bullet Young:Goodafternoon.SimilartoourcolleaguesoverinRegion4wecontinuetopostureourselvestorespondtothepotentialofTropicalStormNatecomingashoreintheNewOrleansareaasaCategory1hurricane.Inpreparationofthat,FEMAhasmovedapproximately750,000mealsintotheNewOrleansarea.We’realsointheprocessofmovinga200,two250bedfieldmedicalstationwhicharethelowacuity,chronichealth,medicalfacilities,kindofthesemobilehospitals,we’removingtwoofusintotheBatonRougeareaandwillpre-stagethem.

Rightnowwe’vehadonthegroundsincethestartofhurricaneseasonabout391,000meals,about394,000litersofwater,16,000cotsandabout44,000blankets.Ourreadiness levelisataleveltwowhichmeansthatwearestaffedtorespondtoanystaterequeststhatmaycomeinwithinthenext72hours.AndwehavesufficientgovernmentagenciesrepresentedhereinourRegionalCommandCentertoprovidethatsupporttothestate.Wecurrentlyhaveanindividual(inaudible)attheNewOrleansEmergencyOperationsCenter.WealsohaveoneofourincidentmanagementteamsassignedtotheStateSOCandwe’refullyposturedtoprovidesupportasrequestedbythestate.

Thatconcludesmyupdatesubjecttoyourquestions.

William Booher:Thankyou.OperatorwewillnotopenitupforanyquestionsaboutthepreparationsforTropicalStormNate.

Operator:Sureifyou’dliketoaskaquestionsimplypresstheStarkeyfollowedbythedigit1onyourtelephonekeypad.Alsoifyou’reusingaspeakerphonepleasemakesureyourmutefunctionisturnedofftoallowyoursignaltoreturntoourequipment.Avoicepromptonyourphonelinewillindicatewhenyourlinehasbeenopenedtoaskaquestion.OnceagainStar1.Atthistimewe’llpauseforamoment.

EbenBrownwithFoxNewshasourfirstquestion.

(Evan Brown):Higoodafternoonthankyoufordoingthis.Whatisthestateofreadinessacrossalllevelshere,youknow,consideringwe’vehadtoenduresomuchinthesoutheastandintheCaribbeaninthepastsixweeksorso?Youknow,howreadyareweforthisstormnow?Bothatthefederallevel,thestate,thelocallevels.AndIknoweveryonetalkstooneanother.What’sthefeelinggoingintothisone?Isthereagoodamountoffatigue?Isthereanyconcernablelackofsuppliesoravailabilityoffueloranything likethat?

William Booher:GwenandBulletwillyoupleasespeaktothatfromtheRegionallevelandthecoordinationwiththestates?

Bullet Young:YesI’llstartwiththecoordinationwiththeStateofLouisiana.As,youknow,asHurricaneHarveyapproachedus,wewerethefirstregionthatreallyhadamajorstormthatimpactedourGulfCoaststate.Sowewereabletopre-positionquiteafewofthecommoditiesthatwehadsittingatourLogisticsCentertoputthoseontheground.CommoditiesthatIwentoverisanexampleofthat.WewereabletodothatasHarveyapproached.Sowhatwemadethetacticaldecisiontodowastoleavethosecommoditiesonthegroundthroughouthurricaneseasonforaneventofthistypethat,youknow,weneverknewwhenanadditionalhurricanewasgoingtocomeashore.Soweleftalotofthecommoditiesontheground.Hencewe’rewellpreparedtorespondtoalargescalehurricane.

Asisthecasewithouragency,thenumberofdisastersthatwe’rerespondingtoespeciallywithinourregionhasstretchedourstaffthinbutwemaintainsufficientstafftoprovidesupport.RightnowaccordingtoLouisiana’sreportandallindicationsisthattheyhavesufficientstafftoprovidesupportasthisstormapproachestheGulfCoast.AndweinFEMARegion6,wehavesufficientsupportaswell.We’rerelyingonthebackupregion.Someofourbackupregionsinotherpartsofthecountryhavestaffandsowefeelfairlycomfortablethatwehavesufficientstaffresourcesandthebodiesneededtoprovidesupportasneeded.

Gwen Keenan:AndthisisGwenKeenanfromRegion4.IechoeverythingthatBulletsaid.Ithinkironicallybecausewe’realreadypoisedindisasterresponsealotoftheemergencysuppliesneededarealreadypositioned.OurdistributioncenterisfullflowsoIthinkwehavereadyaccesstotheresourcesthestatesmightneed.Thestateshavegivenfullindicationthatthey’refullystaffedandleaningforwardandprepared.AndasBulletalludedtoIthinkimmediatelythestatesintheregionsthathavebeenimpactedthestaffsmaybestretchedalittlebitthinbutourbackupregions - theregionsupintheMidwestandoutWesthavebeenprovidingadditionalstaff.Case inpoint, Region5inChicagohasprovidedusstafftoaugmentsupporttoAlabamaforthisdisaster.

Andthenadditionallythefullfederalfamily’sjumpedin.WehavetheDepartmentofHomelandSecuritySurgeForce.WehavevolunteersfromotheragenciesthathavevolunteeredtocomeinandhelpusstaffoutsoIthinkwestillhaveaprettyrobustcapabilitytorespond.

Bullet Young:IthinktheotherthingthatIwouldaddtooisthatourstatesrelyheavilyontheEmergencyManagementAssistanceCompactwhichallowsthemtocalluptheotherstatesandtheycandostatetostateassistance.Andwhatwe’veseenhereinthelast48hoursisthattheStateofLouisianahasreachedouttootherstatesandaskedforteamstocomedownandaugmentthemintheeventthattheyhaveamajordisasterontheirhands.Sowe’reseeingquiteabitofthatwhichisthewaythesystemwasdesignedtoworkwheretheywereallowedtobringinrequestsandreceiveteamsfromotherstates.

Operator:Nextcallerpleasegoahead.

Brandon Ross:HithisisBrandonRossfromBloombergBNA.Canyouhearme?

William Booher:Yeswecanhearyou.

Brandon Ross:Okaysorry.IwascuriousistheNationalFloodInsuranceProgramoutofmoneyatthistime?WhiteHousemadearequestearlierthisweekfromCongressandsaidthattheNFIPhadrunoutofmoneyincludingallthereservestheyhadleftbytheendofOctober.Hasthathappenedatthistime?

William Booher:Brandon thiscall isfocusedonthepreparationsforTropicalStormNate.We’llbehappytofollowupwithyouonthatquestionafterthiscall.

Brandon Ross:Okaythankyou.

Operator:AndMr.Booheryoumayproceedwiththeconference.

William Booher:Thankyou.AtthistimewearegoingtoturntoanupdateonthefederalresponsetoHurricaneMaria.TodaywearejoinedbytheU.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServicesAssistantSecretaryforPreparednessandResponseDr.BobKadlec.TheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineerCommanderoftheRecoveryFieldOffice,LieutenantColonelJamesDeLappandPuertoRicoAirNationalGuardAssistantAdjutantBrigadierGeneralWayneZimmet. Dr, Kadlec?

Dr.Kadlec:Goodafternooneverybody.Ithinkthebiggestupdatethatwe’reprovidingiswe’recontinuingourprioritizedeffortstosavinglives,stabilizingthehealthinfrastructureandrestoringhealthcareservicesontheisland.Ithinksignificantlyinthelastcoupleofdayswe’vebeenconfrontedwiththefactthatIjustreturnedfromPuertoRico.Andinlightofthatexperiencewerecognizethattherewasgoingtobealong-termchallengesubjecttothepowersituation.

AndwiththearrivaloftheComfort,weworkedcarefullywithourDepartmentofDefensecolleaguesandourV.A.colleaguestobasicallysetupanetworkthatwouldexpandourfootprintacrosstheislandparticularlyinthecentralregionswiththeV.A.clinics. AswellasfullyutilizingtheComforttobepartofa911systemthatwe’resettingup,thatwhenthereisanissuesubjecttocriticalcarepatientsinhospitalsthatareongeneratorsweareproactivelymovingthemtotheComfortwherethosepatientscanreceivestateoftheartqualitycare.

We’vehadtwoinstancessofarwheregeneratorshavefailedunexpectedlyandwe’vehadtomovepatients.YoumaybeawareoftheonesthatweremovedonWednesday - 29intotalfromHumacao,PuertoRico,totheComfort.Thosewereamixedgroupofpatients,criticalcareaswellashighacuitymedicalsurgepatients.We’reinthemidstrightnowofevaluatinganotherpotentialeightpatientsfromCaguastotheComfortaswell.

Soit’sanongoingactiveseriesofinterventionswe’redoingwiththeintentthatwhilethosegeneratorsarebeingrepairedthosefacilitiesarestillopenforservicestoprovideprimarycareandemergencyservices.Wedohaveourdisastermedicalassistantteamsinthoseareasthatareprovidingaugmentationasrequired.

WiththatI’llstopandseeifthereareanyquestions.

William Booher:Beforewegettoquestions,we’regoingtocontinueonwiththebriefingupdates.

William Booher:We’re going to go overtoU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,CommanderofRecoveryFieldOffice, LieutenantColonelJamesDeLapp.

James DeLapp:HithisisColonelDeLapp.Thanksforhavingus.JusttoprovideaquickupdateonwhattheArmyCorpsisdoinghereinPuertoRico. AsmanyofyoumayknowtheArmyCorpsisworkingonbehalfofFEMAinsupportofEmergencySupportFunction#3whichisPublicWorksandEngineering.Withinthatareawehavetheresponsibilitytoconducttemporarypower,debrisremoval,temporaryroofingaswellasinfrastructureassessmentsofcriticalpublicfacilities.

Todatewehaveinstalled33generatorsatcriticalfacilitiessuchashospitalsandhaveteninprogressaswecurrentlyspeak.Wejustreceivedinthelast48hours,177additionalgeneratorsthatcameinbybargewhichwe’reintheprocessofinventorying,testingandthenwe’llpushouttodofurtherinstallationsofthoseatadditionalfacilities.

Lookingatourdebrisinitialestimatesareabout6.5millioncubicyardsofdebristobepoliceduphereontheisland.Thosearejustourveryinitialestimates.Those’llbeconfirmed.We’vebeenassignedalreadythreecriticalroutestoclearbyourcontractor.Somaintainingandclearingtheroutesaroundtheislandisthefirstactivity.That’sbeingdonenotonlybytheCorpsofEngineersbutbeingdonebymilitaryunitsbothfromtheNationalGuardandactivedutyhereontheisland.Thoserouteshavebeenclearedbyourcontractorandweexpectadditionalrouteclearancemissionsaswellasmovingintotheactualdebrispickupandcleanupoperations.

Forourtemporaryroofingwerecentlyreceivedourfirstshipmentofroofingmaterial.Sincethenthedayweactuallyreceivedit,weinstalledourfirstblueroofontopofoneofthemainhospitalshereinSanJuan,themulti-medicalhospital.We’vesincethenandsinceinstalledfiveadditionalroofsoncriticalfacilitiesaswellassomehomes.We’vedone1,733rightsofentry.Thoseareapprovalstodoblueroofsonfacilitatesandhaveassessed374actualhomesorfacilitiestodofurtherinstallations.Aswe’rejuststartinginthisoperationourcontractorisrampingupcurrentlytoexecutethismissionashisworkforcecontinuestogrowandastheirprocedurescontinuetobefurtherrefined. Themaximumrateinwhichthey’llbedoingwillgreatlyincreaseovertime.

Forourinfrastructureassessmentwecontinuetodoassessmentsofcriticalfacilitiestoincludewaterandwastewatertreatmentfacilitieshereontheislandtoensurethatthosearebeingmaintainedandoperational.Inadditionthereareadditionalpowerrequirementsatsomeofthosefacilitieswhicharebeingintegratedintotheoverallpowerrequirementlist.

That’sallIhaveatthistimependinganyquestions.

William Booher:Thankyousir.WewillnowturnitovertoPuertoRicoInternationalGuardAssistantAdjutantBrigadierGeneralWayneZimmet.

Wayne Zimmet:HiI’dliketoupdateonthePuertoRicoInternationalGuard.MytroopshavebeenverybusyeversinceIrmaswungthroughSt.Martin,wherewe weredirectedtoevacuateover1800U.S.citizensandsupplyequipmentsupportforallthesupportingagenciesandthenwestartedtheequipmentandpersonnelsupportoutofSt.Thomas.Sothey’vebeenverybusyandthenMariahit.Sowebecame - ourfirstprioritywastobaserecover,dothestatusoftheairplanesandI’mhappytosaythatwe’veaccountedfor100%ofourpersonnelwhichwasverydifficultandchallengingjustduetothelackofcommunicationwheremostofourpersonnelarefirstresponderssuchasdoctorsandcustomsandFBIandpolicemen.

The - anotherprioritywhichweestablishedrelativelyquickinjustafewdayswastogetourradarupandgoingfromSantaSalinastofeedtheFAAradarsiteandgettheairportsupandrunningwhichtheycontinuetofeed.

IheardsomebodytalkearlieraboutstateagreementswhentheyweretalkingaboutNate.Tothisdatewehaveabout40ofthosestateagreements.TheNationalGuardislikeabigfamilyandwe’regettingalotofhelpfromagsandgovernorsfromotherstatesfortheseagreementsinroughlyabout4500Guardsmenonthegroundnow.TheAirNationalGuardhasflownaboutroughly40 - or54%ofthehurricanemissionssofarandthat’sover550flightmissionsintotheareahereandapproximatelyrightnowwe’rerunningabout20missionsaday.

AndI’mproudofmywing,who’sflyingherebecauseinadditiontoallthemissionandmissionsupportthey’vehostedthePresidentwhichisaverylargeoperationandalsotheDirectoroftheNationalGuard,fourstargeneralandnowtheVicePresident.Thattakesupalotofmanpowerandthey’redoingitverywell.

AndacoupleothersuccessstoriesforourStateNationalGuardfortheair.Roughly301personnelareworkingattenofthepointsofdistributionwherethey’vehandedout - andthesearevolunteers,completelyservicebeforeself.They’vehandedoutover2,700,000bottlesofwater,over1,000,430mealsthroughoutthepointsofdistribution.Wealsohavethecivilairpatrolwho’vebeenveryimportantontakingphotographyandaerialviewsofdifferentareassuchasroads,bridgesanddamsinthearea.

WeplantocontinuethesupportandbringthesuppliesuntilthePuertoRicocommercialsystemisupinfullspeedandIcansaypersonallythatI’veseenlinesatgasstationsliterallydowntonothing.Andontheroadsthesupplytrucks,thereareconvoysofsupplytruckscomingfromtheports.Sothat’saverygoodsignformeandtotheisland.

William Booher:Thankyouallfortheupdates.Operator,we’llnowturnitoverforquestions.

Operator:Onceagainstar1toaskaquestionormakeacomment.We’llpauseforamoment.

Calleryourline...

Peter Behr:Thisis–hello thisisPeteBehrwithEnergywireE and E news.Thanksforthebriefing.QuestionforColonelDeLappandalsothesecondforMr.LaCampa.Colonel,istheCorpsmakingdecisionsonrepairofthePuertoRicangridoristhattheresponsibilityofthePuertoRicanElectricPowerAuthority?I’mnottalkingaboutemergencygeneratorsbuttheactualreconstructionandtherepairofthepowerlinesystem.IsthattheCorps’ decisionoristhatstillwiththepowerauthority?

Lt. Col. DeLapp:Thanksforyourquestion.We - theArmyCorpshasreceivedamissionassignmentfromFEMAtoexecutearepairtothepowergridincoordinationwiththePuertoRicanElectricPowerAuthority.SowearepartneringwithPREPAtocomeupwithajointplantodotherepairs.Wewillessentiallybeenhancingtheirexistingcapabilitybyleveragingcontractsthatwehaveinplace,IDIQ,thoseareindefinitedelivery/indefinitequality - quantitycontractswehaveinplaceintheStates.ToutilizethosecontractsandcontractorstohelpaugmenttheirworkforceandbringadditionalresourcesintogetthatpowerrestoredforthePuertoRicanpeopleasquicklyaspossible.

Pete Behr:Isthereaprojectiononhowmanybootsyou’regoingtohaveonthegroundactuallyrestringinglinesandrepairingthesystem?Whendoesthatreally...

James DeLapp:No...

PeteBehr:…getgoing?

James DeLapp:Yessotherepairandbringingthepowerbackisongoingaswespeak.PREPAhasalltheworkforce.Theyhaveapproximately230crews.Thosearelinecrewsyou - whichI’msureyou’refamiliarwith.Youknow,folksontheseutilitytrucks,they’reoutdoingthatwork.Theyhavealreadyaugmentedsomeoftheirworkforcewithanagreementwiththeutilityfromthemainlandwhichisprovidingadditionalsupport.

Wearelookingtoin-placeacontractwhichwilllikelydoublethatworkforceinthecomingweeksoncewemakethisawardtothis - forthiscontract.Untilwedoso,wecan’tputaspecifictimelineonwhenthepowerwillbetotallyrestoredandIcan’tgiveyoutheexactnumberoffolksthatthey’llbringin.Butthey’llhaveatimeinwhichtheyhavetomeettheirrequirementsandthenthey’lllookandbringinthoseresourcestoexecutethatwork.

Pete Behr:AndthenquicklyforMr.LaCampa,willFEMAbepaying100%ofthecostofelectricgridrepairs?

William Booher:Mr.DeLaCampaisnotwithustodayontoday’scall.

Operator:We’lltakeournextcaller.

Frances Robles:HiIthinkthat’sme.ThisisFrancesRobleswiththeNewYorkTimes.Iwantedtoknowintermsofthehospitalsituation,isthereisasensewhethertherehavebeenmorefatalitiesinthelastfewdaysbecauseofpoweroutagesinthemedicalfield?

Dr.Kadlec:Rightnowwehaven’tbeennoticinganincreaseintotalnumbersoffatalitiesthatarebeingreportedthroughour - throughtheDepartmentofPublicHealthand - pardonme.DepartmentofHealthinPuertoRico.We’vebeenkindofmonitoringoverallwhat’sbeenthecensusofthisatthehospitalsintermsofthecriticalcarepatientsandtheemergencyroomvisits.Certainlyour((inaudible))aredoingthesame.Butwehaven’tseenabumpifyouwanttocallitthat.

Frances Robles:Okay.Andwhowasthatspeaking?

Dr.Kadlec:YesthisisDr.Kadlec, the ASPR.

Frances Robles:Okaythankyou.

Operator:Nextcallerpleasegoahead.

Deborah Berry:Hi, DeborahBerryfrom USA Today. Justwantedtogetagoodsenseofdoyouhavesense onthecostofdamageandhowmuchtheislandwillneedforrecoveryaidatthispoint?

William Booher:It’sstilltooearlytodeterminewhatthefullcostofrecoveryisgoingtobeforPuertoRico.I’veseenthefolksrightnowarestillonthesupportforthedisastersurvivorsdownthereandcontinuingtobringbackthat - thereturnofroutine,aswe’reabletoaccessmorepartsoftheislandanddeliverthosecommoditiesandmakesurethatthesustainmenteffortsareinfullswing.

Deborah Berry:Thankyou.

Operator:Nextcallerpleasegoahead.

Erin Dooley:Hithere.ThisisErinDooleyfromABCNews.Ijustwantedtogetasenseofthehospitalgeneratorfailures.Haveyoudetermined - yousaidtheyfailedunexpectedlysoI’mwonderingifyoudeterminedwhattheproblemwasandareusingthattopreventfailuresingeneratorsatotherhospitalsorareyouexpectingthatthoseotherhospitalscouldfailaswell?

Dr. Kadlec:Sotheansweristhatagaingeneratorsaregenerallynotexpectedtolast,toperformweeksormonths.Youknow,againwe’reinoursecondweekheresothereistheexpectationthatgeneratorswillfail.Wehaveplentyoffuelandwe’rebasicallymonitoringthefuelinthedifferentfacilitiesaroundthecountry.Upon on theislandwe’reactuallyworkingwithFEMAtocreateifyouwillgeneratorresponseteamswithmaintenancepersonneltogoactuallycheckonthegeneratorsandfixthemiftheyareattheriskoffailure.

Butagainwe’reanticipatingthesethingstohappenoccasionallyandinourapproachtothisproblem,we’remonitoringthehospitalstounderstandwhattheircensusisparticularlyforcriticalcarepatients,peopleintheintensivecareunits.SothatproactivelywecanmovethemoutwhichisourintentbutshouldtherebeanunexpectedfailurethatwecanrespondquicklytomovethosepatientsaswedidinOmakauandCaguas toafacilitysuchasCentroMedicoorTheComfortwhichservesasourtwoprinciplehubs.

James DeLapp:AndthisisColonelDeLapphereinPuertoRico.Realquicklytofollowuponthat,theArmyCorpshasalsobeengivenamissionassignmenttodorepairsandservicetonon-federalgeneratorsatcriticalfacilitieslikethehospitalsthatyoujustdescribed.Normallywewoulddothosemaintenancerepairstogeneratorsweinstallwhicharetheonesbeingdelivered. Butwehavebeengiventhatassignmenttobeabletorespondrapidlytothosetypesofsituations.

Inadditionwehaveamilitaryunit,the249thEngineerBattalionwhichisourprimepowerbattalionwhichhastroopsthatdoinstallsandrepairstofacilitieslikethoseandcandothatveryquickly.Thatforcestoaugmentthecontractthatwehaveinplacetodothosemaintenanceandrepairs.

Operator:Andthatdoesconcludethequestionandanswersessionfortoday.Mr.Booher I’llturntheconferencebackovertoyouatthistime.

William Booher:Thankyouallagainfortheparticipationtodayandtakingthetimetolisteninandaskquestionsandprovidebriefs.Thisdoesconcludeourcall.Thankyouallandhaveagoodafternoon.

Operator:Onceagainthatdoesconcludetoday’sconference.Thankyouallforyourparticipation.Youmaynowdisconnect.

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