The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is prepared and ready to respond as part of the federal government’s unified national response to disasters and emergencies.

In any disaster, USACE’s top priorities are:

• Save lives and protect property;
• Support immediate emergency response priorities for USACE, DoD, FEMA and the Federal Government.

Emergency preparedness and response is primarily a state and local government responsibility. However, in instances when the nature of the disaster exceeds the capabilities or resources of state and local authorities, the Corps of Engineers may provide assistance to save human life, prevent immediate human suffering or mitigate property damage.

USACE provides engineering services to respond to national and natural disasters to minimize damages and help in recovery efforts. Public Law 84-99 enables the Corps to assist state and local authorities in flood fight activities and cost share in the repair of flood control infrastructure.

Under the National Response Framework (NRF), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is assigned as the primary agency for Emergency Support Function #3 – Public Works and Engineering. The Corps of Engineers assists the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by coordinating federal public works and engineering-related support, as well as providing technical assistance, engineering expertise, and construction management to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents.

Every year, the Corps sends hundreds of people to respond to disasters around the world.

 More information about our nationally-aligned mission -- USACE Headquarters