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News | Sept. 8, 2017

DLA Energy Americas transitions to Hurricane Irma

By Irene Smith and Ronald Inman, DLA Energy Public Affairs

Preparing for Hurricane Irma, Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas and Task Force Americas personnel deployed to Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, Sept. 7.

New missions are being directed in support of the approaching Category 4 hurricane. Led by DLA Energy Americas at Houston Commander Army Lt. Col. Josielyn Carrasquillo, Task Force Americas deployed 14 personnel and successfully facilitated the arrival of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s contracted vendor, Foster Fuels, at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.

“We are expecting 140 fuel trucks to operate out of Robins AFB,” Carrasquillo said. “In addition to the DLA Distribution expeditionary package, we will be providing jet fuel support to the Texas Army National Guard at Jack Brooks Regional Airport [in Beaumont, Texas] and 50,000 gallons of gasoline and 50,000 gallons of diesel fuel on Sept. 8.”

The Distribution expeditionary package provides the capability to operate FEMA’s incident support base.

DLA Energy Direct Delivery Contracting Officer for FEMA Georgia Dotson is responsible for activating the contractor.

“DLA Energy has received $31.2 million under Hurricane Harvey, which supported four fuel orders, and $1.2 million under Hurricane Irma, from FEMA," Dotson said.

As of Sept. 7, DLA Energy Americas had delivered 654,000 gallons of fuel and 11 generators in support of FEMA’s response to Hurricane Harvey and Irma. DLA Energy is also providing fuel support to other federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration.

“DLA Energy continues 24/7 bulk petroleum support to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts from DLA Energy Americas relocated at Fort Hood and here at DLA Energy headquarters,” said DLA Energy Deputy Commander Guy Beougher. “We are closely monitoring the storm’s effects on the supply chain.”

Tom Redford, Rob Warnick, Marc McConahy and Phillip Adams from DLA Energy’s Customer Operations directorate have been working in the FEMA National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C., to coordinate information and fuel support requests from FEMA and other federal agencies.

“We really depend on the support of the military and civilian employees of our Operations Center to maintain the big picture on all of DLA Energy’s fuel support for these hurricanes,” said McConahy, DLA Energy’s Customer Relationship Management chief.

Hurricane Harvey was the strongest hurricane to impact Texas since 1961 and the first Category 4 storm to make landfall in the U.S. since Hurricane Charley impacted Florida in 2004.

Ahead of Hurricane Irma, the state of Florida and Puerto Rico both declared a state of emergency on Sept. 4. President Donald Trump issued emergency declarations on Sept. 5 for Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

DLA Energy has provided FEMA’s fuel requirements since 2006. A formal interagency agreement for logistics support between DLA and FEMA, Annex B of the FEMA/DLA Interagency Agreement, outlines the fuel support provisions between the two agencies and covers ground fuel support and services during presidentially declared national emergencies and disasters.