MECHANICSBURG, Pa. –
The Defense Department’s lead agency for logistics is processing, storing and shipping personal protective equipment for the Federal Emergency Management Agency as it assists hospitals dealing with rising COVID-19 infections across the country.
“Our logistics professionals at DDSP are committed to assisting FEMA and our other interagency partners to meet the needs of the nation during this critical time,” said Army Col. Trenton Conner, commander of DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania.
Employees at DDSP facilities in nearby Mechanicsburg received over 95 trucks and stored 4 million Tyvek isolation gowns in July. Additional gowns are still arriving and DDSP officials expect to start receiving face shields.
Distribution process workers have been receiving five deliveries daily since July 6 and can unload one truck in 20 minutes, said Eric Minor, a DDSP supervisor. Between deliveries, the team categorizes and palletizes the gowns for storage and future shipping. FEMA employees are working alongside the DLA Distribution team, receipting and processing the items electronically.
DDSP will provide sustainment support for the next six months as FEMA determines when and where the equipment will be shipped.