DDXX supports FEMA, NORTHCOM’s Hurricane Ian relief efforts

NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –

Less than 24 hours after the Federal Emergency Management Agency assignment drops, the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution’s Expeditionary Team advance team crew is on the road to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, arriving before daybreak Sept. 25. Additional DDXX San Joaquin, California, teammates arrive the next day to set up a FEMA federal incident support base in preparation of Hurricane Ian's landfall.

Ephraim Walters, left, and Lilibeth Estavilla from the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution’s Expeditionary Team in San Joaquin, California, receive trucks of water and meals at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, as Florida residents prepare for Hurricane Ian Sept. 27, 2022. (DLA Photo by John Heikkinen)

“The DDXX San Joaquin team never disappoints. I’m always impressed by their work ethic and can-do attitude. When FEMA’s mission assignments drop, they drop everything at a moment’s notice to do what they do best – receive and issue supplies to support storm victims,” said Army Lt. Col. Ed Strzalkowski, DDXX commander.

Over the next two weeks, including a week of 24/7 operations, approximately 30 DDXX teammates processed over 800 trailers filled with more than 13 million items, including water, meals, plastic sheeting, tarps, cots, blankets, hygiene kits and other FEMA-requested supplies. The team also processed and staged trailers by commodity, then prepared outbound shipments destined for Florida areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ian.

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VIDEO | 00:26 | FEMA staging at Maxwell Equipment and supplies for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Defense Logistics Agency arrive at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, Sept. 27, 2022. The installation was an incident support base used to pre-position equipment and personnel for rapid deployment to areas affected by Hurricane Ian. (Video by Airman 1st Class Greydon Furstenau)

For more than 15 of DLA Distribution’s 25 years, DDXX has worked with FEMA, U.S. Northern Command, and state and local officials to support federal disaster response. DLA’s support began with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when FEMA recognized DLA’s unique capability for procuring and delivering large-scale commodities, an effective tool in disaster relief efforts. FEMA and DLA subsequently signed a formal agreement designating DLA as a source for various supplies and services, including a deployable depot to manage and operate FEMA incident support bases. The agreement gives DLA the flexibility to pre-position material before storms make landfall to ensure rapid movement of critical supplies.

Over the next two weeks, including a week of 24/7 operations, approximately 30 DLA Distribution Expeditionary teammates processed over 800 trailers filled with more than 13 million relief supply items, including water, meals, plastic sheeting, tarps, cots, blankets, hygiene kits and other FEMA- requested supplies. The team also processed and staged the trailers by commodity, then prepared outbound shipments destined for Florida areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ian.

The DDXX teams, located at both DLA Distribution San Joaquin, California, and DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, remain on standby to support humanitarian aid and military contingencies. DDXX has the unique ability to deploy on short notice into austere environments, while providing resources which are not readily available in other federal agencies or the private sector.

As over two million people are ordered to evacuate Florida, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution’s Expeditionary Team arrives on the ground to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Northern Command’s response to Hurricane Ian at Maxwell Air Force Base. Flanked between Army Maj. Marc Guerrisi, left and DLA Distribution Headquarters’ John Heikkinen, right, the DLA Distribution San Joaquin, California, DDXX team led by Ben Boone, started processing trailers filled with water and meals Sept. 26, 2022.