FORT BELVOIR, Virginia –
A major earthquake and a follow-on tsunami provided the setting for the bi-annual Federal Emergency Management Agency and Defense Logistics Agency Energy readiness drill at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, June 11-13.
“The readiness drill demonstrates DLA Energy’s concept of support to FEMA during a real world incident,” said DLA Energy U.S. Northern Command Planner Rick Vanschoor.
DLA Energy Americas subject matter experts from the Customer Operations and Supplier Operations directorates, Foster Fuels, the FEMA contingency contract vendor, FEMA headquarters personnel and FEMA Region X representatives participated in the readiness drill. Region X supports the citizens and first responders of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. A formal interagency agreement for logistics support exists between DLA and FEMA that outlines the fuel support provisions between the two agencies and covers ground fuel support and services during presidentially declared national emergencies and disasters.
“The hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30,” Vanschoor said. “We schedule the readiness drills with FEMA and the contractor from January to June in preparation for the hurricane season. This ensures everyone is familiar with what to do and points of contact and contingency lists are updated.”
As the executive agent for Class III products, petroleum, oil and lubricants, DLA Energy provides support to FEMA through its multipurpose fuel contingency contact with its designated fuel contractor, Foster Fuels.
The disaster scenario featured a 7.5 magnitude earthquake creating a partial rupture of the Cascadia Subduction Zone that led to a tsunami with wave heights of 12 to 40 feet at landfall. The earthquake and aftershocks caused extensive fuel pipeline damage resulting in significant blackout and power shortages. As part of the exercise, a presidential disaster declaration was issued for California, Oregon and Washington. In response, FEMA activated the incident support base, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho and issued a warning order to the DLA Energy Operations Center, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to alert the contractor in advance of placing the initial activation fuel notice.
As required by the interagency agreement, the DLA Energy Operations Center, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia serves as the crisis management focal point during natural disasters, exercises and contingencies. They coordinate fuel support within the Department of Defense joint fuel community including the U.S. Northern Command, DLA Energy regional offices, DLA Energy liaison officers and FEMA to support Class III fuel requirements.
“A order was placed with Foster Fuels that required delivery of 2,500 gallons of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel to the FEMA incident support base located on Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho,” Vanschoor said. “The Foster Fuels tankers arrived well within the required delivery window on June 13 with the product, personnel and applicable equipment.”
DLA Energy Current Operations Chief Navy Lt. Cmdr. James Zakar highlighted the importance of planning and training.
“Each year FEMA rotates where the drill is held and the disaster exercised is not always a hurricane,” Zakar said. “These readiness drills and tabletop exercises with FEMA help us prepare. For example, last year’s 2017 Atlantic hurricane season ranked among the top 10 most active in history.”
Following the disaster exercise, FEMA and DLA Energy conducted an after action brief to access the drills and results of the event.
Contracting Officer Georgia Dotson reviewed the contractor performance checklist, line by line with the team. She was the DLA Energy contracting officer who oversaw all fuel contracting efforts for FEMA during the three 2017 hurricanes.
“A new FEMA fuel contract award is planned for May 2019,” Dotson said. “This drill enabled FEMA and DLA Energy to sit down face-to-face to discuss requirements for the performance work statement.”
Since March 2006, DLA Energy has provided ground fuel to meet FEMA’s fuel requirements during presidentially declared national emergencies and disasters.
“The close collaboration with FEMA headquarters, FEMA Region X personnel, DLA Energy and the Foster Fuels contractor resulted in a highly successful drill,” Vanschoor said.