Northwestern Division News

L.A. wildfire survivors show resilience, embody mythological Phoenix

By Tom Conning, Public Affairs Specialist — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 21:00:00 GMT

Even during the grueling 68-day assignment – working 12 to 14 hours a day, Brig. Gen. Bill Hannan found resilience and inspiration – from the survivors. Though this was a horrible disaster, I saw the best in people, both in helping their neighbors and working together, said Hannan, Northwestern Division (NWD) commanding general. In June, he returned from leading the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Task Force Phoenix (like the mythological bird), which is the team responsible for wildfire debris removal and recovery efforts in Southern California.

Containing the Flood of 1996

Pentagon News — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 18:01:00 GMT

One of the biggest floods the Portland District faced in the late 20th century occurred in February 1996 and caused millions of dollars in damage to the region. The District played a crucial role in combating this flood 's impact through a variety of short-term and long-term activities.

In Harm’s Way: Kyle Anderson goes above and beyond

Amber Tilton — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Kyle Anderson, an electrician at Lookout Point Dam is also a volunteer firefighter who was called into action when the Holiday Farm Wild Fire threatened his his hometown of Pleasant Hill, Oregon.

Assessments critical step in battling COVID-19 pandemic

Pentagon News — Tue, 05 May 2020 16:32:00 GMT

When the COVID-19 pandemic started to spread throughout the Midwest, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, was tasked by FEMA to start assessing sites for possible use as alternate care facilities.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Turns Over 7 Alternate Care Sites Over the Weekend

Pentagon News — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:02:00 GMT

Between Friday, April 17 and Monday, April 20, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished seven alternate care sites in response to COVID-19. Together with the previous three completed locations, this brings the total to 10. This weekend the Corps of Engineers finished the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, AK; Wisconsin State Fair Expo Center in West Allis, WI; Gibson Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM; Miyamura High School in Gallup, NM; and the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, FL. The Corps of Engineers is turning over two sites today. They are the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI and Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers building 19 Alternate Care Sites in 10 States

Pentagon News — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 16:58:00 GMT

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers building 19 alternate care sites in 10 states.

USACE adds 4 additional locations to alternate care sites in NY, NM

Pentagon News — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 16:48:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers added four new contracts on to construct alternate care sites in response to COVID-19. The new locations will be in Queens, NY; Bronx, NY; Staten Island, NY, and Albuquerque, NM. The contracts were issued on Friday and Saturday. USACE has completed 756 assessments of possible locations for alternate care sites. USACE is working in support of the FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency - and in coordination with other federal, state, local and tribal partners – in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The latest facts and figures about our ongoing activities are contained in the following infographic (As of April 5).

USACE COVID-19 response efforts update for April 4, 2020

John Kelly — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 16:59:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working in support of the FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency - and in coordination with other federal, state, local and tribal partners – in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The latest facts and figures about our ongoing activities are contained in the following infographic (As of April 4).

Work continues on Alternate Care Sites in 8 locations

Pentagon News — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 12:07:00 GMT

April 3, 2020 update regarding USACE contracts for alternate care sites selected by State governments. This listing of USACE contracts awarded to support Alternate Care Sites will be updated daily. An Alternate Care Site (ACS) is a facility that’s temporarily converted for healthcare use during a public health emergency to reduce the burden on hospitals and established medical facilities. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) compiled the following materials to support States and municipalities in creating ACSs to support their medical requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Implementation of Alternate Care Sites is a State-led and managed process. While there are some steps listed on the Alternate Care Sites page in which the Federal Government may be able to provide assistance, States and Municipalities are encouraged to complete them on their own. The fact that materials and activities are listed on the Alternate Care Sites page do not imply that the Federal Government will be providing any assistance in executing them. States should tailor all materials based on local requirements.

Army to help convert vacant buildings into hospitals as COVID-19 spreads

Thomas Brading — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 21:04:00 GMT

Army leaders announced plans to quickly convert unused buildings into makeshift hospitals in multiple states, starting in New York, as hospitals brace for medical shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, construction is set to kick off as the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan will be refitted into a 1,000-bed hospital and an additional 1,800 field medical stations, officials said. Soldiers from the New York National Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and civilian employees will prepare the medical facility, slated to begin operating in a week to 10 days. The race against the virus is “an unbelievably complicated problem” that needs a simple solution, said Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, commanding general of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.