DLA Distribution Corpus Christi continually refines hurricane preparation

With hurricane season in full swing, personnel at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, Corpus Christi, Texas, are ensuring the proper plans are in place to protect their workforce, operations and equipment.

"DLA Distribution Corpus Christi, Texas, conducts operations that must be performed, or rapidly and efficiently resumed, in an emergency," said Victor Parra, division chief, Support Services, DLA Distribution, Corpus Christi, Texas. "Our small but dedicated team takes pride in securing customer property and ensuring that all stock in our outdoor area is properly secured and ready for issue. While the impact of an emergency cannot be predicted, planning can mitigate its effects."

To ensure they are ready to quickly resume operations, the team regularly reviews and updates their continuity of operations plan. This plan lists procedures, provides guidance, and assigns responsibilities for ensuring the uninterrupted performance of essential functions during an emergency that imperils the use of DLA Distribution, Corpus Christi, Texas.

"The current threat environment and historical emergencies, including acts of nature, industrial accidents, technological emergencies, or terrorist incidents, coupled with the potential for terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction, have increased the importance of programs that ensure continuity of essential government functions across the Department of Defense," said Michael Wood, security specialist, DLA Distribution, Corpus Christi, Texas. "Planning to meet the demands of a wide spectrum of emergency scenarios is necessary and is accomplished through a COOP."

The installation executes an annual COOP exercise that targets the Fourth Estate Personnel Accountability and Assessment System, accountability, mass notification and government travel card updates. FEPAAS standardizes a method for DLA to account, manage, and monitor the recovery process for employees and their families affected or scattered by a wide-spread catastrophic event. FEPAAS provides valuable information to all levels of the DLA chain of command allowing leadership to make strategic decisions which facilitate a return to stability.

"This year's exercise consisted of briefings and actually responding to Hurricane Beryl, but we had prepared for the possibility of a storm well in advance, even though the first storm was well before the anticipated start date of normal tropical storms in the Gulf Coast," Parra said. "By the time Beryl hit, we had already briefed supervisors and employees and just completed necessary employee updates, so we were prepared as this year is supposed to bring a high number of tropical storms and hurricanes due to the La Nina."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center predicts a La Nina to emerge between August and October. The DLA Distribution, Corpus Christi, Texas, team ensures that preparations are in place ahead of time.

"At our site, hurricanes are prevalent and will always be an issue throughout Gulf Coast locations. Our annual threat statement puts us at a low threat, but as incidents have shown, these things happen anywhere at any time even if it's considered a low threat," Wood said. "The COOP prepares all for the unknown, the best it can. Simply put, hurricane readiness is paramount to the stability of completing the mission and servicing the warfighter any time, any place, any way!"

Another part of the plan focuses on ensuring that employees have necessary resources should they need to evacuate or relocate due to a storm. These resources include relocation assistance, a hotline for assistance, and issuance of government travel cards.

"Following Hurricane Harvey, the command decided to provide employees with government credit cards," Parra said. "This measure guarantees that when an evacuation order is issued, employees have access to the necessary funds for themselves and their dependents to reach their designated safe havens."

The DLA Distribution, Corpus Christi, Texas, team coordinates their COOP with DLA Distribution Headquarters, local emergency preparedness organizations throughout the coastal bend and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. DLA Distribution, Corpus Christi, Texas, personnel may be relocated under the COOP if the need arises. These personnel are collectively known as the Emergency Relocation Group. Depending on circumstances, these members will deploy to an on or off-post site using identified alternate work facilities.

"When notified of COOP activation, continuity personnel travel to the alternate site and establish an operational capability that performs essential functions," Parra said. "We remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees and their families, along with maintaining warfighter readiness during any natural disaster or emergency."