The United States Army Corps of Engineers continues to support FEMA, DoD and the nation in the disaster recovery mission in New York City and at the Pentagon through the execution of USACE’s Emergency Support Function #3, Public Works and Engineering mission.

The federal mission continues to decrease as the City of New York takes over full responsibility for the response and recovery operation.

As of 0900 this morning, 139 USACE deployed personnel from around the Corps continue to support the FEMA mission in New York City. Every Corps division is represented among the 95, as are the labs and the headquarters.

Disaster Field Offices are at Pier 90, Manhattan, NY, and at Arlington, VA. Current USACE missions in New York City include debris removal planning, dredging, and structural safety assessment and technical assistance.

The dredging mission for the Corps announced on the 24th has concluded after around-the-clock operations. The mission around Pier Six involved dredging to facilitate barge access for debris removal. Greater barge access will significantly speed the removal process with a corresponding reduction in the number of heavy trucks tearing city roads up to do debris removal. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company performed the work under a Corps contract.

Good news for the New York employees is that 26 Federal Plaza has reopened to the public, and steady progress is being made by the local telephone company to restore full communications in the building. About 15 percent of the nearly 9,000 permanent voice lines are working. Approximately 100-150 personnel have moved in. Employees working on year end activities will move back to the building next week. The ability to return to their Headquarters represents another significant step in the return to normal operations, although full recovery is still some time away. The nearest public transportation is several blocks away, and other challenges in the recovery of the surrounding area still exist.

The Corps continues to work on the debris operations plan for consideration by New York City and FEMA. By New York City estimates, debris removal to date has topped more than 115,756 tons. An official estimate of total debris is 1.2 million tons. The Corps has completed its final draft for the USACE piece of the debris operations plan for FEMA approval. Part of the debris challenge is in determining appropriate disposition for the material in terms of identifying what can be recycled, placed in landfills or at offshore disposal areas.

Two 249th soldiers are supporting the headquarters emergency power mission in support of Pentagon recovery teams.

Some NYC provided figures and facts: 240 trucks and 70 barges are moving debris; and 120 pieces of equipment are handling debris at the World Trade Center site and another 145 pieces at the Staten Island Landfill.

The following web site has a useful tool that enables you to view a map of the destroyed area in New York City. You can zoom in or out to find streets and other areas that you might have heard about from Corps source or on the news. The site is http://www.urhere.com/nymap/.