The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District Commander, Lt. Col. Ryan Pevey, thanked members of the Power Planning and Response Team for their contributions to the temporary emergency power mission on Maui during a huddle at the generator staging area, Aug. 28.
Pevey presented coins to eight power team members who made possible the installation, monitoring and support functions needed to bring 20 generators online through a Federal Emergency Management Agency mission assignment that provided power for critical infrastructure after the wildfires on Maui.
“I’m very proud of our power team,” said Pevey. “Emergency power is the first thing the Corps does in support of FEMA after an emergency. With this team it’s different because it’s here in Hawai’i. It really hits home emotionally."
Eleven of the 14 power team members are from Honolulu District. Albuquerque District, Charleston District and the Emergency Enterprise Response Team provided subject matter experts in safety, geographic information systems and communications.
Power PRT volunteers began arriving on Maui Aug. 11, and the full team was in place Aug. 13. The first generator was installed Aug. 14.
“It is my absolute privilege working with a team of professionals on Power PRT from Honolulu District and the district subject matter experts who volunteered and are providing their expertise during such a tragic time in support of people of Maui,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Maksym Zymin, mission commander, Honolulu District Power PRT.
The Power Team continues to work with FEMA and local, state and federal partners in support of Maui and the Hawai’i wildfires response.