Press Release
☷U S Army Reserve an Effective Partner in Disaster Response
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Apr 28,2022
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Maj . Gen . Gregory Mosser , deputy commanding general , U . S . Army Reserve Command , discusses the Army Reserve’s disaster response and recovery capabilities during a panel at the National Hurricane Conference , April 14 , 2022 , in Orlando , Florida . The U . S . Army Reserve provides valuable disaster recovery and relief capabilities to communities across the United States and its territories as part of a larger , tiered Federal Response . ( U . S . Army Reserve photo by Timothy L . Hale ) ( L - R ) Maj . Gen . Gregory Mosser , Deputy Commanding General , U . S . Army Reserve Command; Kimo Dunn , Deputy G - 357 ( Operations , Plans , and Training ) , U . S . Army Reserve 9th Mission Support Command; Dinah Pulver , USA Today panel moderator; Jennifer Pipa , American Red Cross vice president of disaster programs; and Terry White , AT&T client executive director; pose for a group photo before their panel discussion at the National Hurricane Conference , April 14 , 2022 , in Orlando , Florida . The panel discussion focused on disaster response and recovery partnerships between the U . S . Army Reserve , non - governmental agencies , and industry . ( U . S . Army Reserve photo by Timothy L . Hale ) ORLANDO , Fla . – Maj . Gen . Gregory J . Mosser , the deputy commanding general , U . S . Army Reserve Command , highlighted the capabilities the U . S . Army Reserve provides to local , state , and federal entities when disasters strike the nation in an April 14th panel discussion at the National Hurricane Conference . Mosser was one of four panel members discussing “The Future of Natural Disaster Response: Effective Partnerships for Overcoming Natural Disasters . ” Accompanying Mosser , were Kimo Dunn , 9th Mission Support Command deputy for Operations , Plans , and Training; Jennifer Pipa , American Red Cross vice president of disaster programs; and Terry White , AT&T client executive director . The panel was moderated by Dinah Volyles Pulver , USA Today national reporter specializing in environment , climate , and weather . Mosser shared his experiences of not only the Army Reserve’s response to recent natural disasters but with the whole - of - nation response to the COVID - 19 pandemic . “While I was the commander of the 377th Theater Sustainment Command , we were providing the Army Reserve response to the pandemic , but in the middle of that effort , we had a number of hurricanes that struck the U . S . mainland . ” According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) , the 2020 hurricane season was one of the busiest seasons on record . That year , there were 30 named storms with 12 of those making U . S . landfall: five of those hitting Louisiana . Mosser said the one of the keys for the U . S . Army Reserve preparedness for responding to natural disasters is built on the framework of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA 2012 ) . “Under NDAA 2012 , the Army Reserve provides federal support to Defense Support of Civil Authorities ( DSCA ) during emergencies working in conjunction with Army North and other federal , state , and local partners to save lives , prevent human suffering , and mitigate great property damage , ” Mosser said . “We are a federal entity under Title 10 of the U . S . Code and we support local and state governments in a tiered response . We are always in support but never the lead agency . That responsibility belongs to the state , or in the case of a large - scale natural disaster , the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) when state resources become overwhelmed . ” Mosser outlined the vast array of support and capabilities the U . S . Army Reserve brings to local , state , and federal partners in the nation’s time of need . These capabilities include aviation lift , search and rescue or extraction , quartermaster ( food , shelter , potable water , heated tents , etc . ) , civil affairs and public information as well as a significant portion of full - spectrum engineer capabilities . “We can move search and rescue teams through the air or on the ground , we can provide the movement of commodities such as water and food , we can pump water from flooded areas , and we can use our engineer capabilities to clear roads and debris so those involved in response and recovery operations can do their jobs quickly and efficiently , ” he said . Another key element of support is the location of U . S . Army Reserve units . “We are a community - based organization with Army Reserve centers and units located in many of the areas affected by natural disasters in the U . S . , ” he said . “What makes this program work for these local and state governments is our unit leaders getting out into these communities and meeting with local and state officials before a disaster strikes and sharing what capabilities we can provide should they be needed . ” Requests for support from the Army Reserve can come in two ways – Immediate Response Authority ( IRA ) or Deliberate Response . Under an IRA , a local official can request support in writing to a local Army Reserve unit . Mosser said there have been multiple instances in the last decade where U . S . Army Soldiers have dispatched teams to conduct high - water rescues in area affected by rising flood waters . Under a Deliberate Response , elements of the U . S . Army Reserve can be mobilized for a longer duration . This was the case when the U . S . Army Reserve mobilized more than 3 , 000 Soldiers during the COVID - 19 pandemic . Mosser added that every event the U . S . Army Reserve has responded to are continual learning events . “We train using established policies and procedures , maintain relationships and open communication with local and state officials before a disaster response is needed , and continually exercise with partner organizations to ensure that when a disaster actually happens , we are prepared and ready to assist when called upon . ” Mosser’s panel partners echoed many of his views throughout the panel . Dunn , with the 9th Mission Support Command , said that partnerships were invaluable for his organization which spans a region from Washington state , Alaska and Hawaii , to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean including American Samoa , Guam , Saipan and the many of the islands that dot the area of Oceania . “It’s important for our local commanders to develop relationships with local communities , ” Dunn said . “If a disaster strikes in some of these areas , it is the U . S . Army Reserve who will be able to respond since we are the official U . S . presence located there . ” For the American Red Cross , Pipa stated it is important for everyone to know their organizations roles and responsibilities to prevent duplication of disaster relief and response efforts . “It is important for our organization to identify gaps and analyze response trends , ” Pipa said . “We look for areas where people are not being served then focus our efforts there . ” Pipa said that since 2016 , they have seen a trend where displaced persons are now averaging 90 - 120 days and the Red Cross is focused on building resilience and long - term recovery . She said they work to limit the time displaced persons spend in shelters , improve their living conditions , and help them transition back to a normal life and help them to not fall into poverty , or some instances , into further poverty . For White and his AT&T colleagues , they are levering existing and emerging technologies to facilitate their disaster response and recovery partnerships . He cited Hurricane Michael that hit the Florida Panhandle in October 2018 . The Category 5 hurricane all but nearly wiped - out cellular communications in the area . AT&T established mobile cellular towers at Tyndall Air Force Base so first responders as well as local citizens could have connectivity . But White said , AT&T is more than cellular telephone service . “We have our own pilots , meteorologists , drones , and first responders at the point of impact , ” White said . “All first responders need connectivity immediately after a disaster strikes . They need to be able to talk to each other , take pictures of damaged areas that need to be cleared or served , and be able to send that data to those who need the information to assist in the recovery and response . This leads to better decision - making to allocate the needed resources . ” The panel agreed that providing needed resources in a timely and efficient manner is key to assisting those affected by a natural disaster . However , the capabilities of the U . S . Army Reserve were not always looked at as an option . Prior to the passing of NDAA 2012 , the U . S . Army Reserve was somewhat limited by law in responding to natural disasters in the U . S . but could be called upon in the event of a chemical , biological , radiological , or nuclear event . However , during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 , the federal government did in fact recognize the need to mobilize the U . S . Army Reserve to assist in the recovery efforts in Louisiana . Aviation assets from 5th Battalion , 159th Aviation Regiment in early September to conduct search - and - rescue operations and assist humanitarian relief efforts airlifting survivors to evacuation points; transporting food , water , and other supplies to the Superdome and other locations; and moving active Army and Army National Guard Soldiers across the affected area . After the passage of NDAA 2012 , the legislation provided the necessary means for coordinating capabilities with other Federal , State , local and military service component partners , including the National Guard . NDAA 2012 provided the catalyst for all military service components ( active , reserve , and Guard ) to foster those relationships and coordination through thoughtful planning .
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