Tanks

Desalination, 99 (1994) 401-408 Elsevier Science B.V. Amsterdam -

401 Printed in The Netherlands

Force provider: An emergency response system Edward A. Downing U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command, Mobility Technology Center-Belvoir, 10101 Gridley Road, Suite 104, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5818 (WA) Tel (703) 704-3352; Fax (703) 704-3360

SUMMARY

The Army has been developing a new system that can be beneficial to disaster relief efforts: Force Provider. Force Provider is a “tent city” designed to temporarily house and support soldiers. Army commanders identified the requirement for a collective support package during Operation Desert Storm. The commanders observed the need to maintain the soldier’s overall combat readiness during prolonged periods of inactivity in combative environments. The soldier’s overall combat readiness can be increased through improvements in the field food services, sleeping quarters, hygiene facilities, and morale and welfare activities. Additional military applications include theater of operations reception missions, reconstitution missions, and Force Provider system support training. All the equipment necessary to operate and support Force Provider is pre-positioned as a complete system at one location. It is easily accessed and transported. Furthermore, a command team has been permanently assigned to maintain, operate and support Force Provider. A team of specialists has been identified to operate the system when deployed and will train on a regular basis.

Ooll-9164/94/$07.00 0 1994 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. SSDZOOll-9164(94)00191-X

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GOVERNMENT

DISASTER RELIEF AGENCIES

The Army has always supported disaster relief efforts both within the United States and abroad. The prime mission of United States military organizations is to protect the civilian population from foreign attacks. All military equipment is developed and procured for the sole purpose of defending the country. However, much of the equipment has been used as emergency response assets for natural disaster relief. The integral step to disaster relief is responding to the needs of the victims in an expeditious manner. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter established the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support state and local disaster relief efforts. FEMA is the central point of contact and coordinator for disaster response and recovery within the federal government. In 1990, the Federal Natural Disaster Response Plan was drafted to provide a chain of command, identify and assign responsibilities and establish a methodology by which the federal government could mobilize its resources to aid disaster relief. In 1991, the plan was amended to include all natural disasters and emergencies covered by the Stafford Act. The new Federal Response Plan (FRP) organizes 27 federal agencies and establishes 12 Emergency Support Functions (ESF). The plan also identifies a lead and supporting federal agency for each ESF. The Department of Defense has been assigned the lead agency for ESF#3 Public Works and Engineering and ESF#9 Urban Search and Rescue [ 11. In the past 5 years, the U.S. military’s mission to support disaster relief and humanitarian aid efforts has been visible through their efforts with Hurricanes Andrew, Iniki and Hugo; the earthquakes in San Francisco and Los Angeles; and the flooding in the Midwest United States. The best documented military response to a natural disaster has been for Hurricane Andrew. A Joint Task Force After Action Report documents the significant efforts performed by the military and lessons learned to allow for improved future responses,

HURRICANE

ANDREW RELIEF EFFORT

Time magazine reported that Hurricane Andrew destroyed 65,000 homes in Florida alone, and left more than 300,000 people homeless. Winds reached 164 mph and 33 people were killed. Many of the public utilities were knocked out of commission. South Florida mass transit systems and

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airports were shut down and required repair before they could accept the relief aid the people desperately needed. The cost estimates for repair efforts have reached $30 billion. The Red Cross is the primary agency for ESF#6, Mass Care under the FRP. Mass care includes the sheltering of disaster victims and providing support facilities where applicable. However, because of the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, FEMA tasked the Department of Defense to erect tents and supply support. The Joint Task Force relief effort for Hurricane Andrew included: 899,897 meals served, 80,702 tons of humanitarian goods transported, 67,190 persons provided with medical care, 1080 tents erected, and four “life support centers” (LSC) operated. These LSCs included water storage and distribution, laundry facilities, fuel distribution, and mobile electric power distribution systems. Two Marineoperated camps were designed to house 1484 and 1316 persons, respectively. Each tent was equipped with 14 cots, flooring and lights. The Marines supplied additional facilities such as showers, laundry, sanitation, medical and recreation services. Fifty-six marines arrived on 28 August 1992 to survey the situation. They set up the LSC in 6 days and began accepting displaced citizens on 2 September 1992. The total occupancy of the Marine LSCs grew to 1297 and 681, respectively, during the relief efforts. The Marine LSCs remained in operation until 8 October 1992 at which time local officials contracted for commercial LSCs. The LSCs provided temporary housing for displaced citizens until more permanent structures could be procured and erected [2].

HURRICANE

ANDREW LESSONS LEARNED

The military must report all significant actions, problems encountered and suggested solutions after any field exercise or other deployment. The After Action reports submitted from the Hurricane Andrew relief effort acknowledged the importance of the military presence in South Florida and documented the support functions provided to the civilian population Furthermore, other government agencies stated that the military was the only government organization capable of providing the magnitude of relief aid required by Hurricane Andrew. The After Action reports contained several important considerations for future disaster relief efforts [3].

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1. Observation: There were shortages of the necessary support equipment because of the lack of approved documentation for the commander to use in formulating a support plan. Suggestion: Develop a standard operating procedure and listing of suggested assets that will be required for disaster relief efforts. 2. Observation: Lack of support services for the troops responding to the disaster (latrines, showers, laundry). Suggestion: Develop a PUSH system to include the required services to be deployed with the troops responding to relief effort. 3. Observation: Wiring in the tent cities was unsafe and a fire hazard. Suggestion: Develop a standard tent city that meets National Electrical Code requirements (Iniki) [4]. These observations highlight the essential requirements for future disaster relief efforts: organization, prepackaged support system, and safety. Although the effort provided by the Marines and Army soldiers to establish the LSC was exceptional, the response time and living conditions could have been vastly improved if a Force Provider system had been available.

FORCE PROVIDER SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

Force Provider is a collective support package of standard Army equipment that has been integrated into a 550 person tent city. The 550 person unit is modular based, capable of operating independently or integrating with up to five additional 550 person units for a maximum capacity of 3300 people. In addition to providing sleeping quarters, shower, laundry, eating and latrine facilities for 550 people, each module contains: l water storage and distribution system l gray wastewater collection system l black wastewater collection, storage and transport system l bulk diesel fuel storage and distribution system l bulk gasoline storage and distribution system l electric power generation l diesel powered light sets l material handling equipment (fork lifts) l post exchange facility l Chaplin facility

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l l l l

recreation facility public phone system medical station administration facility

In addition to the equipment, the 3300 person Force Provider system has a full-time command unit including one major, two captains and six lieutenants. These officers have experience in logistics support, service support, and engineering. The unit also includes ranking non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers. The job descriptions of the enlisted soldiers include: interior electrician, power generation mechanic, vehicle mechanic, plumber, preventive medicine, water purification, fuel handling, food service, laundry and bath, and administration specialists. Force Provider is designed to take advantage of any public utilities that may be available. If commercial electric power is available, Force Provider has access to the Army’s Prime Power Battalion. Prime Power has the necessary equipment to step down commercial power and attach the necessary power lines to the Force Provider power distribution equipment. Force Provider can also attach to public water supplies. The Force Provider system contains 1500 ft of water distribution hose, a 350 gal/min dieseldriven pump, and a wide variety of adapters. Wastewater generated within the Force Provider camp can be disposed in a municipal sewer by using 1000 ft of wastewater hose and two 125gal/min (gpm) diesel-driven pumps. When public utilities are not available, Force Provider has internal capabilities to sustain operation. Prime Power has multiple 750 kW diesel generator sets that can be deployed with Force Provider. The 750 kW generator is a wheeled set which provides 3-phase power at 4160 volts. Setdown transformers are utilized to interface with the mil-standard power distribution system and provide 208 V to the facilities. Under circumstances where all the Prime Power generator assets are unavailable, Force Provider can utilize 60 kW quiet tactical generator sets (TQGs). The 60 kW TQGs are organic to Force Provider and can be deployed when required. The 60 kW TQGs are positioned in clusters of three around the camp to support various facilities. The 60 kW TQGs were designed to minimize noise hazards in working and living areas. The Force Provider system contains 100,000 gal of potable water storage capacity (two 50,000 gal collapsible tanks). Pressurized potable

water is supplied throughout the camp using a 350 gpm pump and 1500 ft of hose. Two hypochlorination units are included in the water distribution system to maintain water potability. An Army preventive medicine soldier is provided in the cadre of Force Provider personnel to ensure that the water quality is maintained. The two types of wastewater generated within the Force Provider camp: graywater and blackwater. These wastewaters are managed separately. Wastewater produced at the latrines (blackwater) is collected in 600 gal steel containers which are mounted on flat bed trailers. The wastewater produced at the showers, laundries, and kitchens (graywater) is directly connected to a separate wastewater collection and storage system. This system pumps the wastewater approximately 500 ft outside the perimeter of the camp and has the capacity to store 40,000 gal (two 20,000-gal collapsible tanks). The standard Force Provider operating procedures suggest using contractor support to remove and dispose of the wastewater from both wastewater systems; however, these means are not always available. The Force Provider personnel have the assets to haul and empty the wastewater generated at the latrines to a municipal or other disposal site. The waste generated at the showers, laundries and kitchen can be disposed of using the additional 1000 ft of hose and two 125 gpm pumps. If a municipal sewer is available, the wastewater can be directly discharged into the manhole. However, if no other alternatives are available, the wastewater is disposed of in pits or lagoons. The Force Provider system has four separate fuel storage systems: bulk diesel fuel, bulk gasoline, point of use diesel storage, and Prime Power fuel storage. The bulk diesel fuel storage system includes two lO,OOO-gal collapsible tanks, a 100 gpm pump, 100 gpm .filter/separator, various nozzle kits, hoses, adapter kits, and a fuel spillage control kit. The bulk gasoline system contains a 3,000 gal collapsible storage tank. This kit includes a 50 gpm pump, 50 gpm filter/separator, various nozzles kits, hoses, and adapters, and a fuel spillage control kit. The 500 gal collapsible container are used to store diesel fuel at point of use locations (60 kW TQGs). Diesel fuel is transferred to these containers from the bulk storage area by using a 1000 gal tank and pump unit. The fourth fuel storage system is specifically used to support Prime Power operations. Two 10,000-gal collapsible storage tanks supply the diesel capacity required to fuel the 750 kW generator sets.

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The billeting and facilities are housed in TEMPER (Tent Expandable Modular Personnel) tents. The billeting TEMPER is a 32’L X2O’W X 10’H frame style tent. The walls of the tent are coated polyester fabric. The TEMPER is topped with a solar fly which reduces internal temperatures by up to 15°F. Each TEMPER tent includes a cot and footlocker for 15 soldiers. Fluorescent lights (40 W) provide light, and convenience outlets are located every 8 ft inside the tent. All billeting and facility TEMPERS are heated and cooled by 54,000 BTU C-100 environmental control units (ECU). The C-100 ECU was developed by the US Air Force. It weighs 960 lbs and has a 54,000 BTUH cooling capacity and a 32,000 BTUH heating capacity. It runs on 208 V, 3-phase power and draws approximately lo12 kW of power. Force Provider will have a winterization kit for extreme environment conditions. This kit will include either the H-82 Army heater or the Army Space Heater (ASH). Both types of heaters provide a 120,000 BTUH heating capacity, are diesel fired, and require 3 kW of electric power. The Force Provider system contains two US Air Force Harvest Eagle latrines. Each latrine consists of two free-standing, six commode units. Each commode unit is housed inside a 16’L TEMPER and consists of a single urinal trough, two sinks and a 370 gal wastewater storage tank. Lighting, air conditioning and heating are provided for each latrine unit. The Force Provider system contains two US Air Force Harvest Eagle shower facilities. Each shower facility has 12 individual shower stalls and four shaving stands with three sinks each (12 sinks total). Each shower facility is housed inside a 32’L TEMPER. A second 32’L TEMPER is attached to the shower facility to provide an area for changing clothes. The hot water is provided by a M80 diesel fired water heater. There are two enhanced Modular Field Kitchens (MFK) in Force Provider. Each MFK has provisions for baking, frying and roasting and can provide cooked meals to 350 people per day. The dining facility can support 140 persons during a 20-min seating. The Force Provider Kitchen can easily feed 550 persons in 1% hours. Laundry service is provided by two M85 trailer mounted laundry units. Each laundry trailer can wash and dry 120 lbs/h of clothing. Each laundry trailer is housed in a 32’L TEMPER placed adjacent to a centrally located receiving and distribution 32’L TEMPER tent.

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A variety of Force Provider, sets, games and religious, legal,

morale, welfare and recreational services are offered in including access to telephones, movies, a library, weight sports equipment. Other soldier services provided include: finance and personnel support.

FORCE PROVIDER PLANNED EQUIPMENT

IMPROVEMENTS

The Army is conducting several research and development programs to improve the current Force Provider system. These programs include hardwalled latrines and laundries and a wastewater treatment system. The latrine R&D program is investigating two types of latrines: non-flush and low flush. The non-flush latrine collects the solid waste in a self-sealing biodegradable bag. The internal storage of each toilet is 40 bags. The lowflush latrine uses a sophisticated valve and compressed air mechanism to allow for reduced water requirements. The laundry R&D effort includes integrating commercially available washers and dryers into a hardwalled container. This will allow individuals to be responsible for personal clothing articles. The Army is also investigating commercially available, industrial, high capacity washers and dryers. The wastewater treatment system R&D effort consists of investigating commercially available wastewater treatment systems. A mobile wastewater treatment system could be deployed when local municipal treatment facilities are not available. In today’s society, the Army must practice environmentally sound wastewater treatment and disposal.

REFERENCES 1 2 3

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5 6

First United States Army Defense Coordinating Officer Training Handbook. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operation, Fort Meade, MD. 4 April 1993. Joint Task Force Andrew After Action Report - Overview Executive Summary & Joint Service Executive Summaries & Component, Task force CDRS, Volume 3, 15 Ott 92. “Operations Other Than War Volume III - Disaster Assistance and Civil Disturbance”. Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL), U.S. Army Combined Arms Command (CAC). Memorandum for Assistant Chief of Engineers, 22 October 1992. Subject: After Action Report, Participation of the Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) in the Relief Effort of Hurricane Andrew, Typhoon Omar, and Hurricane Iniki. Grubb, R., HQ Corp of Engineers Natural Disaster Readiness Branch. Phone conversation of 4 April 1994. Tripp, B., COL U.S. Army, Military Liaison Officer to FEMA. Phone conversation of 4 April 1994.