Photo By Nakeir Nobles | Dale Cantor,left, listens as a volunteer describes the issues he is having with his...... read more read more
With nearly 40 years of service with USACE, Dale Carton is a representation of the commitment that helps drive the agency’s emergency response missions. “This is what we do,” he said.
Hurricane Helene struck Asheville, NC, September 2024, resulting in USACE receiving 22 mission assignments. To date, USACE has removed more than eight million tons of debris, which is equivalent to a 3,403 ft high pile on a standard football field or seven filled container ships. That’s what eight million tons look like.
Carton is finishing up his third deployment supporting Hurricane Helene emergency response efforts in North Carolina and is already preparing to return in October to continue providing mission support. As a member of USACE’s Enterprise Emergency Response Team (EERT), Carton is responsible for the organization’s network infrastructure during emergency response activities. Internet, printing, computer access, web meetings, the equipment crews use for field work, would all be difficult to achieve without the support of Carton and those like him who deploy in support of USACE emergency response missions.
“Anything they [deployees] do here isn’t done without the Internet,” Carton said. He is responsible for ensuring Internet connections are working properly so the mission has limited IT interruptions, which can cause operations to come to a standstill.
However, if the system stalls, to include weekend maintenance and software issues, Carton said the deployment workday is 12-hour days, seven days a week, he makes himself available 24/7 to address complications. “I provide my number for after-hour issues. I want to make sure I keep things running smoothly, and fix issues as quickly as they arise.” That dedication he says, is what he is most proud of during this deployment.
Although he rarely visits sites where crews are working with the equipment he supports, he does go out on location when the need arises. “I drive out to provide IT assistance onsite.” This ensures technology serves the mission wherever it’s needed.
Staying motivated during a deployment that takes one away from their family isn’t easy. However, with the support from his family, Carton says over the years it has gotten easier as his kids are much older. One is just started college the other pursuing his own career. He stays positive during the missions because, “You’re helping people. They probably don’t know what I do, but [me] knowing what I did, helps others who support the mission do their job.”
Carton says when he started deploying in support of emergencies, the missions were much shorter, lasting two weeks to a month. Now the missions he supports, he said are longer.
“Maui support has now been about two years, California coming up on a year. We have really been busy as it’s abnormal for such long-term deployments.” Now that his kids are much older, it’s easier for him to support longer missions.
Every mission is different, different faces peppered with familiar faces, similar types of disasters, but with different impacts. However, teamwork and camaraderie make deploying worthwhile. In this deployment environment, Carton shares, “It’s always great. Knowing we have a home to go back to, understanding the victims don’t, gives us a better appreciation of what we are here to do.”
During every disaster response, hundreds of USACE employees volunteer to support the recovery efforts. Even though the days are long, sometimes the work challenging and time away from family, many USACE employees anticipate the opportunity to help, other employees may be hesitant about volunteering.
Carton encourages his fellow teammates to volunteer to support disaster response if given the opportunity. “It’s very rewarding. Deploy once and you will walk away with a better outlook on life,” he said. The opportunity makes you thankful for what you have as a lot of people don’t have anything. They have lost everything.”
For Dale Carton, nearly four decades of USACE service has proven, when disaster strikes, USACE responds. “That is what we do.”
| Date Taken: | 09.06.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2025 07:49 |
| Story ID: | 547769 |
| Location: | ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 13 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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