Photo By Noe Gonzalez | (From left to right) Adrienne Bostic, emergency management specialist, Sharon Rader,...... read more read more
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – When disasters strike, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District Emergency Management team stands ready—partnering with federal and state agencies in response and recovery efforts locally, nationally, and across U.S. territories.
The four-member team actively prepares for, responds to, and provides recovery assets when disasters occur. Whether coordinating mission assignments, deploying response teams or delivering technical assistance, they move quickly to ensure critical federal support reaches communities in crisis.
“Emergency Management is the focal point for command and control of emergency operations — except during high-water events and civil works responses,” said Jerry Breznican, chief of Emergency Management for the Nashville District.
The team operates under the Nashville District’s All-Hazards Operations Plan, which guides how Emergency Management navigates five distinct phases of emergency response:
The Five Phases of Operations
• Phase 1 – Alert the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District commander, activate emergency personnel and begin initial assessments.
• Phase 2 – Coordinate deployment of personnel and resources; engage with FEMA regional offices on issuing Regional Activation Mission Assignments, which authorize funding and resources.
• Phase 3 – Execute missions.
• Phase 4 – Launch recovery missions, including direct and technical assistance and Roofing Temporary Planning and Response Team.
• Phase 5 – Close out missions with proper documentation and accountability.
Funding flows under two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorities: Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies and the National Emergency Preparedness Program. These authorities allow Emergency Management to prepare, mobilize quickly, deploy expert teams and equipment, and sustain operations throughout the full emergency response.
Local Impact
In Tennessee, Emergency Management coordinates directly with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and has activated more than 25 times in support of the state over the past 5 years. The team deploys liaisons to the State Emergency Operations Center during events.
In 2024, Tropical Storm Helene triggered devastating floods across East Tennessee and western North Carolina. Emergency Management acted quickly, deploying more than 100 personnel to support mission execution, embedding liaisons with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and executed eight FEMA mission assignments.
Nationwide Impact
The impact of the Nashville District’s Emergency Management spans far beyond the state of Tennessee. Over the past five years, the team has supported COVID-19 response in Michigan and Illinois; wildfire operations in California and Maui, Hawaii; roofing technical assistance in Texas and Guam; tornado recovery in Kentucky; and hurricane recovery in multiple states and Puerto Rico.
Two key components that Emergency Management relies on for national efforts are the Deployable Tactical Operations System (DTOS) and the Temporary Roofing Planning and Response Team (PRT). These capabilities enable Emergency Management to deliver essential mission support across the country.
Over the past decade, DTOS units have deployed 47 times, supporting response operations from New York to Louisiana and across U.S. territories. “The PRT plays an important role in recovery, helping families return to safe, livable homes after hurricanes Irma in 2017 and Laura in 2020.” said Breznican.
Preparedness
“Emergency Management continuously prepares for events by ensuring regulations, policies and procedures are updated and tested,” said Breznican. “We consistently review the All-Hazards Operations Plan and conduct after-action reviews following missions to capture lessons learned,” he added. “We then incorporate those lessons into our plans.”
The PRT trains every two years, meeting with subject-matter experts to refine protocols and adapt to new federal guidelines and technologies. These sessions help keep the team sharp and mission-ready. The DTOS team participates in ongoing training, held monthly during the scheduled maintenance period. Internal teams that support Emergency Management are trained biennially, in accordance with current training policy.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District’s Emergency Management team and support teams remains fully prepared—dedicated to responding to emergencies at the local, national and global levels.
| Date Taken: | 09.24.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.24.2025 13:50 |
| Story ID: | 549178 |
| Location: | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 58 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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