Courtesy Photo | Leaders from Fort Buchanan, the U.S. Army’s home in the Caribbean, met Sept. 10 with...... read more read more
BAYAMÓN, Puerto Rico — Leaders from Fort Buchanan, the U.S. Army’s home in the Caribbean, met Sept. 10 with Bayamón Mayor Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz and the city’s emergency management team at the Bayamón Emergency Management headquarters to strengthen coordination and build relationships ahead of any future emergency requiring a joint response. Bayamón, one of the largest cities in Puerto Rico, plays a critical role in regional emergency preparedness.
“Welcome to the city of Bayamón,” Rivera said. “I’m glad we are getting to know each other now, before an emergency occurs. When an emergency happens, that is not the time to start exchanging names and phone numbers.”
Ulises Marrero, Fort Buchanan’s acting garrison manager, highlighted that strong relationships with surrounding municipalities enhance community resilience and support the Army’s ability to maintain operations during emergencies.
“The U.S. Army is part of this community, and readiness does not stop at the installation gate,” Marrero said. “We must collaborate with our municipalities, especially Bayamón, which is one of Fort Buchanan’s closest neighbors. Building these relationships now helps us communicate, coordinate and respond more effectively when our communities need us most.”
Marrero noted that the meeting represents an important first step toward building a sustained partnership between the installation and the municipality.
“We want this to be the beginning of an effective and enduring partnership,” he said. “Understanding each other’s capabilities and establishing communication before an emergency strengthens both organizations and ultimately strengthens the community we serve.”
During the engagement, the Fort Buchanan delegation toured Bayamón’s emergency management facilities and received an overview of the municipality’s emergency response capabilities and coordination processes.
Rivera emphasized that he wanted to give the Army in Puerto Rico a clearer view of the resources available just outside the installation, including both emergency response and law enforcement capabilities — among them a 360-degree virtual shooting facility used for municipal police training.
“Emergency preparedness depends on relationships, communication and a clear understanding of capabilities,” Rivera said. “This engagement allows us to identify how we can leverage the different strengths we each bring.”
The meeting supports Fort Buchanan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration with local governments and emergency response organizations throughout Puerto Rico.
The visit resulted in specific coordination for Fort Buchanan to participate in Bayamón’s upcoming earthquake exercise in October. Installation staff will hold follow-up meetings with city personnel to finalize details.
Fort Buchanan supports approximately 15,000 military personnel, including active-duty Soldiers, Army Reserve, Puerto Rico National Guard, Marine Corps Reserve and Navy Reserve members. The installation’s mission is to enable readiness and facilitate the deployment of forces anytime, anywhere. Partnerships with neighboring communities enhance the installation’s ability to sustain its mission while contributing to the resilience of those communities.
To stay connected with Fort Buchanan news and events in real time, download the MAPA app, select Fort Buchanan and activate notifications.
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.11.2026 15:23 |
| Story ID: | 574476 |
| Location: | PR |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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