FEMA, USACE collaborate relief Published Nov. 2, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Ryan Throneberry Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are collaborating efforts to provide temporary power solutions to the New Jersey region Nov. 2 as Hurricane Sandy relief efforts continue. USACE "Prime Power" assessment teams were dispatched into communities surrounding Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to ascertain which critical facilities, such as nursing homes or hospitals, require a generator for temporary power. "We focus first on patient-care facilities, then fire and police departments, followed by water-treatment facilities," said Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Zemaitis, 249th Engineer Battalion Pre-installation Inspection Team Boss. "The assessment teams take a look at the requested location, evaluate the size of generator needed and send the work order back to our headquarters on Lakehurst." The USACE can provide support to state and local officials regarding emergency power needs at critical public facilities in support of FEMA as part of the federal government's unified national response under the National Response Framework. The Lakehurst USACE hub can send generators anywhere in the state, keeping the "lights on" for those in need. "This mission is vital to restoring normalcy throughout the state of New Jersey," said Zemaitis. "We will be here as long as the job requires."