Surplus property donations add to DOD hurricane response contributions

Florida and the Carolinas have requested nearly 850 no-cost surplus military items from the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services used property inventory in recent weeks, specifically to augment ongoing government hurricane response efforts there.

State surplus property authorities regularly look to DLA's used equipment stocks throughout the year for DOD donation material that can help their state, county, and municipal agencies meet citizenry needs. From aircraft for state police to tankers for volunteer fire departments to snowplows for county road workers, former military equipment can be found at all levels of government, nationwide. During times of disaster response and recovery, access to items like former military all-terrain vehicles and flatbed trailers can be especially helpful to local authorities hoping to expand capabilities as quickly as possible.

"Our personnel have a long track record of showing the readiness and willingness to jump in and do their part in supporting disaster response and recovery efforts," said DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon. "Our Reutilization, Transfer, and Donation program plays a vital role in these efforts, allowing us to quickly and efficiently provide essential equipment to DLA's Whole-of-Government customers in times of crisis."

Site managers at DLA Disposition Services field offices throughout the region recently said agency reverse logisticians have prioritized prepping and shipping disaster response equipment like diesel generators and forklifts from the Jacksonville site to South Carolina, flashlights and medical gear from Camp Lejeune to North Carolina officials, and trucks from the Anniston and Warner Robins sites in Alabama and Georgia to Florida recipients.

Providing no-cost surplus DOD equipment and excess personal property is just one small slice of what DLA contributes during disaster response and recovery efforts. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the agency deployed a property distribution team to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in late September to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency with stockpiling and movement of food, water, fuel, and essential supplies into storm-ravaged areas.

The agency is also supporting U.S. Northern Command's Joint Task Force Civil Support, helping ensure active-duty personnel have the right equipment and supplies - like food, water, fuel, and chainsaws - to clear roads and transport relief supplies to remote areas in North Carolina.

As Florida officials determine needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, DLA's Agency Synchronization Operations Center is working to maintain clear lines of communication between responders on the ground and the organization's logistics and supply experts.

More coverage of the agency's hurricane support is available on DLA's hurricane response news page.