DHS asking Navy for help with hurricane response work

In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the Department of Homeland Security has found itself in need of additional personnel to help process the storm survivors in the affected areas and has turned to the Navy for assistance.

So far, DHS has surged more than 1,400 of its personnel to Texas and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but that amount is not enough.

To that end, acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke sent a memo last week to Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, asking him if he could spare "at least 80 employees . . . who are willing and able to immediately deploy as part of the Surge Capacity Force. As response and recovery needs evolve, we may adjust this request accordingly.

"Volunteers will be deployed for a period not to exceed 45 days, and will travel to an interim processing facility in Anniston, Alabama for necessary training, skill assessment, and duty assignment prior to deploying to the disaster area," Duke continued. "They will be engaging directly with disaster survivors, helping them to navigate available programs, and applying for federal disaster assistance."