Troop Support working group rolls out shelter-in-place plan, prioritizing preparedness

A cross-functional team at Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support is finalizing a Building 3 Shelter-in-Place & Emergency Action Plan, aligning with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Preparedness Month theme, “American’s Stand Ready.” Representatives from Clothing and Textiles (C&T), Construction and Equipment (C&E), and Finance met Sept. 22 to review the latest draft, which outlines standard operating procedures for shelter-in-place, active-threat and medical emergencies affecting more than 700 employees in the building.

The working group is led by Norvel Brown Sr., a logistics systems analyst on C&T’s Executive Agent team. He said C&T Customer Operations Director Angela Gonzalez flagged a gap in shelter-in-place procedures, prompting the Executive Agent team to bring in counterparts from other offices. “With that, C&T’s EA team invited in J8 and C&E and we asked for representatives, and that’s how the group formed, this working group, to develop a shelter-in-place and evacuation plan,” Brown said.

The team is coordinating with DLA Installation Management Philadelphia and using DLA’s Emergency Management Program instruction as its primary governing policy. The plan is slated to be presented to senior leaders and the workforce by November.

DLA Emergency Management Specialist Spencer Stewart underscored the value of taking initiative. “As emergency managers our number one challenge is to get people to be proactive in their preparedness,” Stewart said. He also encouraged practical steps such as creating family emergency plans, maintaining home emergency kits, and tailoring preparedness for individual workspaces. “I hope more buildings establish working groups and examine their needs and circumstances with the guidance of the base-wide Emergency Action Plan available to all employees from their SharePoint or supervisor,” Stewart continued.

The group meets biweekly to complete tasks that include updating emergency signage—such as posting “SIP Tips,” or a code of conduct, in Safe Haven Rooms—and will shift to monthly sessions once the plan is in maintenance mode. “We’ll go to once a month for maintenance and upkeep of the working group, just to ensure all the safety apparatuses and all of the safety issues are addressed for Building 3,” Brown said. “And as things come up, we can address additional (issues),” added Kelly Thompson, tailor vendor logistics specialist on C&E’s heavy equipment team.

To build familiarity with new procedures, the team plans biannual shelter-in-place drills, allowing five to seven minutes for concealment preparation and lasting up to one hour. “This is going to be new for the workforce, they’re used to fire drills,” Brown said. After each exercise, the group will conduct after-action reviews and evaluations to capture strengths and identify improvements.

Many members bring prior emergency planning experience from military service and civilian roles. “I was in AmeriCorps and I did the rapid response program with the American Red Cross which included shelter management and disaster relief response,” said Daryle Brown, warfighter support representative on C&T’s resolution team. “And I was a safety warden when I worked for a contractor for the Virginia Department of Health.” Thompson also draws on event-planning experience, where safety considerations are integral.

Additional members of the working group include Army Sgt. 1st Class Alexander G. Lagrange and Army Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Kamau Ransome, customer account specialists on C&T’s Executive Agent team; Kyle McCarthy, division chief, C&E Customer Operations; Gregory Stephens, tailored vendor logistics specialist with C&E’s Class IV Barrier Program team; and Kristen Filomeno, business analyst in Finance.