ERDC personnel design and construct makeshift hospital rooms for COVID-19 patients

From the Engineer Research and Development Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: 

Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite has made headlines for his plans to construct makeshift hospital rooms across the country as the Nation prepares for an onslaught of COVID-19 patients. On Monday, he turned to the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg to ask for help accomplishing that mission.

Within an hour of the initial phone call, ERDC’s Directorate of Public Works staff assembled to build two types of mock-up hospital rooms.

ERDC DPW is made up of electricians, carpenters, welders and other trade workers who typically support research by building models and other equipment. This week, they were given about 48 hours to construct two prototypes—a new 12×12 metal frame unit and a portable storage container that could be used for patient care anywhere in the country.

When the prototypes are complete, the team will send their recommendations, as well as the materials list and construction plan forward, so FEMA officials and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leadership can be prepared to make a decision.

But the DPW team isn’t the only ERDC entity hard at work to support the COVID-19 emergency response. Ten active duty ERDC Soldiers are assisting with Alternative Care Facility planning, operations and logistics from New York, San Francisco, Sacramento, Detroit, Chicago, as well as locally in Vicksburg.

In addition, other ERDC capabilities are being developed for possible use to combat COVID-19. The organization’s USACE Reachback Operations Center is also fielding technical requests for engineering and scientific support coming in from around the world.