Silver Jackets teams are collaborative state-led interagency teams, continuously working together to reduce flood risk at the state level. Through the Silver Jackets program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and additional federal, state and sometimes local and Tribal agencies provide a unified approach to addressing a state’s priorities.
Often, no single agency has the complete solution, but each may have one or more pieces to contribute. The Silver Jackets team is the forum where all relevant agencies come together with the state to collaboratively plan and implement that interagency solution. Through partnerships, Silver Jackets optimizes the multi-agency utilization of federal resources by leveraging state/local/Tribal resources, including data/information, talent and funding, and preventing duplication of effort.
The primary goals of the Silver Jackets program are to facilitate strategic life-cycle flood risk reduction; create or supplement a continuous mechanism to collaboratively solve state-prioritized issues and implement or recommend those solutions; improve processes, identifying and resolving gaps and counteractive programs; leverage and optimize resources; improve and increase flood risk communication and present a unified interagency message; and establish close relationships to facilitate integrated pre-flood planning, event response and post-disaster recovery solutions.
Minnesota Silver Jackets Program
The Minnesota Silver Jackets team has been active since 2009. It formally adopted a charter in 2011 and is considered an all-hazards team. It conducts monthly meetings and supplemental meetings as necessary. The team participates in regional and national flood risk management planning events. Team actions have also been instrumental in successful support of response to and recovery from recent flood events.
North Dakota Silver Jackets Program
The North Dakota Flood Risk Management Silver Jackets team has been active since 2009, and formally adopted a charter in 2010 (revised April 2014). The team conducts annual face-to-face meetings and supplemental teleconference meetings as necessary and is co-led by the St. Paul and Omaha districts of the Corps of Engineers. The team participates in regional and national flood risk management planning events.
Wisconsin Silver Jackets Program
Wisconsin has participated in Silver Jackets flood risk management activities since 2009 and formally adopted a charter in 2015. The team convenes as the Wisconsin Hazard Mitigation Team and conducts annual face-to-face meetings and supplemental meetings as necessary. The team participates in regional and national flood risk management planning events.
Contact:
St. Paul District Silver Jackets Coordinator
Terry Zien, P.E.
651-290-5714 or terry.r.zien@usace.army.mil