Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 7, 2012 -- FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino meets with DHS volunteers berthing on the TS Kennedy, a maritime Academy training ship. A provision in the 2006 Post-Katrina Act authorized DHS to create a surge capacity force (SCF) of federal employees to augment a catastrophic disaster response. The force was activated to help with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. FEMA/Tim Burkitt