Overview:
The United States has strengthened Palau’s disaster preparedness with a major upgrade to the nation’s emergency communication systems, ensuring first responders can coordinate more effectively during crises. The project, led by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s disaster management team in partnership with Palau’s NEMO and the Red Cross, highlights growing U.S.-Palau cooperation in building resilience across the Pacific.
KOROR, Palau — Reinforcing its enduring commitment to the U.S.-Palau partnership and a resilient Indo-Pacific, the United States has led an initiative to upgrade the Republic of Palau’s National Disaster Communication Systems. This significant American investment ensures Palauan first responders can communicate and coordinate effectively to save lives during a crisis.
The project was led by a team from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM), which worked alongside Palau’s National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) and the Red Cross.
Over the past two weeks, this U.S.-led effort resulted in the installation and testing of the emergency management radio network, including ten new radios at Red Cross locations across Palau and mobile units in a NEMO response truck and boat.
This initiative is a direct result of a 2025 infrastructure assessment funded and conducted by CFE-DM. The assessment identified critical gaps and provided the recommendations that guided this upgrade, building on previous installations in Ngiwal, Peleliu, Angaur, and Kayangel.
“Reliable communication is the backbone of any successful disaster response,” said Shankar Rao, Chargé d’Affaires for U.S. Embassy Koror. “This project is a powerful example of the United States’ unwavering commitment to the people of Palau. We are not just providing equipment; we are investing in resilience, strengthening our partnership, and ensuring our friends and allies in the Pacific are prepared for any crisis.”
This mission showcases the strength of U.S. civil-military coordination, with crucial support provided by the U.S. Marine Corps Engineering Detachment Palau, U.S. Marine Corps Combat Logistics Battalion 1, and U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1st Theater Information Advantage Detachment and the Oceania Engagement Team. The expertise of these U.S. service members was instrumental to the project’s success.