In the preparations for Hurricane Irene, which made landfall along the East Coast a few weeks ago, the watch words were “just in case.”

Federal, state and local governments all worked together during Hurricane Irene. The Defense Department even named four “dual-status commanders” to direct active-duty and state National Guard forces. The dual commanders weren’t actually used in the Irene response, but were poised to step in if they were needed.

Maj. Gen. Dave Harris, the director of domestic operations for the National Guard Bureau, joined the Federal Drive to discuss how the National Guard deployed and supported the work of first-responders.

The guard prepares months before hurricane season even arrives, helps mobilize resources during storms and stays afterward to help clean up, Harris said.

The dual-status commanders were borne from the frustrations of Hurricane Katrina, where there wasn’t “an effective enough unity of effort,” Harris said.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily DoD Report. For more defense news, click here.

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