Sandy: DoD Response update

From the DoD:

DOD Provides Hurricane Sandy Response Update

American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2012 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has directed that the Defense Department provide any available disaster response resources requested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies as affected states respond to Hurricane Sandy, according to a DOD news release issued today.


The Defense Department continues to support FEMA and other federal partners, with U.S. Northern Command and the National Guard providing lifesaving and life-sustaining assets in the aftermath of the storm, according to the release.


Per the release, here is today's update on DOD's response to Hurricane Sandy:

-- As of 11:00 a.m. today, there are approximately 7,400 National Guard forces on state active duty or in the process of activating for duty in support of the governors of New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut and Maryland. These forces are providing critical assistance to local first responders and FEMA with support at evacuation shelters, damage assessments, route clearance, debris reduction and removal, search and rescue, and delivery of essential equipment and supplies.


-- DOD has staged four medium rotary wing utility aircraft and four medium rotary wing search and rescue aircraft at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, for potential logistical and search and rescue operations along the coasts of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island in support of FEMA.

-- DOD has approved a request for District of Columbia National Guard support for traffic control points and high-water evacuations.

-- DOD installations throughout the Northeast are available as requested by FEMA. These include Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.; Joint Base McGuire-Dix, Lakehurst, N.J.; and Fort Devens, Mass.

-- DOD has placed medium- and heavy-lift helicopters, para rescue swimmers, and aerial refueling aircraft on 24-hour prepare-to-deploy status in response to anticipated FEMA requests to mitigate or respond to the effects of the storm.

-- Additional engineer units and logistical support units are preparing to support the response in anticipation of any requests by FEMA.


Also, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is providing public works and engineering expertise to include damage modeling, storm surge modeling, temporary emergency power, and coastal preparations in support of FEMA. Other response teams remain on alert for future FEMA missions to include: debris management, commodities distribution, infrastructure assessment, temporary roofing, critical public facilities, water planning, and temporary housing.


The Corps of Engineers is currently working the New York District Emergency Operations Center and the Rock Island [from Illinois] District Unwatering Task Force management cell. The unwatering cell includes technical experts that understand flood risk modeling/inundation. This team can advise on the location and use of pumping capability, the size/scope of pumping capability that should be used, and it can do some contract management.


The Defense Logistics Agency has doubled the amount of fuel it is ready to provide for emergency backup generators in anticipation of requests for assistance from FEMA and the Department of Energy.
 
  -30-