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.
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