USNORTHCOM supports response to Haiti Earthquake
Jan. 14, 2010
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command is supporting U.S. Southern Command’s response and support for Haiti Earthquake relief efforts. USNORTHCOM has extensive experience in disaster response.
The Department of Defense has capabilities that save lives as well as many other unique support capabilities such as air lift, medical, communications, and catastrophic planning.
The following is a list of DOD assets and personnel that are part of USNORTHCOM’s support to USSOUTHCOM:
NEW OPERATIONS:
- USNORTHCOM’s planning support team, consisting of about 20 personnel, is assisting USSOUTHCOM in the coordination of the DOD response to the earthquake.
- U.S. Air Forces Northern liaison officers with the Joint Personnel Recovery Center and the 601st Air & Space Operations Center deployed today to assist with humanitarian aid efforts to the Coast Guard District Seven Rescue Coordination Center and to U.S. Southern Command’s Regional Air Movement Control Center.
- An Air Force Reserve C-130 and aircrew from the 302nd Airlift Wing, stationed at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colo., provided the short notice airlift for the U.S. Northern Command team using its Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC) alert aircraft.
- U.S. Army North Defense Coordinating Officers/Elements have been activated in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IV, Atlanta, Ga., to provide assessment and coordination as required. DCOs and DCEs work very closely with federal, state, tribal and local officials to determine what unique DOD capabilities can be brought to assist in mitigating the effects of a natural disaster.
- DOD has designated two military installations as FEMA Incident Support Bases to support forward distribution of supplies and equipment to affected areas as required. The installations are Homestead Air Force Base, Miami, Fla.; and Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Fla.
USNORTHCOM is the joint combatant command formed in the wake of the Sept.11, 2001 terrorist attacks to provide homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities.
U.S. Air Forces Northern missions as the air component to USNORTHCOM, located in Colorado Springs, Colo. 1st Air Force/AFNORTH assist USNORTHCOM in fulfilling its Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities missions.
U.S. Army North provides defense support of civil authorities as the Army component of USNORTHCOM, the combatant command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., that is responsible for homeland defense and civil support.
USNORTHCOM’s subordinate commands are Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, Joint Task Force Alaska, Joint Task Force Civil Support, Joint Task Force North, and Standing Joint Force Headquarters North.
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