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Press Release | Sept. 13, 2017

UPDATE: U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND PROVIDING HURRICANE IRMA DISASTER RELIEF

NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs

PETERSON AFB, Colo.  –  

U.S. Northern Command is working through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support authorities in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida to provide life-saving and life-sustaining relief to those affected by Hurricane Irma.

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) continue moving vehicles and supplies to the islands. Both vessels are providing medium and heavy lift helicopters as well as tiltrotor aircraft that performed approximately10 medical evacuations from St. Thomas and St. John in the past 24 hours. In addition, the ships are using landing craft utility (LCU) vessels, a type of boat used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore, to transfer vehicles, fuel, equipment and Marines to St. Thomas and St. John for route clearance and aid distribution.

DoD is assisting the United Kingdom by coordinating movement of British Royal Marines from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, to Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, and British Virgin Islands impacted by the hurricane.

The Federal Aviation Administration provided a mobile air traffic control tower, transported by DoD, that is now operational at the St. Thomas airport. This key piece of equipment will help facilitate the restoration of commercial flights to the island. 

The 602nd Area Support Medical Company from Fort Bragg, N.C., will arrive tomorrow in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, to provide deployable temporary medical treatment facilities. The ASMC has the capability to provide triage, treatment, and pre-evacuation care and can provide continuous operations for up to 72 hours with a 1,000 sq. ft. surgical area.

Sailors and Marines aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and USS New York (LPD 21) are transporting relief supplies into Key West, Fla., via LCUs in support of FEMA. In the past 24 hours, the ships have transported 43 pallets of water, three pallets of meals and 1,600 gallons of fuel.

The Army has deployed 100 high-water vehicles from Fort Bragg, N.C., to the south Florida area. These vehicles will support the distribution of relief supplies within the impacted region for FEMA.

USNORTHCOM's mission is to assist lead federal relief agencies in helping those affected by Hurricane Irma to minimize suffering while continuing its mission of defending the Homeland.