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Press Release | Sept. 25, 2017

UPDATE: U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND CONTINUES HUMANITARIAN AID TO PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs

PETERSON AFB, Colo.  –  

U.S. Northern Command continues to provide 24-hour operations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the governments of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands and remains fully engaged in disaster relief and medical assistance to the areas affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Puerto Rico:

• The USS Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group has conducted a combined eight medical evacuations, 148 airlifts and delivered 44,177 lbs of relief supplies and cargo to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands since Hurricane Maria struck.

• The U.S. Air Forces’ strategic airlift missions more than doubled between Saturday and Sunday and will remain high over the coming days delivering critical supplies and capabilities to Puerto Rico. Eight C-17 Globemaster aircraft are delivering relief supplies and a Disaster Management Assessment Team to San Juan as they continue to support the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Air Force is also further increasing airport throughput capacity in San Juan by assisting the Federal Aviation Administration with air traffic control repairs.

• The DoD’s U.S. Transportation Command is moving additional personnel and equipment to include eight Army UH-60 helicopters from Ft. Campbell, K.Y. to the San Juan, Puerto Rico International Airport to increase distribution capacity.

• DoD has delivered three FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams to Puerto Rico.

U.S. Virgin Islands:

• The Air Force’s strategic airlift also conducted three aeromedical evacuation missions from St. Croix to Dobbins Army Reserve Base, the patient reception area for the Atlanta Federal Coordinating Center.

• The USS Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group has conducted a combined eight medical evacuations, 148 airlifts and delivered 44,177 lbs of relief supplies and cargo to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands since Hurricane Maria struck. The U.S. Navy ships and the embarked U.S. Marine Corps’ 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit have also deployed to clear and remove debris from the roads.

• The ARG is transporting personnel and moving bulk equipment from the USS Oak Hill to St. Croix to allow the Marines and Seabees to conduct operations ashore.

• The U.S. Air Force deployed a Regional Air Movement Coordination Center to support hurricane relief efforts. The RAMCC is responsible for coordinating all U.S. military, commercial, governmental and non-governmental aircraft flow control into and out of the ramp area at the airports in St. John and St. Croix. Operating 24 hours a day, this asset provides aircraft landing and take-off times and coordinated air traffic control with various civilian agencies.

• DoD has also returned the mobile communications tower to enhance air traffic control capability at St. Thomas International Airport.

• DoD has delivered meals and water to St. Croix. Additional USAR teams and key Health and Human Services medical capabilities are scheduled to be delivered by DoD assets today.

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