PETERSON AFB, Colo. –
U.S. Northern Command, in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, continues to conduct 24-hour operations, aggressively working to meet and overcome challenges to open ports and roads, restore power, and assist with bringing additional life-saving commodities into disaster-affected areas.
The commander of the Joint Force Land Component Command, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, is closely linked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and representatives of Puerto Rico, to include the Governor, in order to ensure our operations and force flow match priorities and responsively adjust to emergent needs. Our logistical command and control elements are also integrated with FEMA to continue the development and refinement of a long-term sustainment and distribution plan for Puerto Rico.
Today, USNORTHCOM has 11 flights scheduled to transport approximately 310,000 meals, 150,000 liters of water, generators, tarps, additional sustainment units, and leading components of aviation command and control. Our response efforts will continue to support FEMA on commodity distribution, develop and refine the distribution plan, and develop and execute quick reaction force missions focused on isolated communities in the center of the commonwealth.
Additionally, the JFLCC will continue coordination with FEMA and Health and Human Services to build a comprehensive medical plan in order to best position medical assets as they arrive. Our medical assets include an Area Support Medical Company, Expeditionary Medical Support System, Army Combat Support Hospital, and the Navy USNS Comfort. We also will refine our airspace command and control plan accounting for additional inbound tilt/rotary-wing aircraft that will aid in the transportation of personnel, equipment and commodities within Puerto Rico.
Yesterday, the Department of Defense completed 9 airlift flights, delivering food and water, a network communications enabler, an air traffic control mobile tower, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sandbags for the Guajataca Dam, sustainment units, and logistical command and control.
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.