PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command is prepared to meet any Requests for Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency may issue in the wake of Hurricane Frances.
U.S. Northern Command’s Current Operations Group is on 24-hour duty in Colorado Springs, Colo., to monitor the storm’s progress and to facilitate any subsequent requests for assistance that may come from FEMA representatives. A Defense Coordinating Officer and a Defense Coordinating Element are already on the ground in Florida to liaison between U.S. Northern Command, FEMA and the Department of Defense.
DoD assets are employed in support of a Lead Federal Agency [in this case FEMA] only when local and state assets are overwhelmed or exhausted and when DoD assistance is explicitly requested by the lead federal agency. The impact of providing such assistance will not adversely affect military preparedness. Any request for DoD assistance must first be approved by the Secretary of Defense.
DoD support is provided on a reimbursable basis in accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Act. USNORTHCOM is the supported unified command for Hurricane Frances.
For more information on USNORTHCOM involvement in national disaster relief efforts in Florida, please contact 1st Lt. Joel Harper, USNORTHCOM Public Affairs, at 719-330-5169.