PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – United States Northern Command continues to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency after disaster declarations were issued for Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi following the devastation caused in parts of each state by Hurricane Katrina.
A variety of requests for assistance have come in to USNORTHCOM from FEMA because of the unique capabilities the Department of Defense brings to emergency and rescue efforts underway in each of the affected states.
Some of the requests that have been approved by the Secretary of Defense include:
- Deploying two helicopters and crews that will transport FEMA’s Rapid Needs Assessment teams to allow the agency to gather critical information for state and federal emergency managers to assess the extent of damage and help guide the distribution of disaster resources currently staged in the area.; and
- Establishing Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. as a federal operational staging area to expedite the movement of relief supplies and emergency personnel to affected areas.
U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Operations Center is on 24-hour duty in Colorado Springs, Colo., to facilitate any additional requests for assistance that may come from FEMA representatives. In addition, a Defense Coordinating Officer and a Defense Coordinating Element are already on the ground in Clanton, Ala., Baton Rouge, La., Jackson, Miss., Tallahasee, Fla. to liaison between U.S. Northern Command, FEMA and the Department of Defense.
DoD assets are employed in support of a Primary Federal Agency [in this case FEMA] when DoD assistance is explicitly requested by the PFA and subsequently approved by the Secretary of Defense. The impact of providing such assistance will not adversely affect military preparedness. DoD support is provided on a reimbursable basis in accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Act. USNORTHCOM is the supported unified command for Hurricane Katrina.
For more information on USNORTHCOM involvement in national disaster relief efforts in the affected areas, please contact Mr. Michael Kucharek, USNORTHCOM Public Affairs, at 719-554-9618.