PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command is deploying unique military capabilities as part of its defense support to civil authority’s emergency response efforts in preparation for Tropical Storm Gustav’s landfall in the Southern U.S.
The following is a list of DoD assets and personnel that are or could become part of U.S. Northern Command’s support efforts:
- Four Defense Coordinating Officers have been activated in support of Federal Emergency Management Regions IV and VI to provide assessment and coordination as required. DCOs work very closely with federal, state, tribal and local officials to determine what unique DoD capabilities can be brought to assist in mitigating the effects of a natural disaster.
- Two Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers (Region VI and Region IV) were activated to the FEMA National Response Coordination Center.
- Designated three military installations as FEMA National Logistics Staging Areas to support forward distribution of supplies and equipment to affected areas as required (Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; Columbus Air Force Base, Miss; and Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss.).
“The increased capability and coordination in past three years shows us that state, tribal, local and federal agencies and resources of the National Guard are much improved. We are still planning and coordinating to provide unique areas of additional capabilities to the right place as needed, such as search and rescue, and medical transportation,” said Rear Adm. Christopher Colvin, director of operations at USNORTHCOM.
USNORTHCOM is the joint combatant command formed in the wake of the Sept.11, 2001 terrorist attacks to provide homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities. USNORTHCOM anticipates requests, actions and requirements to support developing situations. Its subordinate commands are Joint Forces Headquarters National Capital Region, Joint Task Force Alaska, Joint Task Force Civil Support, Joint Task Force North, and Standing Joint Force Headquarters North.
The command is responsible for the operational control of all active-duty military responses to a disaster when requested by the state and ordered by the president and the secretary of defense.