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News | Nov. 1, 2012

USNORTHCOM Hurricane Sandy Response Support - Nov. 1

By NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- U.S. Northern Command is providing Department of Defense support to FEMA, tribal, state and local response efforts due to Hurricane Sandy. Part of the USNORTHCOM Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission directs the command to plan and anticipate actions that it may need to take to support civil authorities. USNORTHCOM plays an important role in disaster response; however, all efforts are in support of a lead federal agency working closely with state and local officials. USNORTHCOM leans forward with state governors and the National Guard to advance understanding, trust and teamwork in direct support and dual-status command arrangements.

The following is a current list of DoD assets and personnel that are part of USNORTHCOM’s support efforts:

New Support:

All DoD installations have been directed to offer support to local community requests for assistance, to include providing staging and bed-down for utility recovery teams assigned to restore power. “The welcome mat is out at our bases. We are standing by and ready to support utility crews with staging areas, logistical assistance, or anything else they need to help restore power quickly,” said U.S. Army General Charles H. Jacoby Jr., Commander of NORAD and U.S Northern Command.

Also, in support of USNORTHCOM and the Department of Defense’s Hurricane Sandy response, Air Mobility Command provided C-5 and C-17 heavy airlift aircraft support to move 61 power restoration vehicles, associated equipment, non-medical personnel and cargo from Travis and March Air Force Bases, Cal., to Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, New York.

Additionally, Air Mobility Command moved 120 people into the New York City area that are a part of the Department of Health and Human Services Disaster Medical Assistance Teams. As part of that movement, the 305th Air Mobility Wing from McGuire Air Force, N.J., moved approximately 50 passengers on a C-17 from Columbus, Ohio, and the 436th Airlift Wing from Dover Air Force Base, Del., moved approximately 70 passengers from Dallas-Fort Worth, also on a C-17 to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

DOD will provide 100 high-volume water pumps (350 gallons per minute and greater) with qualified teams to support the operation and maintenance of the equipment. Equipment will be staged at FEMA mobilization centers in the state of New York as a result of Hurricane Sandy and deployment within the State of New York at the direction of FEMA.

The three-ship USS WASP Amphibious Ready Group will arrive today off the New York – New Jersey Coast to be in position to provide support to civil authorities as directed.

USNORTHCOM has established a coordination element at Joint Base McGuire/Dix/Lakehurst, N.J., to serve as the command and control node for all military support activities, and as a central point for equipment and supplies.

Previous:

All DoD installations have been directed to offer support to local community requests for assistance, to include providing staging and bed-down for utility recovery teams assigned to restore power. “The welcome mat is out at our bases. We are standing by and ready to support utility crews with staging areas, logistical assistance, or anything else they need to help restore power quickly,” said US Army General Charles H. Jacoby Jr., Commander of NORAD and U.S Northern Command.

DOD will provide 100 high-volume water pumps (350 gallons per minute and greater) with qualified teams to support the operation and maintenance of the equipment. Equipment will be staged at FEMA mobilization centers in the state of New York as a result of Hurricane Sandy and deployment within the State of New York at the direction of FEMA.

At the request of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, USTRANSCOM C-17s transported 300 medical professionals into the affected areas this morning. These Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, including doctors and nurses, will primarily be going to New York city to help care for at-risk nursing home residents and other at-risk elderly.

USNORTHCOM is staging four medium rotary wing utility aircraft and four medium rotary wing Search and Rescue aircraft at Hanscom AFB, Mass., for potential logistical and search and rescue operations along the coasts of Mass., Conn., and Rhode Island in support of FEMA.

USNORTHCOM activated Defense Coordinating Officers/Defense Coordinating Elements to support FEMA Regions I, II, and III. There two DCOs in New York, 1 in New Jersey and one in West Virginia.

USNORTHCOM has identified active duty deputies to deploy in support of any designated Dual Status Commanders (DSC), and is currently working with officials from New Jersey and New York. These active duty deputies facilitate active duty force employment under DSC leadership should active duty assets be required.

USNORTHCOM has identified and tasked active-duty forces be placed on Prepare to Deploy Order status in response to FEMA requests to mitigate or respond to effects of Hurricane Sandy: light/medium lift helicopters; medium/heavy lift helicopters; para-rescue teams; Information Awareness & Assessment aircraft; Tactical Common Data Link; Rover video receiver systems; and fixed-wing aircraft.

14 helicopters have been made available for awareness and assessment, and equipment movement.

Engineer unit and logistical support units are also available for supporting response.

USNORTHCOM is deploying Joint Regional Medical Planners to the Regions.

We have activated for FEMA the use of Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., Joint Base McGuire/Dix/Lakehurst, N.J., and Dover AFB, Del., as Incident Support Bases for staging Federal support equipment and supplies. Ft. Devens, Mass., has been designated a Federal Team Staging Facility.

The Navy is sending the USS WASP, the USS SAN ANTONIO, and the USS CARTER HALL towards the affected area in anticipation of any potential Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) missions.

USNORTHCOM has deployed emergency preparedness liaison officers; the Joint Air Component Coordination Elements; and the Joint Personnel Recovery Center to assist civil authorities in preparing and responding for relief efforts.

For more information, please contact NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs at (719) 554-6889. For information about NORAD or USNORTHCOM, please visit our Web sites at http://www.norad.mil or http://www.northcom.mil .