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Press Release | Sept. 10, 2017

U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND PROVIDING HURRICANE IRMA DISASTER RELIEF

NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs

PETERSON AFB, Colo.  –   U.S. Northern Command is working through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support authorities in Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to provide life-saving and life-sustaining relief to those in affected areas.

Today, the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), USS Wasp (LHD 1) and USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), along with the Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are conducting a large offload of relief supplies in the U.S. Virgin Islands while continuing to conduct air operations.

Over the past 24 hours in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft have conducted medical evacuations of 73 medical patients and the Defense Logistics Agency has delivered 2,000 tarps, 40 pallets of food, water and medical supplies. (See attached photo)

USNORTHCOM is currently positioning the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and the amphibious ships USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and USS New York (LPD 21) to begin search and rescue operations when weather permits. USNORTHCOM has committed a significant force to the Irma response mission, with approximately 4,500 personnel already postured in the Southeast.

USNORTHCOM has identified incident support bases at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Warner Robbins AFB, Ga., Fort Bragg, N.C., Moody AFB, Ga., A.P. Hill, Va., North Air Force Auxiliary Airfield, S.C. to support response and recovery operations.

The Defense Logistics Agency is providing approximately 50,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline and 50,000 gallons of diesel to Warner Robins Air Force Base, Ga., in support of FEMA. DLA is delivering 3,000 cases of meals and 5,000 gallons of bottled water to Haiti. DLA is also sending 2 million meals to Selma, Ala., 1.5 million meals to Ft. Bragg, N.C. and distributing bottled water, tarps, generators and pharmaceutical supplies throughout the affected region.

USNORTHCOM’s mission is to assist lead federal relief agencies in helping those affected by Hurricane Irma to minimize suffering while continuing its mission of defending the Homeland.

hurricane Hurricane Irma