Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Update on the DoD and National Guard Response to Hurricane Sandy (Nov.07.2012.)

IMMEDIATE RELEASE     No. 879-12
November 07, 2012

Update on the DoD and National Guard Response to Hurricane Sandy
           

The Department of Defense (DoD) is a fully integrated partner in the federal, state, and local response to Hurricane Sandy and is appropriately postured to provide additional assistance to civilian authorities, as a result of the northeaster currently sweeping through the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States.  To address potential issues from resulting this northeaster, DoD has retained significant capacity in the region to provide emergency temporary power and pumping capability and to distribute fuel, food, cold-weather clothing, and other comfort items as requested by civil authorities.

            Here are today’s significant updates on DoD’s response to Hurricane Sandy over the past 24 hours (as of 11 a.m. EST):

            DoD Operations
            -  U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) has delivered 354 power restoration vehicles and 449 technical personnel on 64 missions from California, Arizona, Nevada, and Washington to Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y., Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL,) N.J., and JFK International Airport, N.Y.  An additional seven flights are scheduled today from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., to JBMDL.

            -  Since Hurricane Sandy struck the east coast, Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster IIIs, C-5 Galaxys, C-27J Spartans and C-130 Hercules have flown nearly 200 sorties, moving more than 700 passengers and approximately 3,000 tons of cargo.  The Air Force delivered equipment, supplies and crews ranging from teams of power company employees and blankets to generators, water pumps and utility trucks that are being used to restore power to areas devastated by the disaster.

            -  Marine Corps pump teams assigned to the 19th Engineering Battalion (Fort Knox, Ky.), pumped 256,000 gallons from basement areas at three apartment complexes in Queens, N.Y. and are continuing operations in the same neighborhoods.  Air Force teams provided pump support to the New York City Fire Department in Brooklyn and at the Rockaway Waste Water Treatment Plant.  A Navy dive detachment is providing pump support at the World Trade Center.  Army Divers are assisting with assessments at Craven Point, and Amtrak Substation in Kearney, N.J.

            -  The USS San Antonio, and the USS Carter Hall, repositioned from Breezy Point, N.Y., due to storm warnings.  The USS Wasp will weather the storm at anchor.

            -  Navy and Marine Corps teams have begun pumping operations in Breezy Point, N.Y.

            -  Navy divers assisted with surface and underwater infrastructure assessments, evaluating storm damage to Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook.  Navy personnel also assisted with debris cleanup operations at the station.

            -  Marine teams are removing debris from locations and routes in Staten Island and at the Hoboken Ferry Terminal.

            -  The secretary of defense approved the use of a fourth vessel, the Maine Maritime Training Ship, State of Maine, to provide accommodations and meals to first responders in New York City.  The TS State of Maine will join the TS Empire State, TS Kennedy, and Ready Reserve Fleet Vessel SS Wright already at anchor in New York City.

            Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)

            Over the past 24 hours, DLA delivered one million meals to JBMDL and Floyd Bennett Field, N.Y., and 850,000 gallons of fuel to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regions throughout the effected region.  DLA is providing 600,000 meals, 600,000 bottles of water, propane, and diesel fuel to support 11 American Red Cross sites in New York and New Jersey.

            U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

            The USACE is responsible for unwatering operations at 14 sites.  To date, seven sites have been completed, seven sites are being pumped and two sites are anticipating completion in the next 24 hours.  USACE has process more than 470 requests for power restoration services to date. 

            National Guard Operations

            Over 7,100 National Guard personnel are supporting the governors of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.  These National Guard personnel continue to provide critical assistance to local first-responders and FEMA with damage assessments, route clearance, power generation, fuel distribution, debris reduction and removal, search and rescue, delivery of essential equipment and supplies, support at evacuation shelters and first responder bed-down locations, and the employment of unique engineering capabilities.  

            New York National Guard (NYNG):  Today, 4,248 Guard personnel and over 600 vehicles are on state active duty supporting relief efforts.  The NYNG conducting 20 point of distribution missions where they have distributed 115,000 cases of meals, 62,283 cases of bottled water and 31,558 blankets to date.

            New Jersey National Guard (NJNG):  There are 2,011 NJNG personnel on state active duty supporting relief efforts.  The NJNG are assisting emergency responders with fuel distribution with over 170,232 gallons distributed since Nov. 2.  They also distributed 6,618 blankets, 1,740 cots and 3,648 towels throughout the state.  The NJNG is assisting law enforcement agencies with security support in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

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In Several Joint Operations, 30 Armed Taliban Killed (Nov.07.2012.)



Publish Date: Nov 07, 2012
In Several Joint Operations, 30 Armed Taliban Killed

Counterterrorism:
During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched eight joint clearance operations in Nangarhar, Kapisa, Kunduz, Kandahar, Helmand, Sar-e-Pul, Logar and Paktiya provinces.

As a result of these operations, 30 armed Taliban were killed, 11 wounded and nine others were arrested by Afghan National Security Forces.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated 665 kilos of opium, two PKM machine guns, eight different types of weapons, six radio handsets, 450 light rounds, 70 different types of mines, three motorcycles and five vehicles.

Additionally, Afghan National Police discovered and defused five different types of mines as a result of security operations in Nimroz and Herat provinces, yesterday.
 
Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained six suspects accused of murder, theft and trafficking in the 4th, 10th, 13th and 16th Districts of Kabul-City.
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Police officer among 6 dead in Peshawar attack

ISLAMABAD (PAN): Six people, including a senior police officer, were killed and 37 others wounded in a suicide attack in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on Wednesday.

The suicide bombing occurred at 10am near a police checkpoint in the bustling Qissakhwani Bazaar, killing six people including Assistant Superintendent Police (ASP) Hilal Haidar, the city police chief, Asif Iqbal, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Haidar, his driver, guard and two civilians were killed and many others injured in the blast, another police officer, Javed Marwat, told reporters at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).

Five dead bodies and 37 injured people were brought to LRH, confirmed a doctor on duty, Mukhtar Khan. Eight of the injured are in critical condition, he said.

The bomber on foot struck the ASP’s vehicle on his way to the office, Iqbal said, adding up to seven kilograms of explosives were used in the attack. Security forces cordoned off the area as investigations into the incident got underway.

Ehsanullah Ehsan, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that the ASP had been targeted for torturing detained militants during interrogations.

from Pajhwok
by Qaisar Yosufzai on Nov 7, 2012 - 13:58


photos from XINHUA:
A police officer inspects a damaged vehicle at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar, Nov. 7, 2012. At least five people were killed and 27 others injured when a suicide bomber attacked a police vehicle in Pakistan's northwest city of Peshawar on Wednesday morning, said police and hospital sources. (Xinhua/Ahmad Sidique)
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Police officers lift a damaged vehicle from the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar, Nov. 7, 2012. At least five people were killed and 27 others injured when a suicide bomber attacked a police vehicle in Pakistan's northwest city of Peshawar on Wednesday morning, said police and hospital sources. (Xinhua/Ahmad Sidique)


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At least one killed in car bomb near Somali parliament

(Reuters) - At least one person was killed on Wednesday when a car laden with explosives detonated in the car park of the country's parliament building in the capital Mogadishu, police said.

The explosion went off while the country's new legislators were holding a session inside.

General Mohamed Abdulle told Reuters the car full of explosives was parked among those owned by Somali parliamentarians, and a Somali soldier was killed in the blast.

"It exploded and one military soldier died. There are no other casualties but there is damage to the cars," he said.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, though Mogadishu has been frequently targeted by Islamist militant group al Shabaab, who are fighting Somali government forces and African Union soldiers across the country.

Since al Shabaab withdrew from the capital in August last year, it has increasingly turned to suicide bombers and grenade attacks to target government and African Union positions.

Two suicide bombers attacked a restaurant in the Somali capital on Saturday, killing a security guard who stopped them entering the building.

It was not clear who was behind the bombings but Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab insurgents have conducted similar previous attacks and remain a serious security challenge even after being forced out of their strongholds.

from REUTERS
By Mohamed Ahmed
MOGADISHU | Wed Nov 7, 2012 6:37am EST
(Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by James Macharia)

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Update on the DoD and National Guard Response to Hurricane Sandy (11.06.2012.)

IMMEDIATE RELEASE     No. 877-12
November 06, 2012

Update on the DoD and National Guard Response to Hurricane Sandy

            The Department of Defense (DoD) remains committed to its support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to Hurricane Sandy.  As the Northeastern storm moves through the New York and New Jersey areas, DoD will continue to provide support to federal, state and local recovery operations while ensuring it is postured to conduct new response operations as a result of the oncoming storm.

            Here is today’s update on DoD’s response to Hurricane Sandy (as of 9 a.m. EST):

            The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) has delivered 208 power restoration vehicles and 354 technical personnel on 56 missions from California, Arizona, and Washington to Stewart ANGB, N.Y., McGuire AFB, N.J., and JFK International Airport, N.Y.  An additional three flights are scheduled for Nov. 6 from locations in California and Nevada to JFK International Airport, N.Y.

            The 401st, 410th, and 431st Quartermaster Teams, from Lock Haven, Pa., Jacksonville, Fla., and Kinston, N.C., respectively, have reported to Joint Base Dix/McGuire/Lakehurst, N.J. for allocation to the affected areas. The 401stQuartermaster Team is on assignment in Long Beach, N.Y.

            The 172nd Preventive Health Team (Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.), the 227th Preventive Health Team (Ft. Bragg, N.C.), and the 43rd Veterinary Team (from Ft. Hood, Texas) are now at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and prepared to deploy.

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)

            In total, over three million meals have been delivered to FEMA facilities in West Virginia, New York and New Jersey.  Another five million meals are in production.  DLA delivered 500,000 meals to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL), N.J. and 500,000 meals to Floyd Bennett Field, N.Y.

            LA delivered 1,000 cots, 1,000 blankets and one million meals ready to eat (MREs) to Ft. Hamilton, N.Y. for the National Guard.  3,000 cots were delivered to JBMDL for National Guard personnel in the area. 140,000 blankets and 200 hypothermia kits were delivered to JBMDL.

            DLA is executing the purchase of up to 12 million gallons of gasoline and 12 million gallons of diesel.  260 fuel trucks are on contract to support of fuel distribution.  More than 500,000 gallons have been delivered to FEMA distribution sites so far. 

            Fuel was provided to 27 of 79 state-identified commercial stations in New York and New Jersey.  In both states, FEMA continues to assign DLA to deliver gas at the Governors' requests.

            Fifty (500 – 2000 Kilowatt) generators are at or in transit to JBMDL, N.J.  DLA ordered seven additional generators and the estimated delivery tomorrow.

            DLA has contracts in place to support debris removal operations.  They have 3,000 ton barges on contract for garbage hauling (estimated to arrive Nov. 7-8).  DLA has also awarded two contracts for 330 roll-off dumpsters and 34 trucks for overland trash hauling.

Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
            USACE has more than 600 personnel supporting Hurricane Sandy response operations.  USACE’s priority is supporting de-watering and power missions in New York and New Jersey. They deployed technical assistance teams and senior leadership oversight, and are deploying and identifying pump and emergency generator requirements consistent with FEMA mission assignments.  USACE is supporting emergency temporary power missions in New York and New Jersey with more than 335 generators staged at forward locations. As of today, 80 emergency generators have been installed.

           USACE is responsible for unwatering operations at 14 sites, to include the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, the Montague Tunnel, Passaic Valley Waste Water Treatment Plant, and the Jersey City PATH Train Tunnel.

            USACE concluded unwatering involvement at the following sites: the Queens Midtown Tunnel, World Trade Center site, the South Ferry Station, the 53rd Street Tunnel, Battery Underpass, Manhattan Steam Plant Tunnel, and the 14th Street Tunnel.

            USACE continues to support emergency power restoration efforts at the Kinder Morgan Terminal.

National Guard

            The National Guard continues significant response and recovery efforts.  Today, more than 7,400 National Guard personnel are assisting in response and recovery efforts across region affected by Sandy.

            Eight states are supporting the response efforts through Emergency Management Agreement Compacts:  Delaware (106 personnel), Alabama (22), California (114), Georgia (20), Massachusetts (120), Maine (5), North Carolina (25), and Ohio (119).  Two four-person power generation teams from the West Virginia National Guard are working with USACE to assist power generation missions.

            New York National Guard (NYNG): 3,364 NYNG personnel are on state active duty, supporting relief efforts.  The NYNG continues supporting power restoration, traffic control, debris removal, wellness checks, and food/water distribution. The NYNG is conducting 20 point of distribution missions: 258,000 meals, 431, 984 bottles of water and 21,000 blankets distributed as of yesterday.

            New Jersey National Guard (NJNG): 2,092 NJNG personnel are on state active duty, supporting relief efforts.  NJNG personnel are conducting debris clearance/removal, high water vehicle operations, shelter support, food and water and fuel distribution, power generation, and presence patrols.  The NJNG is still conducting aerial support missions including FEMA damage assessments.

            Assisting emergency responders with fuel distribution with more than 93,229 gallons distributed since Friday.  The NJNG also distributed 6,618 blankets, 1,740 cots and 3,648 towels.  They are assisting local and state law enforcement agencies with security support in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

            West Virginia National Guard (WVNG):  542 WVNG personnel on state active duty are conducting community assessments, medical evacuation, snow and debris removal, and food, water, and generator distribution.  Deployed Aviation assets are supporting response and recovery efforts.

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Nov. 07., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban attack facilitator during a security operation in Logar province today. The detained facilitator is believed responsible for mortar, indirect fire and IED attacks against Afghan and Coalition forces.

The security force also detained six suspected insurgents and seized a rocket propelled grenade and associated equipment, RPG munitions, numerous rockets, IED-making materials and an assault rifle as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Kandahar province today. The detained leader is believed to have planned and executed ambush-style attacks on Afghan and coalition forces.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Taliban leader in Helmand province today. The detained leader is suspected of having served as the head of a Taliban direct-action cell and directed the movement of lethal aid to support the insurgency. The security force also seized multiple firearms as a result of the operation.

Afghan and coalition security forces killed three insurgents and seized 650 kilograms (1430 pounds) of dry opium during an operation in Helmand province yesterday. The operation also resulted in the destruction of the insurgent vehicle and the recovery of a PKM machine gun, ammunition and other military items.

Afghan Provincial Response Company Uruzgan, enabled by coalition forces, detained one insurgent, killed approximately a dozen enemy fighters and seized a small quantity of wet opium during an operation in Helmand province yesterday.

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Nov. 07., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained seven insurgents, located four weapons caches and cleared four improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Nov. 6.

Ghazni province
Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Ghazni district. The cache contained ammunition, grenades, binoculars and a radio.

Khowst province
Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Terezayi district. The cache contained three recoilless rifle rounds and two mortar rounds.

Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces detained three insurgents while investigating a weapons cache in Khowst district. The cache contained IED making materials. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Nadir Shah Kot district.

Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces detained three insurgents while investigating a weapons cache in Khowst district. The cache contained more than 200 feet of wire, a cell phone, 10 command triggers, a pair of binoculars and eight large buckets. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Kunar province
Afghan National Army soldiers detained an insurgent during an engagement in Narang district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Nangarhar province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Shinwar district.

Wardak province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs, one in Sayyidabad district and one in Chak-E Wardak district.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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