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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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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Update on the DoD and National Guard Response to Hurricane Sandy

IMMEDIATE RELEASE     No. 871-12
November 04, 2012

Update on the DoD and National Guard Response to Hurricane Sandy

            The Department of Defense continues to flow forces, capabilities, and logistical supplies to the New York/New Jersey region in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) response to Hurricane Sandy.  The department continues to focus on following priorities:  unwatering; power generation; and the distribution of fuel to first responder vehicles, emergency vehicles, and to the citizens of New Jersey and New York.

            Here’s today’s update on DoD’s response to Hurricane Sandy (as of noon EST):

            DoD Operations:

            -  To date, U.S Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) has delivered 117 power restoration vehicles and 244 technical personnel from March Air Force Base, Calif., and Phoenix, Ariz., to Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York.  An additional 11 flights are scheduled for today from various locations in Washington and Texas to Stewart Air National Guard Base (ANGB), N.Y.

            -  Today, two C-130 aircraft will deliver FEMA blankets from Little Rock, Ark., to Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport.

            21 USTRANSCOM aircraft are currently on alert in support of Hurricane Sandy relief operations.

            -  The secretary of defense approved FEMA’s request for DoD to provide 100 Engineering Teams (with high-capacity pumps and personnel) to support FEMA operations.

            -  Yesterday, the secretary of defense approved U.S. Northern Command's (USNORTHCOM) requests for the following:

            -  Additional Forces:  Forward Support CompaNew York, and Theater Gateway (Human Resources / Movement Support) Team.  (Total: 130 personnel) -- 24 hour Prepare to Deploy Order (PTDO) Status:  Sustainment Brigade; Headquarters and Headquarters CompaNew York Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB); Headquarters and Headquarters CompaNew York Movement Control Battalion; Transportation Palletized Load System (PLS) CompaNew York; Inland Cargo Transfer CompaNew York (ICTC); Maintenance CompaNew York; Signal CompaNew York; four Movement Control Teams; three Theater Gateway Teams; (Human Resources / Movement Support) (Total: 1,020 personnel).

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

            -  The 6th Medical Logistics Movement Center (MLMC), from Ft. Detrick, Md., received is preparing to deploy to JBMDL arriving today.

            -  The Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU), the USS Wasp, the USS San Antonio, and the USS Carter Hall and 26th MEU, is off Breezy Point and is ready to respond if requested.  The ARG/MEU is capable of providing the following support: air support, basic engineering support, commodities distribution support, limited surface mobility support, medical services, and preventive medicine support.

                        -  Assets include: six SH-60Ss, three MH-53Es, six CH-53Es, six UH-1N/Ys and two Landing Craft Utility (LCU).

            -  2nd Marine Logistics Group (MLG) Detachment is in Ft. Hamilton, N.Y., and prepared to support recovery operations if requested.

            -  The Training Ship (TS) Empire State is in New York and in use with 266 first responders being berthed and fed; TS Kennedy is enroute and scheduled to arrive tomorrow; Ready Reserve Fleet Vessel SS Wright is enroute to arrive today, Nov. 4.

            -  Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).  The agency has approximately 230 trucks with approximately 1.6 million gallons of fuel capacity operating in the affected area.  DLA has access to approximately 24 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel.

                        -  DLA has coordinated with a contractor to assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in assessing damage and determine requirements to restore port operations.

            Food, Health, and Comfort Items: 

            -  1.5 million meals have been delivered to FEMA facilities in West Virginia (750,000 went to Charleston and 750,000 to Martinsburg).  Providing 500,000 meals to Bennett Field, Brooklyn, N.Y., and 500,000 meals to JBMDL by today.

            -  1.3 million meals are at vendors and ready for delivery, and 1 million meals are on schedule for New York City by tomorrow.

            -  DLA delivered 1,000 cots/1,000 blankets to Ft. Hamilton, N.Y., for the National Guard. 3,000 cots were delivered to JBMDL, and 150,000 emergency blankets are being delivered to New York City.

            -  500,000 meals to Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, N.Y., are expected to arrive today.

            -  500,000 meals to Lakehurst N.J., are expected to arrive today.

            -  1 million Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) to Ft. Hamilton, N.Y., are expected to arrive today.

            Fuel:

             DLA is executing the purchase of 12 million gallons of gasoline, 12 million gallons of diesel.  230 fuel trucks are on contract to support of fuel distribution.

            -  On Nov. 3, the New York National Guard dispensed 20,954 gallons at three retail distribution gas stations at armories in New York (Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island).

            -  Approximately 287,000 gallons of motor gas and 170,000 of diesel fuel (primarily for generators) were moved into the area yesterday, Nov. 3.

            -  DLA is also filling a 300,000 gallon FEMA order for points of distribution in Egg Harbor, West Orange, and Freehold, N.J.; 200,000 gallons to support three New York/New Jersey airfields, and 80K gallons to FEMA in support of Verizon.

            -  DLA delivered 30,000 gallons of gasoline and 30,000 gallons of diesel to the New York/New Jersey Armories in Vineland, West Orange, and Freehold, N.J.  DLA has set up fuel points of distribution in Bayonne, and Mille Airpark, N.J., to support FEMA.

            -  A DLA vendor has 440,000 gallons of fuel available with 200,000 gallons enroute and 100,000 gallons of gasoline on order for JBMDL.

            Pumps

            -  107 pumps (1500 GPM and up) delivered to JBMDL yesterday, Nov. 3.

            -  Pumps #1 and #2 of the four high capacity 68,000 GPM at Craven Point, N.J., are being re-positioned to Joint Base Lakehurst. Pumps #3 and #4 are enroute to Lakehurst today, Nov. 4.

            -  Five submersible pumps moved in support of Navy Salvage.

            Generators

            -  51 Generators (500-2000KW) are at or in transit to JBMDL.

            Army Corps of Engineers (USACE):

            -  USACE has over 400 personnel supporting Hurricane Sandy response operations.  Priority Missions include: unwatering, temporary emergency power, restoration of ports, and debris cleanup.  USACE has created and deployed USACE-FWD-NY and USACE-FWD-NJ with two senior leaders in support of relief efforts. Yesterday, the chief of engineers toured the Hoboken Ferry Terminal along with Mayor Dawn Zimmer and FEMA officials in New Jersey.  Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is expected to meet with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg today.

            Task Force Ports

            -  Hoboken Terminal.  Power is on via the terminal’s backup generator at the ferry passenger terminal and can support 4,000-7,000 passengers per day.  Fuel supply is being monitored, approximately 2-3 days of supply on hand with a fuel source identified.  USACE is working on three courses of action to increase the passenger capacity to 20,000 per day.  USACE is moving two large generators to the site to support operations, one to backup the terminal’s backup generator and the second to supply power to the New Jersey Transit rail operation.  Both are expected to be on site by Nov. 5.

            -  Liberty State Park Ferry, N.J.  USACE has been asked to assess the port for suitable docking facilities to support Hoboken Ferry operations.

            -  International Tank Terminal, N.J.  Assessment is complete.  USACE has prepared a generator package currently staged at Ft. Belvoir, Va.; awaiting orders to move.

            Task Force Unwatering

            -  53rd Street Tunnel and Rockaway Waste Water Treatment Plant: completed by New York City authorities.

            -  Currently pumping at:  South Ferry Station; Battery Exchange Tunnel; Passaic Valley Waste Water Treatment Plant; World Trade Center; Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, and Montague Tunnel.

            -  Mobilization in progress: Queens Midtown Tunnel; PATH Train (Jersey City-World Trade Center); and 14th Street Tunnel.

            -  USACE has 91 additional pumps with varying capacities staged or available via contractor staged and ready for deployment as needed.

            -  Task Force Power: USACE is continuing to support emergency power restoration efforts.

            -  Received 68 validated requests and installed 64 generators with an additional 15-40 more deployments projected in the next 24 hours.

            -  335 generators are staged at forward locations.

            -  Expecting generator support mission assignments to support polling locations.

            -  Assumed responsibility for management of a New York generator yard, (200 generators at Citi Field) and 45 generators (at the Incident Support Bases).

            -  USACE has begun planning for generator redeployments in anticipation of power being restored at current deployment sites.

            -  Task Force Debris. USACE has stood up the task force to begin processing debris removal mission assignments.  There are SME team leaders, SMEs and/or PRTs located at four locations in New York/New Jersey with 16 personnel assigned.  This total is expected to increase to 80 in the next 24-48 hours.

            National Guard Operations:

            -  The National Guard continues significant response and recovery efforts. National Guard leadership has been assured at state level that state police in New York and New Jersey will provide all security at retail fuel distribution points.

            -  Over 7,600 National Guard personnel are assisting in response and recovery efforts across region affected by Sandy.

            -  New York National Guard:  Over 3,500 Guard personnel and 604 vehicles are supporting relief efforts. New York National Guard is conducting high-water evacuations and transportation out of the five boroughs and continues supporting power restoration, traffic control, debris removal, wellness checks, and food/water distribution.  They are the designated water and petroleum distribution for all supported state agencies.  They have five military police companies conducting presence patrols, traffic control points, and augmentation of local law enforcement agencies.  The New York National Guard 2nd CST has deployed their Unified Command Suite and providing communications support to the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management. 

            -  800 plus National Guard members and 200 plus more vehicles expected to arrive at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, N.Y., no later than tomorrow.

            -  New Jersey National Guard:  2,029 National Guard personnel on duty.  Assisting New Jersey State Police and Fire Department with rescues, security, and evacuations.  Conducting debris clearance/removal, high water vehicle operations, shelter support, food and water distribution, and power generation.  New Jersey National Guard is still conducting aerial support missions including FEMA damage assessments.  Five New Jersey armories were identified by FEMA as fuel distribution sites; the state of New Jersey has requested that only West Orange and Freehold be used for operations.

            -  There are also 10 heavy expanded mobility tactical trucks arriving from Pennsylvania, with 40-50 personnel that will be integrated into the overall refueling effort.  They also requested a Joint Incident Site Communication Capability from Pennsylvania National Guard to enhance their interoperability in communicating with civilian first responders.

            -  Delaware National Guard:  120 personnel are moving to New York today to assist with recovery efforts.

            -  Connecticut National Guard:  634 National Guard personnel on duty.  Connecticut National Guard personnel are conducting route clearance, high wheel transport, aviation, power generation, and security missions as part of recovery efforts.

            -  West Virginia National Guard:  607 National Guard personnel are conducting community assessments, medical evacuation, and debris removal.  West Virginia National Guard aviation is conducting route reconnaissance in isolated, snowbound areas of the state.

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Operation: Greased Lightning - Veterans Respond to Hurricane Sandy with Team Rubicon

Team Rubicon’s “DC Response Team” clears a tree in the Capitol Hill neighborhood  Left to right: Lourdes Tiglao, Neil Landsberg, Kiara Baginski, Dan Pick.

from Forbes.com
By: Shaun So - Nov. 1, 2012

I joined the military in a time of war to help people in need. I didn’t know it at the time, but my natural proclivity for risk-taking drove me to eight years of service and a 12-month tour in Afghanistan. While my life as an entrepreneur has been wildly fulfilling, I still had a desire to help people in crisis after I left the military, so I joined Team Rubicon.

Team Rubicon is a non-government organizations made up of first responders, medical professionals and military veterans that deploy to global disaster zones in need of assistance.  We’ve responded to disasters in Alabama and Missouri, Haiti, Chile, Burma, Sudan, Pakistan and now to areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.

As everyone now knows, Hurricane Sandy pummeled New York City and much of the mid-coastal area this past weekend and left a path of destruction that is still being assessed at this very moment. I live in New York City and our NYC-based team has been working around the clock with NYC’s Office of Emergency Management(OEM) to rapidly deploy to any areas that are in need of assistance.

In just six days since being activated: we’ve rescued people trapped in floodwaters, delivered thousands of pounds emergency supplies to hard-hit shelters and attended to medical needs of hundreds of evacuees. While we continue to coordinate with OEM and other volunteer organizations to place our services in areas of need, we’re starting to prepare for the relief and recovery phase of the disaster.

Much of what makes an entrepreneur an entrepreneur is a desire to work in high-risk environments. However, another crucial trait of an entrepreneur is to solve problems within those high-risk situations, especially in crises. A message to my fellow veterans, some of you may not consider yourself an “entrepreneur”, however, innate traits of risk taking and problem solving can be stretched to other things like volunteering in times of need.

If you know someone that was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, Team Rubicon has 11 Veteran Emergency Response Teams in the field, ready to work. Fill outthis form and we’ll do our best.
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http://teamrubiconusa.org/update-operation-greased-lightning/

Help & Donate here --> http://fundraise.teamrubiconusa.org/events/team-rubicon-hurricane-sandy-operation-greased-lighting/e21578

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War veterans hit Sandy’s front lines for rescues, cleanup - NBCNews.com

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