DOD Provides Hurricane Sandy Response, Relief Update

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2012 – 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 response to Hurricane Sandy, DOD officials said.

In addition to the provision of unique engineering equipment and personnel, officials said, the department is particularly focused on the distribution of fuel.

Here is today’s update on DOD’s response to Hurricane Sandy as of 9 a.m. EDT:

Today, the Defense Logistics Agency, National Guard, and the New York/New Jersey State Police will cooperate in the distribution of more than 250,000 gallons of fuel to New York/New Jersey residents, first responders, and emergency vehicles to support the ongoing recovery effort. This fuel will be distributed evenly at 10 FEMA-identified distribution points -- five in New York, five in New Jersey -- and additional fuel will be distributed Sunday, Nov. 4,as needed.

DLA is meeting FEMA’s requirement for 200,000 gallons of fuel per day and is increasing current fuel stores through the purchase of 12 million gallons of gasoline, and 12 million gallons of diesel. DLA is also filling a 300,000 gallon FEMA order for points of distribution in Egg Harbor, West Orange, and Freehold, N.J.; and 200,000 gallons to support three New York/New Jersey airfields. Meanwhile, a DLA vendor has 440,000 gallons of fuel available with 160,000 gallons en route and 100,000 gallons of gasoline on order for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

Despite the resumption of power in Manhattan, DOD remains engaged in supporting FEMA through the deployment of temporary emergency power throughout the affected areas. Currently DOD has installed 39 generators in the New York/New Jersey area, with 322 generators on-hand and 56 more en route.
DOD continues to support FEMA’s request for food via DLA. Yesterday, more than 1.5 million meals were delivered to FEMA facilities in West Virginia and today more than 1 million total meals will be provided at Bennett Field in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City, and Lakehurst, New Jersey. An additional 1 million meals are expected to arrive in New York City on Nov. 5.

The National Guard is working at the local, state, and federal level to assist FEMA in their response to this hurricane.

Approximately 7,400 National Guard forces are supporting the governors of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. These forces 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/first responder bed-down locations, and the employment of unique engineering capabilities.

Here are the National Guard highlights over the last 24 hours:
-- New York, with2,811 troops; New Jersey, with 2,054 troops; Pennsylvania, with 645 troops; West Virginia, with 598 troops; and Connecticut, with 567 troops currently have the highest number of Guard members responding to the storm’s aftermath.
-- Eight Army Guard helicopters from North Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Georgia are providing six UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and two CH-47 Chinook helicopters to assist search-and-rescue movements from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.
-- The Air National Guard is providing several aircraft, including one C-17, from Mississippi; two C-17s from New York; one C-17 from Alaska; one C-5 from Tennessee; and three C-5s from West Virginia to support Tanker Airlift Control Center flying missions. Seven additional C-17s and C-5s will be added.
-- National Guard members continue to clear debris so that local power and transportation teams can restore power to millions.
-- New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and West Virginia Guard forces are providing power generation to restore essential services.
-- The National Guard Bureau continues to reach across to federal partners to better-coordinate emergency response efforts.
-- The Connecticut National Guard trucked FEMA emergency supplies from Rentschler Field in East Hartford to affected towns throughout the state.
-- New York National Guard members continue to go door-to-door in New York City high rises to deliver food and check on citizens needing extra assistance.
-- The New York National Guard is assisting FEMA in delivering one million meals and bottled water to citizens in Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
-- New York National Guard distributed meals-ready-to-eat to residents at a staging area in lower Manhattan.
-- More than 500 New York National Guard members are supporting crews to repair an electrical grid in Westchester and Rockland counties.
-- New York National Guard members are currently involved in equipment staging, debris clearance, communications support, transportation, security and traffic control operations, aerial survey and reconnaissance, evacuations, and points of distribution.
-- An aerial port of debarkation for critical power repair assets has been established at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, N.Y.
-- The New Jersey National Guard has rescued more than 3,000 people and 200 pets by searching door to door in flooded areas.
-- The New Jersey National Guard has assisted civil authorities with establishing shelters in Vineland, Freehold, West Orange, Glen Gardner and at the Jersey City armory.
-- The New Jersey National Guard has established three fuel distribution points throughout the state and is providing mobile fuel support for first responders and vehicles supporting critical infrastructure.
-- The New Jersey National Guard’s 21st Civil Support Team has deployed to Brick Township to help local law enforcement enhance their communications system.
-- The West Virginia National Guard is rescuing elderly and sick citizens who are without power in remote parts of the state where snow accumulation was more than 18 inches.
-- The West Virginia National Guard is delivering critical supplies across 16 counties.
-- West Virginia National Guard assessment teams continue to identify and assess high risk structures and augment state active duty health and welfare teams.
-- West Virginia National Guard teams conducted roof assessments at ten schools, several private businesses and one senior center.
-- Eight West Virginia National Guard helicopters and crews flew various missions yesterday to include assessments and welfare checks on people in areas unreachable by vehicle due to snowfall.
-- The West Virginia National Guard has 12 power teams, eight grader teams, six loader dump teams, four chainsaw teams and three search-and-extraction teams working throughout several counties.
Other DOD Operations:
-- U.S. Transportation Command delivered 61 power restoration vehicles and 65 technical personnel from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., to Stewart ANGB, N.Y. U.S. Transportation Command is in the process of delivering 63 power restoration vehicles and 132 technical personnel from Phoenix, Ariz. to Stewart ANGB, N.Y., and is expected to complete this mission today.
-- Transcom is scheduled to deliver four vehicles and technical personnel from Seattle, Wash., to Stewart ANGB, N.Y., today.
-- 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.
-- The secretary of defense approved FEMA’s request for DOD to transport approximately 120 medical personnel to serve as augmentation for hospitals and nursing homes from various pick-up locations to Kennedy International Airport in New York. Teams are now in place.
-- Four medium rotary-wing utility aircraft and four medium rotary-wing search and air rescue aircraft are staged at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., and available for tasking.
-- The following public health/medical forces are staged at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.: one medical logistics management center companies/early entry team, two preventive medicine teams, one veterinarian team.
-- Navy/Marine forces are currently anchored near Breezy Point, N.Y., in support of U.S. Coast Guard small boat operations in nearby waterways, recovery efforts in Sandy Hook, N.J., and the resumption of normal transit service via the Hoboken Ferry terminal. They also have the capability to perform refueling operations and provide forces to the New York/New Jersey area when requested by civil authorities.
-- The Training Ship (TS) Empire State is in New York and in use with 266 first responders being berthed and fed. The TS Kennedy is en route from Massachusetts and is scheduled to arrive on Nov. 5. The Ready Reserve Fleet Vessel SS Wright is en route from Baltimore and is scheduled to arrive on Nov. 4.