Pentagon Officials Provide Storm Response Update

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2012 – The Department of Defense 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, defense officials reported today.

To address potential issues that may result from the northeaster, DOD has kept 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, officials said.

DOD's response to Hurricane Sandy continues, officials said. Significant updates over the past 24 hours, as of 11 a.m. EST, include:

-- U.S. Transportation Command 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, N.J.; and John F. Kennedy International Airport, N.Y. Seven more flights are scheduled today from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., to McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
-- Since Hurricane Sandy struck the east coast, Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster IIIs, C-5 Galaxies, 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 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.
-- Over the past 24 hours, the Defense Logistics Agency delivered one million meals to JBMDL and Floyd Bennett Field, N.Y., and 850,000 gallons of fuel to Federal Emergency Management Agency-supported sites s throughout the affected 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.
-- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for water drainage operations at 14 sites. To date, seven sites have been completed, seven sites are being pumped and engineers expect to complete operations at two sites in the next 24 hours. The Corps of Engineers has processed more than 470 requests for power restoration services to date.
-- More than 7,100 National Guard members are supporting the governors of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia. These National Guard troops 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.
-- The New York National Guard has 4,248 people and more than 600 vehicles on state active duty supporting relief efforts. The New York National Guard is conducting 20 point-of-distribution missions, which have provided 115,000 cases of meals, 62,283 cases of bottled water and 31,558 blankets to date.
-- The New Jersey National Guard has 2,011 people on state active duty supporting relief efforts. New Jersey National Guard members are assisting emergency responders with fuel distribution, with over 170,232 gallons distributed since Nov. 2. Guard members also distributed 6,618 blankets, 1,740 cots and 3,648 towels throughout the state. The New Jersey National Guard is assisting law enforcement agencies with security support in Monmouth and Ocean counties.