By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2017 — DoD personnel are helping with
hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and now
the department’s U.S. Northern Command is preparing for the approach of
Tropical Storm Nate, Pentagon officials said today.
Weather forecasters predict the tropical storm -- now off
Mexico's Yucatan coast, will move north over the Gulf of Mexico, according to
news reports.
Forecasters expect the storm will intensify into a hurricane
and make landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast this weekend.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posted
hurricane watches for Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Northcom Works With Other Federal, State, Local Partners
Northcom is coordinating with federal, state and local
agencies in preparation for Nate’s arrival. The command has activated a defense
coordinating officer and defense coordinating element and those service members
have deployed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Region 6 in Denton,
Texas, said Air Force Capt. Lauren Hill, a spokesperson for Northcom.
The Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and
amphibious transport dock ship USS New York will deploy tomorrow from Naval
Station Mayport, Florida, after embarking elements of the 26th Marine
Expeditionary Unit. The ships will transit toward the Gulf of Mexico behind
Nate, to be in place should FEMA require their services.
FEMA and DoD personnel will continue to monitor the storm
and change plans as appropriate, Hill said.
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