DOD Continues Aiding Haitians Following Earthquake, Tropical Storm

Aug. 30, 2021 | BY David Vergun , DOD News

The U.S. military has flown 560 sorties to Haiti, providing rapid logistical and airlift support, including delivery of more than 348,000 pounds of aid, the Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations said.

Army Maj. Gen. William D. "Hank" Taylor spoke on this and other topics during a press briefing this morning.

The humanitarian assistance operation comes in the wake of two natural disasters that recently hit the Caribbean island.

First, on Aug. 14, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the southwest area of Haiti, causing widespread damage, killing over 2,000, and injuring many more.

Haiti also took a direct hit from Tropical Storm Grace on Aug. 16, resulting in flooding and compounding the damage from the earthquake. 

Air Force Lt. Col. Ken Hoffman, a Defense Department spokesman, said that as of this morning, the Joint Task Force Haiti team has saved or assisted in saving more than 475 lives. The JTF is composed of personnel, equipment, ships and aircraft from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Coast Guard.

The U.S. military "has been working around the clock to save lives and deliver aid since Aug. 14," and will continue with that mission, supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, as well as working with international partners and allies to provide life-saving aid and assistance to the people of Haiti, Hoffman said.

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Oxygen Replacement

 

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Leonard Aranas, a critical care nurse with the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Bethesda in Maryland, replaces an oxygen tank for a COVID-19 patient at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center during the COVID-19 response operations in Lafayette, La., Aug. 26, 2021.

Humanitarian Aid

 

Haitian citizens assist U.S. service members with Joint Task Force-Haiti and members of U.S. Agency for International Development unload humanitarian aid from a CH-47 Chinook in Jeremie, Haiti, Aug. 28, 2021.

National Guard Deployed to Areas Ravaged by Hurricane Ida

 Aug. 30, 2021 | BY David Vergun , DOD News

As of this morning, the National Guard has activated more than 5,200 personnel in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama in response to Hurricane Ida, the Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations said.

Army Maj. Gen. William D. "Hank" Taylor spoke on this and other topics at a press briefing this morning.

The majority of those National Guard troops — 5,009 — are in Louisiana, according to Army Lt. Col. Chris Mitchell, a Pentagon press officer. There are currently 150 in Mississippi, 100 in Texas and 40 in Alabama.

The National Guard brings to the region a variety of assets, including high-water vehicles, rotary lift capacity and other transportation support, Taylor said.

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers is operational in New Orleans, and is assessing the storm’s impact, he said, adding that the Defense Department stands ready to assist, if requested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Coast Guard assets have also been deployed to the region and aircrews conducted overflights to assess damage and identify hazards.

Hurricane Ida, a Category 4 storm, came ashore in Louisiana yesterday, causing a significant amount of flooding and power loss. As of 11a.m. EDT, the National Hurricane Center was listing it as a tropical storm located near Jackson, Mississippi.

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Food Donations

 

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jace Borowiak passes boxes of food to Haitian citizens during a humanitarian aid mission in Anse-A-Veau, Haiti, Aug. 25, 2021.

Food Delivery

 

Marines deliver cases of supplies from an MV-22B Osprey during a disaster relief mission near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Aug. 27, 2021.

Collecting Data

 

Air Force 1st Lt. Amaryllis Cotto, aerial reconnaissance weather officer for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., looks at atmospheric data collected during a flight into Hurricane Ida, Aug. 27, 2021. The data collected helps forecasters better predict the path of a tropical system.

Ready to Roll

 

The crew of an Army UH-72 helicopter conducts a system inspection before departing from Puerto Rico to assist with earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, Aug. 27, 2021.

Rotor Review

 

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Oleg Bylogurov inspects the tail rotor of an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter aboard the USS Charleston in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 28, 2021.

Robot Walk

 

Airmen conduct a joint patrol with a Boston Dynamics Spot robot at Royal Air Force Leeming, United Kingdom, Aug. 25, 2021.

Washing Work

 

A Marine prepares for the arrival of Afghan personnel at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Aug. 26, 2021. The Defense Department through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening and general support for Afghan evacuees.

Relief Efforts

 

Army Capt. Alix Idrache, a pilot and future operations planner with the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, Joint Task Force Bravo, delivers a patient to Zach Pendergast, a paramedic emergency medical service volunteer, during a medical evacuation mission in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Aug. 24, 2021. Task force members are supporting the Agency for International Development by conducting relief efforts for Haitian people affected by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck the island nation Aug. 14.

Search and Rescue

 

Air Force Senior Airman Katherine Buckallew participates in urban search and rescue training at the Guardian Centers in Perry, Ga., Aug. 4, 2021.

First Aid

 

Personnel perform first aid on a medevac patient aboard a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Aug. 24, 2021. Coast Guard helicopters and aircrews are transporting medical personnel and evacuating those requiring higher levels of care.

Soaring Spirit

 

An Air Force B-2 Spirit flies during training over Royal Air Force Fairford, England, Aug. 25, 2021.

Maintenance Duty

 

Navy Seaman Ricalin Mondejar conducts maintenance on an emergency breathing air compressor aboard the USS Iwo Jima in the Persian Gulf, Aug. 25, 2021.