FEMA Sends USS Ashland, Marines to Provide Typhoon Soudelor Relief to Saipan

From Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

ASAN, Guam (NNS) -- Through the coordination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) will depart Guam and arrive in Saipan Aug. 8 to provide relief in the aftermath of Typhoon Soudelor, which devastated the island

Aug. 2-3.

Agencies including the Government of Guam, American Red Cross, Ayuda Foundation and other non-profit/non-governmental organizations have provided drinking water, bed sheets, food, generators, power lines and other electrical restoration supplies to aid in the effort.

Upon arriving in Saipan, the supplies will be sent to distribution sites, shelters and schools around the island to provide the much needed supplies to local residents and government agencies.

"Ashland, as part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Readiness Group, has been underway in the region conducting routine training and exercises. We have precisely the capabilities and capacity, at the right place and time to respond," said Ashland Commanding Officer Cmdr. Daniel Duhan. "Along with the 31st MEU [Marine Expeditionary Unit], we are just one part of Typhoon Soudelor relief efforts. With the collaboration between the Navy, Marines, local and federal government agencies, we hope to make significant contributions to the effort."

Ashland, homeported in Sasebo, Japan, is the eighth and last of the Whidbey Island-class ships to be commissioned and the second U.S. Navy ship to bear that name. She is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations with her crew of more than 600 Sailors and Marines.

Defense Has Vital Role in Catastrophe Planning, Official Says

By Claudette Roulo

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2012 – The Defense Department makes valuable contributions in U.S. disaster preparedness planning, a senior defense official said today.

At a panel discussion sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, Paul N. Stockton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas’ security, addressed the role the Pentagon plays in disaster planning and response.

Thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Stockton said, he got “a big wake-up call” during a 2011 national exercise that simulated the events surrounding a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which touches on the states of Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Kentucky.

“That scenario would have produced destruction on a scale that would differ from Hurricane Katrina in two important dimensions,” he explained. “First of all, on a quantitative scale, we would have had many, many more casualties over a much wider geographic area.

“There’s a second dimension that I believe is even more important,” he continued. “A seismic event of that scale would produce a long-term loss of power -- a loss of electric power for weeks to months over a multistate region.” Such a power loss would result in the cascading failure of critical infrastructure, he said.

Gas stations would be closed, Stockton said. Water would be in short supply, because electric pumps are needed to draw water from aquifers hundreds of feet underground, and urban wildfires would rage through cities, he added.

The Defense Department’s challenge is how to better position itself to support civil authorities during disaster response activities, Stockton said. Building resilience against cascading failures of critical infrastructure -- even, as in the case of the electric grid, when it is owned by the private sector -- is essential to mission assurance, he said.

“Our responsibility to the Department of Defense is to ensure that we can still execute the core missions of the department that the president assigns to us, even if critical infrastructure goes down,” Stockton said.

It’s not a question of if a complex catastrophe will strike, he said, but when.

“We need to continue to improve our … capacity to provide support to civil authorities when the call comes,” Stockton said.

To that end, Stockton pointed to a new complex catastrophe initiative signed by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta that would enable DOD to bring all of its capabilities, from all components, to bear in support of civil authorities. The initiative will make defense support of civil authorities faster and more effective in delivering life-saving and life-sustaining requirements, Stockton said.

In addition to the DOD initiative, a presidential policy directive required revision and addition of national response and recovery plans, Stockton said, noting that the initiatives are intended to streamline disaster planning and disaster recovery.

“It’s enormously helpful to us that the administration has led the integration of all of these lines of effort, including recovery, that we knew were important, [and] that we knew where DOD could make important contributions, but we lacked an overarching policy framework,” he said.

“It’s great when you’re in support to be given the framework within which you’re going to be able to operate and be able to serve,” he added, “and that’s what we have today.”

Defense Has Vital Role in Catastrophe Planning, Official Says

By Claudette Roulo

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2012 – The Defense Department makes valuable contributions in U.S. disaster preparedness planning, a senior defense official said today.

At a panel discussion sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, Paul N. Stockton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas’ security, addressed the role the Pentagon plays in disaster planning and response.

Thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Stockton said, he got “a big wake-up call” during a 2011 national exercise that simulated the events surrounding a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which touches on the states of Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Kentucky.

“That scenario would have produced destruction on a scale that would differ from Hurricane Katrina in two important dimensions,” he explained. “First of all, on a quantitative scale, we would have had many, many more casualties over a much wider geographic area.

“There’s a second dimension that I believe is even more important,” he continued. “A seismic event of that scale would produce a long-term loss of power -- a loss of electric power for weeks to months over a multistate region.” Such a power loss would result in the cascading failure of critical infrastructure, he said.

Gas stations would be closed, Stockton said. Water would be in short supply, because electric pumps are needed to draw water from aquifers hundreds of feet underground, and urban wildfires would rage through cities, he added.

The Defense Department’s challenge is how to better position itself to support civil authorities during disaster response activities, Stockton said. Building resilience against cascading failures of critical infrastructure -- even, as in the case of the electric grid, when it is owned by the private sector -- is essential to mission assurance, he said.

“Our responsibility to the Department of Defense is to ensure that we can still execute the core missions of the department that the president assigns to us, even if critical infrastructure goes down,” Stockton said.

It’s not a question of if a complex catastrophe will strike, he said, but when.

“We need to continue to improve our … capacity to provide support to civil authorities when the call comes,” Stockton said.

To that end, Stockton pointed to a new complex catastrophe initiative signed by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta that would enable DOD to bring all of its capabilities, from all components, to bear in support of civil authorities. The initiative will make defense support of civil authorities faster and more effective in delivering life-saving and life-sustaining requirements, Stockton said.

In addition to the DOD initiative, a presidential policy directive required revision and addition of national response and recovery plans, Stockton said, noting that the initiatives are intended to streamline disaster planning and disaster recovery.

“It’s enormously helpful to us that the administration has led the integration of all of these lines of effort, including recovery, that we knew were important, [and] that we knew where DOD could make important contributions, but we lacked an overarching policy framework,” he said.

“It’s great when you’re in support to be given the framework within which you’re going to be able to operate and be able to serve,” he added, “and that’s what we have today.”

Defense Has Vital Role in Catastrophe Planning, Official Says

By Claudette Roulo

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2012 – The Defense Department makes valuable contributions in U.S. disaster preparedness planning, a senior defense official said today.

At a panel discussion sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, Paul N. Stockton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas’ security, addressed the role the Pentagon plays in disaster planning and response.

Thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Stockton said, he got “a big wake-up call” during a 2011 national exercise that simulated the events surrounding a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which touches on the states of Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Kentucky.

“That scenario would have produced destruction on a scale that would differ from Hurricane Katrina in two important dimensions,” he explained. “First of all, on a quantitative scale, we would have had many, many more casualties over a much wider geographic area.

“There’s a second dimension that I believe is even more important,” he continued. “A seismic event of that scale would produce a long-term loss of power -- a loss of electric power for weeks to months over a multistate region.” Such a power loss would result in the cascading failure of critical infrastructure, he said.

Gas stations would be closed, Stockton said. Water would be in short supply, because electric pumps are needed to draw water from aquifers hundreds of feet underground, and urban wildfires would rage through cities, he added.

The Defense Department’s challenge is how to better position itself to support civil authorities during disaster response activities, Stockton said. Building resilience against cascading failures of critical infrastructure -- even, as in the case of the electric grid, when it is owned by the private sector -- is essential to mission assurance, he said.

“Our responsibility to the Department of Defense is to ensure that we can still execute the core missions of the department that the president assigns to us, even if critical infrastructure goes down,” Stockton said.

It’s not a question of if a complex catastrophe will strike, he said, but when.

“We need to continue to improve our … capacity to provide support to civil authorities when the call comes,” Stockton said.

To that end, Stockton pointed to a new complex catastrophe initiative signed by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta that would enable DOD to bring all of its capabilities, from all components, to bear in support of civil authorities. The initiative will make defense support of civil authorities faster and more effective in delivering life-saving and life-sustaining requirements, Stockton said.

In addition to the DOD initiative, a presidential policy directive required revision and addition of national response and recovery plans, Stockton said, noting that the initiatives are intended to streamline disaster planning and disaster recovery.

“It’s enormously helpful to us that the administration has led the integration of all of these lines of effort, including recovery, that we knew were important, [and] that we knew where DOD could make important contributions, but we lacked an overarching policy framework,” he said.

“It’s great when you’re in support to be given the framework within which you’re going to be able to operate and be able to serve,” he added, “and that’s what we have today.”

Adjutant general receives second star in official ceremony

The Adjutant General is an Iraq War veteran.  Discover these Second Gulf War books written by other Operation Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn veterans.

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

Gov. Scott Walker formally promoted the adjutant general of Wisconsin to the rank of major general during an Oct. 3 ceremony at the State Capitol in Madison. Walker officially promoted Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar in August. However, it is a tradition for the governor to promote Wisconsin National Guard general officers with a formal ceremony at the capitol.

"I am honored to continue this tradition here today," Walker said, "and to officially bestow the rank of major general to an outstanding senior officer of the Wisconsin National Guard."

Several people took part in Dunbar's pinning ceremony. Walker and Dunbar's wife, Colleen, pinned the major general rank on Dunbar's jacket, while Dunbar's father Phil and mother-in-law Ida Donegan put the new two-star shoulder boards on his epaulets. His sister Margie Wildason pinned the rank on his hat.

Dunbar thanked family and friends for attending and for participating, noting that it made the event more meaningful. He also mentioned two special people who could not attend - his mother, Peggy, and his father-in-law, Buzz Donegan (USMC) - both of whom passed away in 2009.

He concluded his brief remarks by praising the Wisconsin National Guard and the work they do for our state and nation. "It is a privilege to be the adjutant general and serve the men and women of the Wisconsin National Guard," he explained. "I pledge that I will do my very best not to let them down."

Since becoming the state's 30th adjutant general on Sept. 1, 2007, Dunbar has deployed more than 6,000 Soldiers and Airmen in support of the global war on terror including the historic deployment of the entire 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team to Iraq in 2009. In addition to commanding the Wisconsin National Guard, the adjutant general oversees the state's homeland security advisor.

Since 2007, Dunbar has led Wisconsin through five separate Stafford Act emergencies. He also serves as vice chair of the FEMA National Advisory Council and was a member of the Local, State, Tribal and Federal Preparedness Task Force which presented a preparedness report to Congress in 2010.

Dunbar began his military career in 1983 and completed pilot training in 1985. He has served as KC-135 functional manager at the National Guard Bureau, staff member for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, executive officer to the director of the Air National Guard, and commander of the 141st Operations Group.

In 2005 he became commander of the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard, at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. There he commanded more than 900 Airmen and was responsible for maintaining worldwide unit readiness.

Dunbar has volunteered for and deployed on contingency missions including Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Northern Watch. A native of Drexel Hill, Penn., Dunbar and his wife Colleen reside in New Berlin.

Northern Command Continues to Aid Relief Efforts

From a U.S. Northern Command News Release

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., Aug. 29, 2011 – U.S. Northern Command is continuing to support relief efforts in the aftermath of a powerful hurricane that struck the East Coast over the weekend, causing extensive flood and wind damage.

Northcom is coordinating the Defense Department’s support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and state and local response efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene, Northcom officials said today.

Northcom is providing numerous DOD assets and personnel to support relief efforts, officials said. For example, air and space power experts are helping to synchronize air operations with Army, Navy, Air Force and National Guard aviation resources in support of FEMA air operations.

Northcom officials also have:

-- Designated Fort A.P. Hill, Va., as a FEMA federal teams staging facility to support disaster operations in Virginia;

-- Provided aircraft for federal operations support to assist in transporting key personnel and supplies to support disaster operations in North Carolina;

-- Activated the U.S. Army North’s defense coordinating officer and defense coordinating element to support FEMA Region III in Virginia;

-- Designated Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., as an incident support base to stage asset movement to impacted counties in North Carolina and South Carolina;

-- Designated Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., as an incident support base to stage asset movement to impacted counties in Region II and III;

-- Activated the Region IX U.S. Army North’s defense coordinating officer and defense coordinating element to support FEMA Region I regional response coordination center;

-- Activated U.S. Army North’s defense coordinating officer and defense coordinating element to support FEMA Region I;

-- Activated U.S. Army North’s defense coordinating officer and defense coordinating element to support FEMA Region II-New Jersey and New York;

-- Designated Westover Air Reserve Base as an incident support base to stage asset movement to impacted counties;

-- Activated U.S. Army North’s defense coordinating officer and defense coordinating element to support FEMA Region II-Puerto Rico;

-- Activated U.S. Army North’s defense coordinating officer and defense coordinating element to support FEMA Region IV-North Carolina;

-- Activated U.S. Army North’s defense coordinating officer and defense coordinating element to support the FEMA National Response Coordination Center and to provide assessments and coordination as required;

-- Activated emergency preparedness liaison officers to support the National Response Coordination Center.

-- Activated and deployed transportation specialists to the FEMA movement coordination center to augment and assist in strategic-level movement and logistics planning; and

-- Designated Fort Bragg, N.C., as an incident support base to stage asset movement to impacted counties in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Northcom officials also are providing FEMA with pararescue and 18 rotary wing aircraft in anticipation of search and rescue operations.

Wisconsin adjutant general promoted to two-star

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

Gov. Scott Walker has promoted Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin, to the rank of major general.

"Maj. Gen. Dunbar truly deserves this promotion," Walker said. "His outstanding leadership, his invaluable insight and professional guidance have served Wisconsin well for several years."

Since becoming the state's 30th adjutant general on Sept. 1, 2007, Dunbar has deployed more than 6,000 Soldiers and Airmen in support of the global war on terror including the historic deployment of the entire 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team to Iraq in 2009. In addition to commanding the Wisconsin National Guard, the adjutant general oversees the state's Emergency Management division, chairs the Governor's Homeland Security Council and is the governor's Homeland Security Advisor.

Since 2007, Dunbar has led the Wisconsin through five separate Stafford Act emergencies. He also serves as vice chair of the FEMA National Advisory Council and was a member of the Local, State, Tribal and Federal Preparedness Task Force which presented a preparedness report to Congress in 2010.

Dunbar began his military career in 1983 and completed pilot training in 1985. He has served as KC-135 functional manager at the National Guard Bureau, staff member for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, executive officer to the director of the Air National Guard, and commander of the 141st Operations Group.

In 2005 he became commander of the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard, at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. There he commanded more than 900 Airmen and was responsible for maintaining worldwide unit readiness.

Dunbar has volunteered for and deployed on contingency missions including Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Northern Watch. A native of Drexel Hill, Penn., Dunbar and his wife Colleen reside in New Berlin.

A formal pinning ceremony will be held at a later date.

Volk Field hosting large-scale training exercise

By Maj. Nancie Margetis

183rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The largest annual National Guard training exercise is underway at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center and Fort McCoy.

Close to a thousand people are converging on Volk Field this week for emergency response training July 11 through 23. Patriot 2011 is an international large-scale training exercise bringing community and federal agencies together with military organizations from several states and three countries. Units are working to develop best practices and refine emergency responses for a variety of contingencies, from terrorist threats to train accidents and exposure from hazardous material spills.

National Guard Soldiers and Airmen will work alongside federal agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspectors, FEMA and the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Wisconsin Disaster Medical Assistance Team. Their aim is coordination of incident response, medical triage and patient care, search and extraction, control of hazardous materials and logistics that includes movement of equipment.

Col. Matthew Moorman of the Ohio Air National Guard briefs Wisconsin's Disaster Medical Assistance Team during the domestic operations portion of the 2011 Patriot Exercise July 13 at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, Wis. This is the first year that the DMAT - a volunteer-based force that responds to disasters in Wisconsin - is participating in Patriot. Ohio Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Amy N. Adducchio 

A primary goal of Patriot 2011 will be successful movement and validation of an equipment package used in response to disasters involving chemical biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives. These materials, emergency response force packages, or CERF-P are in place in multiple regional locations throughout the nation, ready for ground transport. But this exercise will test whether the entire component package, designed to handle large scale emergencies, will travel well on military aircraft.

The National Guard Bureau's Crisis Action Team will also lead participants in simulated scenarios enabling them to hone skills that track and treat casualties, dispel terrorist threats, coordinate air transport, control crowds and decontaminate affected areas and persons.

This is significant because it teaches independent organizations with similar or dependent missions to communicate in ways that foster mutual understanding, making it easier to get things done when it is most critical. The training they do here will translate easily to situations they could face in their home states or regions. Emergency responders from Holland and Canada are also participating in the training event.

Volk Field is a National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center in Wisconsin. The center is large enough to house and maintain all of the participants and host several training scenarios in appropriate environments simultaneously. But some of the scenarios require more specific environmental arrangements. To enhance the realistic effect for participants in those cases, elements of the training, like invasion of a terrorist safehouse by FBI and National Guard security force personnel will take place at nearby Ft. McCoy, which already has a suitable house built for that purpose.

Local residents may notice an increase in air traffic as a result of the exercise. Some training may occur at low altitudes and in the evening, especially near Volk Field and Fort McCoy. Area residents with questions or concerns should contact Volk Field at 1-800-972-8673.

Northcom Supports Response to Severe Midwest Weather

From a U.S. Northern Command News Release

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., May 25, 2011 – At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command officials today activated their defense coordinating officer and defense coordinating element for FEMA Region 7 and extended those functions for FEMA Region 6 in support of response efforts to the severe weather in the Midwest.

U.S. Army North’s defense coordinating officer and defense coordinating element for Region 6 initially were activated to support flood relief in the South and have been extended with the activation of FEMA Region 7 to provide assessment and coordinate Defense Department assets as required in the Midwest, officials said.

Defense coordinating officers and defense coordinating elements work closely with federal, state, tribal and local officials to determine what unique Defense Department capabilities can assist in mitigating the effects of severe weather.

Emergency preparedness liaison officers from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, U.S. Air Forces Northern and Marine Forces North will deploy to FEMA Region 7 to help the defense coordinating officer assess and plan DOD support of civil authorities.

The Defense Department has capabilities that can save lives, as well as other capabilities such as airlift, medical and communications support and planning.

Northcom is the joint combatant command formed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to provide homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities.

Plan Bridges Gaps in Homeland Responses

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2011 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has agreed to a plan that will allow for one commander to be in charge of both National Guard and reserve forces when they are called up to respond to domestic emergencies.

Gates, along with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and the Council of Governors -- a group President Barack Obama formed in January 2010 to represent all of the states’ governors -- signed off on the agreement, known as the Joint Action Plan, during a March 1 Pentagon meeting, Defense Department officials said.

Paul N. Stockton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland security, today called the agreement “a breakthrough” in the military’s ability to effectively respond to domestic emergencies, whether natural or manmade.

“This will be much more efficient, much more effective, and it will be a partnership that never existed before,” Stockton told American Forces Press Service.

The plan creates a dual-status commander for each state, approved by the president and governor, to have simultaneous authority over both National Guard and reserve forces called up to respond to a state emergency, Stockton said.

Under the Constitution, Guard forces must be under state control for domestic events, and reservists and any active-duty forces must remain in federal control. The dual-status commanders can operate in both the state and federal chains of command without legal changes, Stockton said. In fact, he added, dual-status commanders have been used before for domestic events that are planned months in advance, such as political party conventions.

State and federal officials realized through the response to Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast in August 2005, as well as in other natural disasters, that better coordination is needed in emergencies, he said.

“During Katrina, leadership didn’t have an understanding of what was happening on the ground,” Stockton said. “We need a better common operating picture of where the units are, their level of readiness, their response capabilities.”

Commanders also need to know the local area, he said, such as roadway and building capacities.

“This is a whole new way to bring life-saving capabilities to bear,” Stockton said. “Those first 72 hours are precious for saving lives.”

The Joint Action Plan will provide uniformity to plans that vary greatly from state to state, he said, and all dual-status commanders are expected to be appointed and trained by early fall.

“That commander is the nexus, the coordinating person to ensure that forces work in collaboration,” he said.

A second aspect of the agreement calls for a legislative change to give the president the authority to call up reservists for domestic emergencies – a change Stockton said is needed to streamline the process. Currently, if federal forces are needed to augment the Guard, a governor must make the request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the Homeland Security Department, then FEMA must seek the assistance through U.S. Northern Command, which oversees North America and will oversee dual-status commander training, Stockton said.

Dual-status commanders may be named from either the National Guard, reserves or active-duty forces.