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By DOD News
Defense Media Activity
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Soldiers with 247th Composite Supply Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, prepare equipment Sept. 26, 2017, as they get ready to depart to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to provide basic Army sustainment support to the humanitarian relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. (Photo by Sgt. David Freydin)
WASHINGTON — The Defense Department and partner agencies are supporting ongoing assessment and response operations in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Jamie Davis released in a statement Sept. 26, 2017.
Approximately 25 Fort Carson Soldiers and equipment from the 247th Composite Supply Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, left Sept. 26-27, 2017, for St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to provide basic sustainment support to the humanitarian relief efforts after Hurricane Maria hit the area. DOD continues to meet all Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements, and more, Davis added.
Meanwhile, U.S. Northern Command estimates being able to increase the airlift flow rate from three to six aircraft per hour to 10 aircraft per hour into Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — for a total of 240 aircraft per day over the next 24 hours.
DOD is sourcing FEMA’s request for additional medical support to both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Davis said.
FEMA is also preparing to ship 350 satellite telephones to facilitate response communications across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, he said.
DOD response details
As of Tuesday:
A joint Army National Guard and Marine expeditionary unit team is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard to maximize search and rescue efforts, supporting re-establishment of an air/land/sea distribution network, and coordinating with the Roosevelt Roads Airfield airport manager to finalize plans to use the airport as a logistic hub and relieve pressure on Puerto Rico’s San Juan Airport.
U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) was scheduled to lift eight additional helicopters to Puerto Rico Tuesday. DOD is sourcing FEMA requirements for additional medical support including a medical/surgical treatment facility with 50-bed inpatient care, ground and air ambulances, five medical teams and airlift for civilian ambulance capabilities for Puerto Rico, and a 50-bed medical/surgical facility for St. Croix.
Restoration of the Combined/Center Radar Approach Control facility in Puerto Rico, which controls the air traffic control for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, is enabling a substantial increase in aircraft flow rate. TRANSCOM executed three strategic lift missions into Puerto Rico and four lifts to the U.S. Virgin Islands Monday, and was planning nine missions into Puerto Rico and six missions into the U.S. Virgin Islands Tuesday.
In the Caribbean region, U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Task Force Leeward Islands continues to support State Department humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations in the Leeward and Windward Islands, conducting search and rescue operations and evacuating U.S. citizens. The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp delivered 2,000 pounds of food to Ross Medical University on Dominica.