USNORTHCOM supports Hurricane Dean operations

  • Published
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) --  U.S. Northern Command is closely monitoring Hurricane Dean's progress and continues to respond to requests for Department of Defense support in preparation for landfall. 

USNORTHCOM has deployed the following personnel to support the federal response: 

-- The Region X Defense Coordinating Officer, or DCO, and six-person Defense Coordinating Element, or DCE, deployed to Louisiana at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

-- The Region VI DCO and six-person DCE deployed to Texas at FEMA's request prior to landfall of Tropical Storm Erin and remain on-site. 

-- A 17-person team from Standing Joint Forces Headquarters - North deployed to Texas to support the Region VI DCO and Army North. 

-- An eight-person Global Patient Management Team from U.S. Transportation Command will help coordinate aeromedical evacuation efforts, if needed. 

-- A Joint Interagency Air-Ground Coordination Team from Air Forces Northern deployed at FEMA's request to assist FEMA and the Texas Emergency Operations Center and to help with aeromedical evacuation and search and rescue efforts, if needed. 

-- The Region II DCO and DCE deployed to the Caribbean Aug. 15, where they are supporting a FEMA Emergency Response Team - Advance in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 

Should active-duty forces be requested to respond, the regional DCOs will provide their command and control and will also facilitate requests for any additional DOD support through USNORTHCOM. 

Senior USNORTHCOM officials are coordinating with FEMA, Department of Homeland Security and the National Guard to ensure full situational awareness and appropriate response posture to Hurricane Dean. 

USNORTHCOM supports primary response agencies, as directed, as part of a comprehensive national response to manage consequences of natural or man-made disasters. USNORTHCOM also conducts operations to deter, prevent and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories and interests within the assigned area of responsibility. 

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page