PHOTOS TROIS PONTS, HAITI (September 18, 2008) - Medical personnel currently embarked ‎aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) examine residents of Trois Ponts during a health ‎assessment survey to determine future relief operations. Kearsarge is providing ‎humanitarian assistance and disaster relief aid to Haiti after three tropical storms and a ‎hurricane devastated the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist ‎‎3rd Class (SW) David Danals/Released)‎   More Haiti Relief PHOTOS

VIDEO: USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) assists with relief efforts in Haiti.   - USS Kearsarge Visited By Haiti Prime Minister   - Kearsarge Heads To Haiti To Assist In Relief Efforts.   Footage: - Kearsarge Troops, Haitians Unload Aid - USS Kearsarge Helicopters Deliver Aid - USS Kearsarge Helicopter Ops - USS Kearsarge Troops Deliver Aid

Key Links:	USS Kearsarge (LHD 3)	USAID Disaster Relief: Haiti	Background Notes: HAITI	U.S. Fourth Fleet		Navy Fact File: Amphibious assault ships
Details: USS Kearsarge (LHD 3)  began supporting international efforts to assist Haiti Sept. 8.  To date, forces from the ship have delivered more than 980 metric tons of relief supplies and 26,000 gallons of water.   On Sept. 13, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet directed Kearsarge to begin preparations to conduct Phase II operations, opening the door for the medical and engineering teams aboard the ship to join the relief efforts (see details below).   Kearsarge was in the Caribbean supporting phase two of Continuing Promise 2008, a humanitarian assistance mission that includes assisting partner nations impacted by natural disasters and other emergencies resulting in human suffering or danger to human lives.   Kearsarge Mission & Capabilities: This ship has a total of eight helicopters (six CH-53 Sea Stallions and two MH-60 Seahawks) and three landing craft (one Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and two Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM)).  The helicopters and landing craft are transporting roughly 100 metric tons of relief supplies a day from Port-au-Prince to Les Cayes, Jeremie, Port a Paix, Jacmel, St. Marc, Gonaives, and other areas as requested by USAID.   The emergency relief supplies include water and pre-packaged food items, such as flour, beans, rice and high-energy biscuits, much of which is provided by the World Food Program and USAID´s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.   Additionally, the Kearsarge has a medical team aboard made up of more than 150 military, Public Health Service and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) medical professionals.  Medical teams from the ship are working with relief organizations to coordinate medical support to relief efforts.  To date, teams are conducting health assessments in hard hit communities.   A team of Navy Seabees and Air Force construction engineers are also preparing to help. The embarked engineers have met with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) engineers to assess damages to roads and critical infrastructure, determine what repairs can be made and prioritize which areas need the most help.  There are currently about 60 military engineers on the ship.   SOUTHCOM and U.S. Fourth Fleet planners continue to work with interagency partners and their counterparts in countries affected by the recent devastating weather activity to assess recovery needs in the affected areas and identify additional U.S. military units that may be able to provide assistance.   Disaster Relief Background Notes: On Sept. 5, SOUTHCOM directed the mission in response to a request for international assistance from the government of Haiti.  Kearsarge is assisting U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, the lead U.S. federal agency, in mitigating human suffering and loss of life due to the effects of tropical storms Gustav, Hanna and Hurricane Ike.   Any U.S. military assistance to a foreign country must be formally requested by the host nation through the U.S. ambassador.   Then, the lead federal agent, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, transmits requirements through the Department of State, who sends an Executive Secretariat Memorandum to the Department of Defense requesting military assistance.   Once U.S. forces join a disaster relief effort, they work in concert with the U.S. interagency and multinational relief workers, taking cues from the host nation and USAID to provide needed services, from airlift capability, logistical and medical support, and engineering expertise. Recent disaster relief efforts have seen U.S. forces spend anywhere from days to weeks conducting operations after a storm.					Key points:     U.S. military assistance must be formally requested by the host nation through the U.S. ambassador.  Then, the lead federal agent, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, transmits requirements through the Department of State, who sends an Executive Secretariat Memorandum to the Department of Defense requesting military assistance.     Since 2005, SOUTHCOM has sent forces to assist 10 major multinational disaster relief missions in the region (SEE TABLE BELOW)     SOUTHCOM has a team that focuses year-round on working with regional governments to improve disaster responses.  The Humanitarian Assistance of Disaster Preparedness Program (HAP), in concert with other U.S. agencies, works with nations in the region to improve disaster response capabilities and build all-important relationships with local officials.      The HAPs preparation can play a critical role in a disaster response.  They’ve constructed and donated 16 disaster relief warehouses and pre-positioned supplies across the region that partner nation relief forces can tap quickly. HAP has also established 11 partner nation Emergency Operations Centers throughout the region that serve as the focus point to coordinate nearby disaster responses.

Recent disaster relief in the region:   2007 Tropical Storm Noel, November:  Forces from the Puerto Rico National Guard, U.S. Army South and JTF-Bravo along with the U.S. Coast Guard supported search and rescue support, assisted in damage assessments, and the delivery of relief commodities.  SOUTHCOM also provided $250,000 in emergency relief commodities. (see more)   Hurricane Felix, September:  Helicopters from USS Wasp, USS Samuel B. Roberts and JTF-Bravo airlift 490,000 pounds of aid to Felix victims.  Also, provided a forward area refueling capability that allowed the Nicaraguans to reach communities that were cut-off. (see more)   Peru earthquake, August:  A Texas-based medical team of 14 Airmen and a 30-person mobile surgical team from JTF-Bravo provided medical care to Peruvians affected by the disaster. (see more)   Bolivia floods, February: C-130 airlifts planeload of USAID relief supplies to help relief efforts. (see more)   2006 Panama floods, November: JTF-Bravo troops and helicopters evacuate four people and airlift 130,000 pounds of relief supplies. (see more)   Nicaragua alcohol poisoning epidemic, September: JTF-Bravo troops provide three-man medical team and donate $185,000 of medical supplies. (see more)   Ecuador, volcano eruption, July:  Supports disaster relief operations and provides $140,000 of medical supplies and equipment.   2005 Honduras, Tropical Storm Gamma, November:  Nine JTF-Bravo helicopters and 40 troops airlift 110,000 pounds of emergency supplies to affected region.   Honduras, Hurricane Beta, November:  Ten JTF-Bravo helicopters airlift 140,000 pounds of relief supplies.   Guatemala & Nicaragua, Hurricane Stan, October: Twelve aircraft and 125 personnel evacuate/transport 300 victims and deliver nearly 300 tons of aid.