From Sept. 5-18, U.S. military forces, including USS Wasp (LHD 1), USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58), and troops from Joint Task Force-Bravo, joined the multinational disaster relief effort following Hurricane Felix.  U.S. Southern Command directed the military forces in support of USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, which leads U.S. government foreign relief efforts. Overall, U.S. aircraft flew 173 sorties, airlifting more than 490,000 pounds of aid.

Notes   On Sept. 4, Hurricane Felix made landfall in Nicaragua as a category five storm - the highest possible level.  It swept over the Central American nation, causing massive damage and loss of life.    USSOUTHCOM directed forces in response to a Sept. 4 request for international assistance from the government of Nicaragua.  The deployments were carried out in close coordination with the U.S. Department of State and USAID.  Forces airlifted aid out of a Puerto Cabezas airfield to hard hit areas on Nicaragua’s northeast coast.      Breakdown of forces sent:   „     The amphibious ship USS Wasp (LHD 1).  The ship arrived Sept. 6 and provided airlift support to the mission.  Embarked helicopters (MH-53 Sea Dragons and SH-60 Seahawks) flew 51 sorties, ferrying more than 89,000 pounds of aid supplies and evacuating 10 people.  The ship left the area Sept. 9.  Wasp, homeported in Norfolk, Va., was diverted from the sea lanes approaching the Panama Canal where it was serving as a command and control vessel for a fleet of more than 30 multinational ships during exercise Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX.    „     An Air Force C-130 Hercules.  On Sept. 8, the aircraft airlifted 26,000 pounds of USAID supplies (plastic sheeting used for shelter, hygiene kits and blankets) from Miami, Fla. to Puerto Cabezas.   „     Joint Task Force-Bravo humanitarian assessment team.  The 13-person team arrived Sept. 5, evaluating the amount of assistance needed from U.S. forces including search and rescue, medical, engineering and communications troops.  Also, two JTF-B helicopters (CH-47 Chinooks) flew 15 sorties, airlifting 126,000 pounds of relief supplies and evacuating 24 people.  The team departed the area on Sept. 9   „     USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58).  USSOUTHCOM directed the ship to relieve USS Wasp on Sept. 9.  The ship`s two SH-60 Seahawks helicopters flew 41 sorties, transporting 45,000 pounds of aid and evacuating 24 people.  The ship and helicopters left the area Sept. 13. USS Samuel B. Roberts, homeported in Mayport, Fla., was also previously involved in the multinational exercise FA PANAMAX 2007 in nearby Panama.   „     Marine Corps KC-130 Hercules:  From Sept. 12-18, the aircraft transported 93,000 pounds of aid to Puerto Cabezas.  It also transported fuel to Puerto Cabezas for the JTF-Bravo helicopters involved in relief operations.   „     Joint Task Force-Bravo disaster assistance team:   The 24-person team arrived Sept. 14 with two UH-60 helicopters.  The helicopters flew 54 sorties, airlifting more than 110,000 pounds of relief supplies and evacuating six people.  The team left the area Sept. 18.

Felix Relief Photos   (Sept. 7, 2007) – U.S. Navy aircrewmen comfort an injured Nicaraguan ‎woman prior to take-off during a medical evacuation.  See this and 170 other photos in the Felix Relief photo gallery.             FELIX RELIEF PHOTO GALLERY       Quick Links   „     USS Wasp (LHD 1) „     Joint Task Force-Bravo „     USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) „     Background Notes: Nicaragua „     USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance       USSOUTHCOM disaster relief QUICK FACTS…     „     Any U.S. military assistance must be requested by the host nation through the U.S. ambassador.  Then, as the lead federal agent, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance fields the request and asks the DoD for military assistance, if needed.   „     In the past two years, USSOUTHCOM has sent U.S. military forces to seven disaster relief missions in the region.   „     Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-Bravo) in Honduras, one of the command’s only forward-deployed units, is pivotal piece of USSOUTHCOM’s disaster relief capability in the region. The task force, based at the Honduran Soto Cano Air Base, has 600 troops and 20 aircraft.  The troops train year-round for humanitarian and disaster assistance missions.  JTF-Bravo has played a key role in almost all of the USSOUTHCOM-directed disaster relief efforts of the past decade.   „     USSOUTHCOM has a team that focuses year-round on working with regional governments to improve disaster responses.  The Humanitarian Assistance of Disaster Preparedness Program (HAP) (see more on program), 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 USSOUTHCOM-directed U.S. military disaster relief:   2007 Peru earthquake, August:  A Texas-based medical team of 14 Airmen and a 30-person mobile surgical team from Joint Task Force Bravo provided medical care to Peruvians affected by the disaster.   Bolivia floods, February: C-130 airlifts planeload of USAID relief supplies to help relief efforts.   2006 Panama floods, November: JTF-B troops and helicopters evacuate four people and airlift 130,000 pounds of relief supplies.   Nicaragua alcohol poisoning epidemic, September: JTF-B troops provide three-man medical team and donate $185,000 of medical supplies.   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-B helicopters and 40 troops airlift 110,000 pounds of emergency supplies to affected region.   Honduras, Hurricane Beta, November:  Ten JTF-B 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.