By Mass Communication Specialist 1^st Class (SW) Holly Boynton

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. Fourth Fleet

MAYPORT, Fla. – U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. Fourth Fleet (NAVSO/4^th FLT) diverted USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) from their counter illicit trafficking deployment in the Eastern Pacific Nov. 25 to provide aid and disaster relief to Panama.

Panamanian President Martin Torrijos declared western Panama and regions along the Caribbean coast in a state of emergency Nov. 22. The country had recently experienced heavy rains, resulting in flooding in some regions and landslides.

Samuel B. Roberts, with embarked Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 60 Detachment 2, will conduct storm damage assessments, as well as be prepared to conduct search and rescue operations and deliver disaster relief supplies.

Samuel B. Roberts, homeported in Mayport, Fla., is currently deployed for NAVSO/4^th FLT in the U.S. Southern Command area of focus to conduct counter illicit trafficking operations in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South.

As the Naval Component Command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO’s mission is to direct U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, Theater Security Cooperation, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.

For more information on Samuel B. Roberts, go to http://www.roberts.navy.mil.

For more information on NAVSO/4^th FLT, go to http://www.cusns.navy.mil.