JOINT TASK FORCE KATRINA (JTF-Katrina) SET UP

[senorpepr]

JOINT TASK FORCE KATRINA (JTF-Katrina) SET UP YESTERDAY BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE to support FEMA operations

Joint Task Force Katrina was setting up Wednesday (31 Aug) at Camp Shelby, Miss., as the Defense Department's focal point to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency's relief efforts along the Gulf Coast, Air Force Maj. Eric Butterbaugh, a U.S. Northern Command spokesman, confirmed.

Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, 1st U.S. Army commander, will head the task force to coordinate DoD active-duty support for disaster relief efforts in the hurricane's aftermath, much of it already under way or in the works.

Meanwhile, the number of National Guardsmen on duty in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida rose to almost 8,300 Wednesday.

National Guard units and members in 17 more states remained on standby Wednesday, ready to provide assistance as required in the wake of extensive damage, rising floodwaters, and power and communications outages throughout the region, Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, a DoD spokeswoman, said.

The guardsmen remain under their respective governors' control, which enables them to provide law-enforcement support in the affected regions -- something the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits active-duty forces from doing within the United States. While under state control, the National Guard is not bound by Posse Comitatus, NORTHCOM officials explained.

While establishing Joint Task Force Katrina today, NORTHCOM was already providing or coordinating a full range of support involving active-duty forces and assets.

As of Wednesday morning, four MH-53 Sea Stallion and two HH-60 Seahawk helicopters from USS Bataan were flying medical-evacuation and search-and-rescue missions in Louisiana, and Bataan's hospital was preparing for possible use for medical support. Bataan, based out of Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, is in the waters off the Louisiana coast. High Speed Vessel Swift, also based at Ingleside, sailed to the waters off Louisiana to provide support, as well.

Three helicopters from the Army's 3rd Corps, in Fort Hood, Texas, are in Baton Rouge, La., and two more in Mississippi to help with searches and rescues and damage assessments, NORTHCOM officials reported.

In addition, five Air Force helicopters from the 920th Rescue Wing, from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and 347th Rescue Wing from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., are in Mississippi for search-and-rescue missions, officials said. These aircraft are capable of nighttime searches and rescues and also will transport FEMA assessment teams over the area to gather critical information for state and federal emergency managers.

Meanwhile, eight U.S. Transportation Command swift-water rescue teams, each with 14 members, were headed from California to Lafayette, La., today to rescue stranded civilians from flooded areas, NORTHCOM officials reported.

A wide range of other military members and assets were also bound for the Gulf Coast to provide more support, NORTHCOM officials reported.

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group was preparing to sail from Norfolk, Va., loaded with disaster response equipment and was expected to reach the Louisiana coast in five days, officials said. The group consists of USS Iwo Jima, USS Shreveport, USS Tortuga, and USNS Arctic.

The hospital ship USNS Comfort was preparing to leave Baltimore to bring medical assistance to the Gulf region and was expected to reach the area in seven days, officials said.

Plans were being made bring USS Grapple, a Navy rescue and salvage vessel, to the region to support maritime and underwater survey and salvage operations.

NORTHCOM also established federal operational staging areas at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss.; Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; Alexandria, La.; and Fort Polk, La., to expedite the movement of relief supplies and emergency personnel to affected areas, officials reported.

In addition, NORTHCOM liaisons are operating in Clanton, Ala.; Baton Rouge, La.; and Jackson, Miss., to coordinate efforts between the command, other DoD elements and FEMA.

Standing Joint Forces Headquarters North will provide an augmentation cell and its command-and-control vehicle to Joint Task Force Katrina, and JTF Civil Support will provide a joint planning augmentation cell, officials said.

Meanwhile, in Colorado Springs, Colo., NORTHCOM's Joint Operations Center remains on 24-hour duty to expedite any additional requests for help from FEMA representatives, officials said.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – As directed by the Secretary of Defense and in accordance with the National Response Plan, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The impact of providing such assistance will not adversely affect military preparedness. Defense Department (DoD) support is provided on a reimbursable basis in accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Act. A variety of requests for assistance have been made to USNORTHCOM, and because of the unique capabilities we bring to emergency and rescue operations, the effort to fill these requests is underway in each of the affected states.

As stated in the Posse Comitatus Act, USNORTHCOM and the military may not act in a law enforcement capacity within the United States. Typical defense support of civil authorities in disasters includes logistics, communications and medical care. The Coast Guard, in peacetime, and the National Guard under state control are not bound by Posse Comitatus.

USNORTHCOM is providing and/or coordinating the following support:

New:

• U.S. Transportation Command is providing medical airlift support to transport approximately 2,500 patients from New Orleans International Airport to National Disaster Medical System federal coordinating centers.

• Joint Forces Command is providing Department of Defense leased property at Old England Airfield as an intermediate staging base to support hurricane response in the state of Louisiana. This will serve as a staging point for National Guard personnel arriving from other states to support the Louisiana relief efforts.

Updates:

• JTF-Civil Support (JTF-CS) is providing a joint planning augmentation cell to provide domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive (CBRNE) consequence management planning capabilities to JTF-Katrina.

Ongoing:

• Defense Coordinating Officers (DCOs) and Defense Coordinating Elements (DCEs) in Clanton, Ala., Baton Rouge, La., Jackson, Miss., to liaison between U.S. Northern Command, FEMA and the Department of Defense. (Tallahassee DCO redeployed)

• Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss.; Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; Alexandria, La.; and Ft. Polk, La.; as federal operational staging areas to expedite the movement of relief supplies and emergency personnel to affected areas.

• US Transportation Command flew eight swift water rescue teams from California to Lafayette, La. These California-based teams provide approximately 14 volunteer rescue personnel with vehicles and small rigid hulled boats who are highly trained and capable of rescuing stranded citizens from flooded areas.

• USS Bataan (LHD 5) and HSV Swift out of Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, sailed to the waters off Louisiana to provide support. Currently, the four MH-53s and two HH-60s off the Bataan are flying medevac and search and rescue missions in Louisiana. Bataan’s hospital may also be used for medical support.

• The Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) is sailing from Norfolk, Va. loaded with disaster response equipment. The (ESG) consists of USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), USS Shreveport (LPD 12), USS Tortuga (LSD 46), and USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8). The ESG is expected to be operating off the Louisiana coast beginning Sept. 4.

• The hospital ship, USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), depart Baltimore to bring its invaluable medical assistance to the Gulf region. The Comfort is expected to reach the area Sept. 8.

• There are plans to bring USS Grapple (ARS 53) to assist with maritime and underwater survey and salvage operations.

• Three Army Helicopters from III Corps in Fort Hood, Texas, are in Baton Rouge and two more are in Mississippi to assist with search and rescue and damage assessment.

• Five Air Force helicopters from the 920th Rescue Wing (RQW) at Patrick AFB, Fla., and the 347th RQW at Moody AFB, Ga., are in Mississippi for search and rescue missions. These aircraft are capable of nighttime search and rescue and will also transport FEMA’s Rapid Needs Assessment teams to gather critical information for state and federal emergency managers.

• USNORTHCOM established Joint Task Force Katrina to be the military’s on-scene commander in support of FEMA. Lt. Gen. Russel Honor, commander of the First Army in Fort Gillem, Ga., is the JTF-Commander. JTF-Katrina will be based out of Camp Shelby, Miss.

• Standing Joint Forces Headquarters-North is providing an augmentation cell and its command and control vehicle to JTF-Katrina.

• USNORTHCOM’s Joint Operations Center is on 24-hour duty in Colorado Springs, Colo., to facilitate any additional requests for assistance that may come from FEMA representatives.

For more information on USNORTHCOM involvement in national disaster relief efforts in the affected areas, refer to the current “DoD Forces Deployed for Hurricane Katrina Support” located at http://www.northcom.milor contact USNORTHCOM Public Affairs, at 719-554-9618.

For military members information: http://www.defenselink.mil/home/feature ... index.html

[soney]

So, from what I understand from this article, even if the military got there, they cannot do anything from a law enforcement standpoint?

And the National Guard can only act as law enforcement as long as they remain under the control of their own governors?

So how is the mayor supposed to have a chance in heck of getting the city under any kind of control for the safety of the rescue operation?

*boggle*

[ericinmia]

Not to rehash what i have been saying for days....


We need to have a LEADER... We need the govenor to secede control, and request Martial Law from Bush.

She is WEAK, and distraught.... We need someone in power that can handle situations like this.

I am purely disgusted.
-Eric