U.S. Northcom prepared to support relief efforts

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Consisting of both Guard and Active Duty. Headquartered out of Maxwell AFB.
Airlift command as well will be used to ferry in and out supplies and such.
Arkansas activating Guard MP units for Ms. per CNN
http://www.northcom.mil/index.cfm?fusea ... C0C39B83FA

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Operations Center is on 24-hour duty in Colorado Springs, Colo., to monitor Hurricane Katrina’s progress and to facilitate any subsequent Requests for Assistance that may come from Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives.



A Defense Coordinating Officer and a Defense Coordinating Element are already on the ground in Clanton, Ala., Baton Rouge, La., Jackson, Miss., and Tallahassee, Fla. to liaison between U.S. Northern Command, FEMA and the Department of Defense.



USNORTHCOM also has Regional Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer and teams at the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Centers for Region IV in Atlanta, Ga. and for FEMA Region VI at Denton, Texas. USNORTHCOM additionally has Joint Regional Medical Planning Officers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, as well as with FEMA Regional Response Coordination Centers in Georgia (Region IV) and Texas (Region VI). USNORTHCOM is working with the Joint Staff at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and the Army’s Joint Forces Command to provide assistance as required in support of FEMA and the national response.



USNORTHCOM is also working closely with the National Guard and authorities in each affected state to ensure unity of effort between the state and federal responses.



DoD assets are employed in support of a Lead Federal Agency [in this case FEMA] only when local and state assets are overwhelmed or exhausted and when DoD assistance is explicitly requested by the lead federal agency and subsequently approved by the Secretary of Defense. The impact of providing such assistance will not adversely affect military preparedness.



DoD support is provided on a reimbursable basis in accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Act. USNORTHCOM is the supported unified command for Hurricane Katrina.



For more information on USNORTHCOM involvement in national disaster relief efforts in the affected areas, please contact Mr. Michael Kucharek, USNORTHCOM Public Affairs, at 719-554-9618.

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CNN now interviewing Northern Command people on rescue efforts.

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per interview with US Northern Command Major General Rich Rowe on CNN:
Army Colonels in area to assess needs.They will provide
provide rotary wing helicopter ability
search and rescue capabilities from the air
1st Army commander......force com commander prepared to provide coordinated response to aid FEMA with troops on the ground.