Hawaii National Guard, FEMA Teams to Assist American Samoa

By Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - In response to Federal Emergency Management Agency requests, National Guard assets from Hawaii continue to provide air-cargo operations and other support to tsunami victims on American Samoa, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters here today.

Support requested by American Samoa authorities includes power-generation equipment, medical supplies, food, water and shelter-support, including bedding and blankets, Whitman said.

"We'll continue to do that for some time," Whitman told reporters, noting nearly 100 Hawaii National Guard personnel are involved in airlift and humanitarian-relief operations for American Samoa.

An 8.4 magnitude earthquake struck near the Samoa Islands region Sept. 29, causing devastating 15-to-20-foot-high waves to cascade inland across the South Pacific archipelago, including the eastern side of American Samoa, a U.S. possession.

FEMA, which maintains well-stocked warehouses in Guam and Honolulu, is deploying resources to American Samoa, including water and meals, to support 70,000 survivors over the coming week.

Two C-17 Globemaster III cargo planes departed Hawaii today en route to American Samoa with FEMA members, food and water, and mortuary-affairs assets aboard, Whitman said. Another C-17 is slated to leave Hawaii for American Samoa later today, he added, carrying more equipment and supplies.

The first of four C-17 relief flights to American Samoa left Hawaii yesterday afternoon, Whitman said, carrying medical, search-and-rescue, and communications personnel, as well as supplies and equipment.

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell yesterday outlined some of the infrastructure for the effort.

"We are providing Travis Air Force Base in California, Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii [and] Andersen Air Force Base in Guam as base support installations," he said. "These are basically staging areas for operations to provide aid and assistance to those in American Samoa. We're going to be providing medical triage, [hazardous materials] response, mass-casualty care and strategic airlift. That's what the focus at the outset will be of our assistance."

The Navy yesterday dispatched the frigate USS Ingraham to assist humanitarian-relief efforts in American Samoa. The Ingraham was in the region when the tsunami struck.

U.S. military personnel also are assisting relief efforts in the Philippines, which has experienced massive flooding.

Hawaii Guard Deploys for Tsunami Relief

By Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, Special to American Forces Press Service

ARLINGTON, Va. - About 90 Hawaii National Guard members are on their way to American Samoa today to help in the recovery efforts on the Pacific island, National Guard officials announced.

An 8.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Samoa Islands region yesterday, causing a destructive tsunami with 15-to-20-foot waves striking the east side of American Samoa.

Flood levels were exceeded about one mile into the island. Local reports said 24 people were killed on American Samoa, and that buildings were damaged. The only hospital on the island, LBJ Tropical Hospital, reportedly has exceeded its maximum capacity.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials asked the Hawaii National Guard to provide personnel from its civil support team, as well as its enhanced chemical and biological response force package, a command and control element and a mortuary affairs team.

"This support package was requested, put together and deployed in less than 24 hours," said Jack Harrison, director of communications and public affairs for the National Guard Bureau. "We do this every day. On average, more than a dozen governors every day will call on their National Guard to respond to contingencies that range from severe emergencies, like this, to white-powder scares."

These Guard members are expected to perform search and rescue missions, medical triage and treatment, command and control, and hazardous materials modeling support to the unified command team, he added.

Harrison said the deploying Guard members will be self-sustaining for 96 hours so they don't burden the American Samoa infrastructure.

The Tafuna International Airport initially was closed due to debris on the runways. However, a runway is now open, which will allow military flights to bring in the personnel and equipment from Hawaii.

Two C-17 Globemaster III transport jets from the 154th Wing, a reserve associate unit based in Hawaii, are scheduled to fly to the island today.

"The state of Hawaii is assisting Gov. [Togiola] Tulafono in the recovery effort, including medical assistance, communications support and engineers," Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle said in a statement yesterday.

In 2006, CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the Hawaii National Guard airlifted supplies from Oahu to isolated residents on Maui after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Hawaiian Islands in October.

Coast Guard sending a C-130 plane to American Samoa

By Associated Press

The U.S. Coast Guard planned to send a C-130 plane to American Samoa to deliver aid and assess damage after a powerful earthquake and tsunami hit the U.S. territory, officials said Tuesday

The plane was due to leave Hawaii in the evening, in time to arrive at first light in Pago Pago, the capital, on Wednesday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency was also preparing to send a response team.

Read the rest of the story at
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/breaking/62741682.html