ViktorNavorski
09-02-2005, 01:21 AM
Troops, aircraft carrier to join US relief effort (http://today.*******.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=URI:urn:newsml:*******.com:20050901:MTFH39097_2005-09-01_14-58-31_N01447756:1)
By Charles Aldinger
WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (*******) - The military will expand the number of National Guard troops mobilized for hurricane relief efforts along the Gulf coast to 30,000 in the coming days, and the Navy is sending the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman to help, officials said on Thursday.
Pentagon officials had said on Wednesday the number of National Guard troops under the command of state governors would reach 21,000 by the end of Friday. Now the number will top 30,000 in the next few days, mostly in Louisiana and Mississippi, but also some in Alabama and Florida.
The troops will assist in controlling lawlessness and providing aid, and many going to Louisiana will be military police, officials said. There has been widespread looting in the flooded city of New Orleans.
The big warship, which was to depart Norfolk, Virginia, later on Thursday, would provide a major naval command post in the Gulf of Mexico, helping coordinate the actions of nearly a dozen other warships and supply vessels, including two Navy helicopter assault ships.
The Navy dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island also is leaving Norfolk to join the relief effort, the Navy said. Whidbey Island will bring the capability to employ a movable causeway to the region, the Navy said. Many bridges were destroyed when Hurricane Katrina hit the region on Monday.
The military hospital ship Comfort is scheduled to depart Baltimore in the coming days to provide an offshore floating medical center with 12 operating rooms and up to 1,000 beds.
The Truman is 1,092 feet (333 meters) long and is capable of carrying more than 80 aircraft, including large helicopters. The Navy said it would carry additional helicopters from Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida to support search-and-rescue efforts.
The crew of up to 5,000 on the carrier would bring to nearly 35,000 the number of National Guard and active duty military troops committed to the biggest domestic relief effort ever mounted by federal agencies in the United States.
There also are nearly 8,000 sailors and other active duty troops committed to the effort, most of them aboard ships or flying air support missions.
Dozens of helicopters are also being used to help rescue trapped citizens in flooded New Orleans and to help provide food, water and other relief for destroyed coastal sections of Louisiana and Mississippi.
______________________________________________________
Personally, I was hoping they would also deploy an LHA/LHD so the Marines can patrol the city with the AAVP7A1 or LAV. Nothing better to discourage the lowlifes that hampering the relief effort than a 25mm.
By Charles Aldinger
WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (*******) - The military will expand the number of National Guard troops mobilized for hurricane relief efforts along the Gulf coast to 30,000 in the coming days, and the Navy is sending the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman to help, officials said on Thursday.
Pentagon officials had said on Wednesday the number of National Guard troops under the command of state governors would reach 21,000 by the end of Friday. Now the number will top 30,000 in the next few days, mostly in Louisiana and Mississippi, but also some in Alabama and Florida.
The troops will assist in controlling lawlessness and providing aid, and many going to Louisiana will be military police, officials said. There has been widespread looting in the flooded city of New Orleans.
The big warship, which was to depart Norfolk, Virginia, later on Thursday, would provide a major naval command post in the Gulf of Mexico, helping coordinate the actions of nearly a dozen other warships and supply vessels, including two Navy helicopter assault ships.
The Navy dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island also is leaving Norfolk to join the relief effort, the Navy said. Whidbey Island will bring the capability to employ a movable causeway to the region, the Navy said. Many bridges were destroyed when Hurricane Katrina hit the region on Monday.
The military hospital ship Comfort is scheduled to depart Baltimore in the coming days to provide an offshore floating medical center with 12 operating rooms and up to 1,000 beds.
The Truman is 1,092 feet (333 meters) long and is capable of carrying more than 80 aircraft, including large helicopters. The Navy said it would carry additional helicopters from Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida to support search-and-rescue efforts.
The crew of up to 5,000 on the carrier would bring to nearly 35,000 the number of National Guard and active duty military troops committed to the biggest domestic relief effort ever mounted by federal agencies in the United States.
There also are nearly 8,000 sailors and other active duty troops committed to the effort, most of them aboard ships or flying air support missions.
Dozens of helicopters are also being used to help rescue trapped citizens in flooded New Orleans and to help provide food, water and other relief for destroyed coastal sections of Louisiana and Mississippi.
______________________________________________________
Personally, I was hoping they would also deploy an LHA/LHD so the Marines can patrol the city with the AAVP7A1 or LAV. Nothing better to discourage the lowlifes that hampering the relief effort than a 25mm.