The U.S. Navy is sending three
large-deck amphibious ships to waters off of New York and New
Jersey to assist in storm recovery and relief, according to the
Navy’s chief of information.
“The Navy is moving ships to be closer to the areas
affected by the hurricane,” Rear Admiral John Kirby, the
service’s chief spokesman, said in a blog posting today.
The Pentagon said in a separate update on military
assistance that 10,000 Army and Air Force National Guard
personnel have been mobilized to provide support in the 13
states that were hit hardest by superstorm Sandy.
While the three ships haven’t been officially assigned to
post-storm duties, Kirby said the moves “will allow our forces
to be best-postured to minimize the amount of time it will take
these forces to get on station if tasked.”
The USS Wasp, USS San Antonio and USS Carter Hall are being
sent from Norfolk, Virginia. The San Antonio is the lead ship in
the new $18.8 billion, 12-ship LPD-17 class. The three vessels
are capable of carrying Navy helicopters or refueling Army
choppers.
The Wasp was already out to sea riding out the storm when
it headed north “to be better positioned,” Kirby said, and the
other ships today were ordered to follow.
Sending Pumps
In other moves by the military, the Pentagon said in an e-
mailed statement that the U.S. Transportation Command airlifted
about 120 medical personnel to New York City to reinforce staff
providing care to nursing home residents and at-risk elderly
patients.
Transport aircraft also were on standby and medical
personnel were being brought in from Colorado, Ohio, and Texas.
The Army Corps of Engineers has received 25 assignments so
far from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance,
including missions in New York City to deliver and use “high-
volume” water pumps to drain flooded areas, according to the
Pentagon.
The equipment includes 25 pumps being shipped from New
Orleans. The U.S. Northern Command, which is coordinating the
military’s assistance, is providing an additional 100 pumps to
FEMA, the Pentagon said.
