Navy, Coast Guard deploying forces to Haiti

The Virginian-Pilot ^ | 13 Jan 10 | Corinne Reilly

[GATOR NAVY]

NORFOLK

Thousands of Hampton Roads sailors received orders this morning to prepare to deploy to Haiti as part of a massive U.S. effort to deliver humanitarian assistance in the wake of Tuesday’s devastating earthquake.

At least four Norfolk-based ships are getting ready to leave for the impoverished country, said Ted Brown, a spokesman with Norfolk’s Fleet Forces Command. The amphibious assault ship Bataan, the guided missile cruiser Normandy and the dock landing ships Fort McHenry and Carter Hall will likely leave port by Friday, the Navy said.

Expeditionary forces based at the Little Creek campus of the Joint Expeditionary Base also are preparing to deploy, Brown said.

Additional Navy ships that will deliver humanitarian assistance include the frigate Underwood, based in Mayport, Fla., and the hospital ship Comfort, homeported in Baltimore.

The San Diego-based aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, which left Norfolk on Tuesday after finishing its midlife overhaul, has been redirected to load equipment and supplies to assist in the recovery, Brown said.

Several U.S. Coast Guard ships also have been deployed to the area, including the Portsmouth-based cutter Forward, which arrived in Haiti early this morning, said Senior Chief Petty Officer Steve Carleton. The Coast Guard’s first order of business will be to assess whether main ports near Port-au-Prince are clear to receive ships carrying aid, Carleton said.

[freepersup]

Retired Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré (remember the stuck on stupid observation during Katrina?) just took the State Dept. to the woodshed during a CNN interview just concluded, in giving his advice as to what needs to happen immediately in Haiti, and especially at the airport.

Bottom line: The military needs to take charge (assume command of the effort.)

Very enlightening, to say the least.

[GATOR NAVY]

WASP is an LHD, not technically a carrier.

[Thunder90]

Our commitment to Haiti is only going to increase. We will probably end up sending over 20,000 troops there just to provide security, as the Haitian government does not exist anymore.

[Rome2000]

Burn all the bodies, evacuate all residents in affected areas to safe and stable environments, level the affected area, and start from scratch.

Anything else is a recipe for another disaster on top of the natural one.

[verity]

Anything else is a recipe for another disaster on top of the natural one.

Unfortunately, I doubt that practicality will be a major consideration.

[VOA]

bump