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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
US Military Helping in Four Pacific Disasters |
2009-10-03 |
![]() The commander of American troops in the Pacific region, Admiral Timothy Keating, says several U.S. Special Forces troops were on their way to Indonesia for a scheduled exercise when the earthquake happened. The admiral says their aircraft was diverted to the quake zone, where they joined a U.S. embassy team assessing the damage and doing relief work. Another American military plane was sent with supplies, and a ship with helicopters capable of lifting heavy loads is on the way, at the request of the Indonesian government. The admiral says he is sending a senior officer to oversee U.S. military efforts to help the Indonesian government and U.S. civilian agencies. Admiral Keating also reports that two U.S. Navy ships with several hundred Marines on board are off the coast of Manila, ready to help after the super typhoon passes. About 20 U.S. troops were in Manila helping after the last storm, and others have gone ashore to plan for the new storm. Keating says the Philippine government and military are leading the effort, but his troops are ready to help. The admiral spoke by phone from his headquarters in Hawaii to reporters at the Pentagon. "We're forward deployed. We've got very capable young men and women. They're very well-equipped and well-trained. And they're out there providing disaster relief," he said. Admiral Keating says U.S. Pacific Command has flown five large cargo planes to American Samoa, carrying search and rescue teams, food, vehicles and equipment for dealing with human remains, following the tsunami that hit that area. He says more flights may go in the coming days, carrying teams and supplies from the American Red Cross. He says a U.S. Navy ship is also in the area, with helicopters that can help with search and rescue efforts. The admiral says he has not received any request for help from nearby Western Samoa. At the same time, Pacific Command has ordered nearly all military aircraft and ships to leave the U.S. territory of Guam, where a storm is also approaching. Admiral Keating says the military is ready to help on Guam, Tinian and Saipan if the storm causes damage. |
Posted by:Steve White |
#6 The hat looks like a futuristic Star Trek version of hijab. |
Posted by: Lumpy Elmoluck5091 2009-10-03 13:02 |
#5 Those Fashon "Hats" have got to be a Joke. |
Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-10-03 12:01 |
#4 One of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. This is in Fashion |
Posted by: Muggsy Shusing1990 2009-10-03 11:29 |
#3 Typhoon Meleor = NWS #20W appears to be moving away from Guam, heading 80 miles north of Saipan in the CNMI. Its mostly cool or sunny outside as interrupted by isolated, strong brief gusts of wind + rain. Too bad the USAF canceled their scheduled air show. IMO Guam received more rain + wind from 18W + prior smaller disturbances. |
Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-10-03 03:19 |
#2 It's what we do, CF. Best wishes to you and yours. |
Posted by: Woozle Uneter9007 2009-10-03 00:44 |
#1 My in-laws live in Manila (Philippines). They had to evacuate their home and the water is up to one's chest. Some of their neighbors simply can't evac out - no place to go. So they are essentually living on the roofs of their sheet-metal homes - some are dirt poor and simply have no place to so and the government simply doesn't have the capacity to help (due to corruption). And they got another super-typhoon on the way. Its simply awesome to see the U.S. Military over there willing and able to give whatever assistance it can. |
Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-10-03 00:39 |