Transcript DOD MITCH RELIEF

Department of Defense
Support to Foreign Disaster
Relief Operations
INTERHANDS Seminar
Mr. John Christiansen
24 October 2000
Agenda
• Foreign Disaster Relief Overview
• Hurricane Mitch - A Wake-Up Call
• Disaster Preparedness Pays Off
– Seminars
– Exercises
– Disaster Relief Warehouses
• Belize
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Foreign Disaster Relief Overview
• US military is not an instrument of first resort in
responding to humanitarian crises
– DoD supports civil relief agencies and US country teams; it does
not lead the efforts
• However, US military may be involved when:
– Disaster exceeds the response capabilities of civilian relief
agencies
– There is urgent need for immediate relief
– US military has unique assets to contribute
• When the US military does become involved:
–
–
–
–
The military mission should be clearly defined
The risks should be minimal
The involvement should aim at jump-starting civilian relief efforts
The exit conditions should be clear
3
Requesting Disaster Relief
Support from DoD
Host Nation
Request for Support
from US Embassy
1. Request made;
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
Validates Request
2. Formal Request
transmitted to DOD
DoD Staffs
Request with
Appropriate
Offices
State Department
Transmits Formal
Request to DoD
The Joint Staff
3. Request Approved and Execute Memo
signed out to Joint Staff
Regional Command
4
Hurricane Mitch - A Wake-Up Call
Background
• Hurricane Mitch struck Central America in fall of 1998
• 9,000 dead; 9,000 missing, presumed dead
• Storm damage over USD $4 Billion
US and International Assistance
• DoD provided over 7,000 soldiers and spent more then US $100
million; SAR, provision and transport of supplies, rudimentary road
repair
• USAID provided more than US $25 million for relief activities
• More than 30 countries and numerous Non-Governmental (NGO) and
International Organizations (IO) contributed to response
• UN recorded contributions of USD $403 million
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Hurricane Mitch
• Hurricane Mitch struck Central America on
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DISASTER PREPARDNESS PAYS-OFF
Increased regional cooperation throughout the
years has ...
DP Seminar
Central America
FA-HUM 99
Miami, Florida
DP Seminar
Caribbean
FA-HUM 98
Guatemala
FA-HUM 01
Costa Rica
FA-HUM 00
Dominican Republic
DP Seminar
Andean Ridge
DP Seminar
Southern Cone
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...helped to mitigate the affects of disasters.
DoD Cooperation with Federal and Regional
Partners
CDERA
PAHO
• Disaster Relief Exercises
• Disaster Relief Conferences
• Humanitarian Exercises
• Warehouse Initiatives
DoD Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP)
“Powerful Engagement Tool”
Types of Projects and Activities
• Excess Property (EP):
• Medical:
• Disaster Relief Supplies/Equipment
• Disease/Vector Control
• Medical Supplies/Equipment
• Veterinary Services
• School Supplies/Equipment
• Medical Equipment
Repair and Training
• Other Humanitarian
Assistance:
• Search and Rescue (SAR) Training
• Engineer Technical Support
• Disaster Management Training
• Disaster/Technical/Logistical/ Medical
Assessments
• Disease Surveillance
System
• Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT)
Training
• Post Disaster Stress
Management Training
• Medical/Dental
Services
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CDERA DR Warehouse System
(Building Self Sufficiency)
CDERA
ANTIGUA
JAMAICA
BARBADOS
TRINIDAD
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National Disaster Relief
Warehouses
(Building Self Sufficiency)
CDERA
REGIONAL
ANTIGUA
JAMAICA
NATIONAL
CEPREDENAC
BARBADOS
TRINIDAD
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Hurricane Keith
Background
• Made landfall in Belize on 3 October
• Government of Belize requested USG assistance on 2 October
• Greatest damage reported on the islands of Caye Culker and San
Pedro
• 60,000 homes destroyed, thousands more damaged
US and International Assistance
• SOUTHCOM Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) Disaster
Relief and Supplies (USD $500K) in place to empower Belize Civil
Defense
• HAP donations utilized to support Belize relief effort
• DoD provided lift support for assorted medical and relief supplies
• USAID deployed a DART team and a GO team from Miami with
hygiene kits
• British Navy provided five helos and a ship that produce potable 12
water
Lessons Learned
• Prepare to prevent damage rather than to
recover from it
• Civil-military integration must be practiced!
• Detailed, accurate assessments are vital
• Emergency care does not equal rehabilitation needs
or reconstruction requirements
• Logistics control is vital
• Work with the media; ensure accuracy
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