• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence

• Security Menu                     

• Systems
• Industry
• Operations
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Space

Kearsarge Continues Disaster Relief Operations in Haiti

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080922-10

Release Date: 9/22/2008 6:21:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina Wollman, Continuing Promise 2008 Public Affairs

MONT ROUIS, Haiti (NNS) -- Several joint and international military personnel, currently embarked aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) for Continuing Promise 2008, remained in Haiti Sept. 20-21 while the ship transited to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to refuel and reload supplies.

With a combination of Marine aircrew, Navy and Air Force engineers, joint-military and multi-national medical personnel, United States Public Health Service personnel, ship's crew and landing craft unit personnel, the humanitarian assistance/disaster relief mission that has been ongoing since Kearsarge's arrival in Haiti Sept. 8 has continued without delay.

"Even though the ship needed to leave, we needed to stay behind to continue with operational support here," said Capt. Christopher Smith, from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464.

Personnel who remained in Haiti delivered food, water and other supplies to local areas affected by Hurricane Ike. Engineering and medical assessments have also become a top priority.

"We have been inspecting a lot of different areas to figure out what the specific needs are," said USPHS Cmdr. Dale Bates. "We are finding out what communities need the most help and which ones are actually doing well."

Many of the communities in Haiti are in need of more than just food and water. Flooding from Hurricane Ike in the northern region of the country has left many families without homes and many towns without accessible roads or bridges.

Mont Rouis resident Pierre Frantz, an administrator to several missions here, was very excited about all of the help being offered to the Haitian communities.

"When Ike hit, it was very bad here," he said. "Many houses were flooded; roads were washed out, and bridges were torn away. I am very happy to have all of the help from the different nations."

Not only has the destruction left by Hurricane Ike been an issue, but the language barrier has also been challenge for some of the volunteers.

Capt. Jillian Batt, a nurse with the Canadian Armed Forces, currently embarked aboard Kearsarge, has been able to lend a hand with medical assessments and overcoming the language barrier.

"Translating has been exciting for me," said Batt. "It is nice to be able to translate and be a great part with the American Forces helping these communities in need."

With many of the towns not having proper medical care since the storm, medical personnel from Kearsarge have kept busy providing basic medical exams to people in need.

"Our main mission is to bring food," said Cmdr. Nathan Uebelhoer, "but we are also here to attend to acute health issues."

In addition to the personnel who have continued to provide relief to the people of Haiti, three CH-53E helicopters form HMH-464 have delivered medical teams and relief supplies daily.

"There are certain times when Marines are excited to go from ship to shore," said Smith. "This is one of those times."

To date, helicopters and landing craft embarked aboard Kearsarge have delivered more than 1,200 metric tons of relief supplies, including 26,000 gallons of water to devastated communities isolated by damaged roads and bridges.

The areas needing the most immediate assistance have been prioritized by the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.