NASA VIDEO: 2012 HURRICANE SEASON RAINFALL

FROM:  NASA

2012 Hurricane Season Rainfall
This animation shows rainfall totals calculated by NASA's TRMM satellite from tropical cyclones that affected the western Atlantic Ocean area during the 2012 hurricane season. It begins on May 19, 2012 with the formation of Tropical Storm Alberto off the coast of South Carolina and progresses through the Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 29. The last storm of the season, Tony, was out of the view of this animation. Measurements appear in millimeters.

Credit-NASA-SSAI, Hal Pierce

FEMA AWARDS $39 MILLION TO REMOVE DEBRIS LEFT BY HURRICANE SANDY

 

Long Beach Island, N.J., Nov. 26, 2012 -- Township debris clean is continuing and they clean up after Hurricane Sandy. FEMA's Public Assistance Grants will become available to cities and towns to assist in covering the cost of recovery. Steve Zumwalt-FEMA

FROM: U.S. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

FEMA Awards $39 Million in Debris Removal Funding

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved two Public Assistance (PA) grants totaling more than $39 million to reimburse the city of Long Beach and Nassau County for 75 percent of their costs for debris removal due to Hurricane Sandy.

$24 million will go to the city of Long Beach; $15 million will be awarded to Nassau County. FEMA does not perform the actual debris removal work; it reimburses the local governments that contract for the eligible work.

Strong winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Sandy brought down trees, tree limbs and power lines throughout Nassau County. Within the city of Long Beach, heavy rains and a six foot storm surge deposited more than 330,000 cubic yards of debris, 400,000 cubic yards of sand and 2,550 cubic yards of vegetative debris throughout the city.

Collecting and clearing out piles of debris has been one of the most difficult and time-consuming challenges of the recovery. Through hard work and persistence over the past month, debris piles are dwindling and, in many cases, disappearing altogether. The FEMA PA program reimburses state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations 75 percent of eligible debris removal costs. In order to qualify, damage must be a direct result of Hurricane Sandy.

"FEMA is committed to getting people back into their homes" said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. "A critical step is clearing debris out of the way so the recovery can progress. We will continue to work alongside our partners in New York state and local government until the job is finished."

Under FEMA’s PA program, FEMA obligates funds to the state for, at a minimum, 75 percent of eligible costs. The remaining 25 percent is covered provided by non-federal funds. The state forwards the federal funds to the eligible local governments or organizations that incurred costs.

For debris removal to be eligible, the work must be necessary to:
Eliminate an immediate threat to lives, public health and safety,
Eliminate immediate threats of significant damage to improved public and private property when the measures are cost effective, or
Ensure the economic recovery of the affected community to the benefit of the community-at-large.

HURRICANE AFTERMATH VOLUNTEERS SAID TO BE "VITAL" BY FEMA



Bottled Water Distribution After Hurricane Sandy.  Credit:  FEMA

FROM:  U.S. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Volunteers Are A Vital Resource In The Aftermath Of Sandy
Release date:
November 26, 2012
　

TRENTON, N.J. – When a disaster strikes, volunteers are a vital resource. They represent the compassionate face that brings comfort to disaster survivors and provides for their immediate needs.

"Working together as friends and neighbors is spontaneous after a disaster" said FEMA Volunteer Agency Liaison Manager Ken Skalitzky. "This approach is really what makes a community whole again."

One group of volunteers recently was recognized when Middletown, N.J. Mayor Anthony P. Fiore presented the Key to the City to Dave Karr, whose volunteer staff from the Southern Baptist Convention, Oklahoma Disaster Relief, prepared more than 1.5 million meals for disaster survivors.

"It was a real honor," Karr said. "I was told they rarely do this. I accepted on behalf of the whole Oklahoma team."

Karr’s team and the organization they represent are typical of the volunteers working in New Jersey, both locally and from out of state. More than 100 organizations manage thousands of dedicated volunteers. Here are some of the major organizations and their services:
Adventist Community Services – manages warehouse distribution of supplies for disaster survivors.
Mennonite Disaster Service – doing clean up, repairs, and rebuilding homes.
The Salvation Army – provided Thanksgiving dinner or lunch in several locations throughout the state. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance social services programs connect needs with available resources.
Samaritans Purse – doing muck outs, removing dirt and debris; cleaning up and sanitizing homes to prevent mold.
Southern Baptist Convention/Oklahoma Disaster Relief – 117 volunteers prepared more than 1.5 million meals to date, and is deploying 41 emergency relief vehicles across New Jersey to continue feeding disaster survivors.
The Red Cross – more than 4,000 volunteers assisting with meals, sheltering, essential supplies, and health services.
United Methodist Committee on Relief – volunteers working on "muck outs."
Catholic Charities – 363 volunteers serving at relief sites offered financial and other material assistance to some 3,000 families. The sites are now closed.
Voluntary Agency Liaison staff at FEMA work with the state umbrella organization, New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). FEMA provides information on the extent

of damage from the disaster to VOAD. The organization then contacts its local partners who provide direct services to disaster survivors.

Disaster assistance is coordinated over the long term by VOAD to make sure everyone who needs help receives help.

 

FEMA APPROVED NEARLY $633 MILLION FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO RECOVER FROM HURRICANE SANDY

 

121110-N-ZZ999-003 BREEZY POINT, N.Y. (Nov. 10, 2012) Builder Constructionman Sean McHugh, Construction Mechanic Constructionman Devin Leahr and Builder 3rd Class Glenn Reardon, all assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5, installing plywood to a building that was damaged during Hurricane Sandy. (U.S. Navy photo by Electronics Technician Seaman Sean Roozen/Released)

FROM: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
NEW YORK — Since Hurricane Sandy struck New York, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved nearly $633 million to help individuals and families recover from the disaster.

FEMA is reaching out to all 13 designated counties with attention focused on the hardest hit areas of New York State. Assistance to the hardest hit areas includes:
Bronx $1.4 million
Kings $129.3 million
Nassau $217.4 million
New York $7.1 million
Queens $165.2 million
Richmond $65.9 million
Suffolk $43.8 million
FEMA provides the following snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of Nov. 23:
More than 225,000 New Yorkers have contacted FEMA for information or registered for assistance with FEMA and nearly $633 million has been approved. Almost 116,000 have applied through the online application site at www.disasterassistance.gov, or on their smart phone at m.fema.gov.
36 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open in the affected areas. These include mobile sites as well as fixed sites, and to date more than 47,000 survivors have been assisted at DRCs in New York.
Nearly 1,300 inspectors in the field have completed almost 123,000 home inspections.
1,067 Community Relations (CR) specialists are strategically positioned throughout affected communities, going door to door explaining the types of disaster assistance available and how to register. More teams continue to arrive daily.
9 fixed feeding sites are being operated by the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
4 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs), 1 Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) and 1 National Veterinary Response Team (NVRT) from the Department of Health and Human Services remain deployed in New York.
13 New York counties are designated for both individual and public assistance, including: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has staff members at 18 Business Recovery Centers in the New York area to provide one-on-one help to business owners seeking disaster assistance and has approved more than $18.7 million in disaster loans to both individuals and businesses.
Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362.

NEW YORK SANDY SURVIVORS RECEIVED $564 MILLION IN TOTAL INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS



Photo:  Hurricane Sandy.  Credit:  NOAA

FROM: U.S. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

NEW YORK – New York survivors of Hurricane Sandy have received $564 million in federal individual assistance grants to help them recover from damages caused by the storm.

The assistance includes $531 million in housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs, and $33 million to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.

Disaster assistance grants must be used for disaster-related expenses. Shortly after receiving the funds, survivors receive a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency explaining how the money may be used. Survivors should keep receipts for all disaster-related expenses.

Housing Assistance funds may be used for:
Repairs to return the home to a safe and functional condition. These may include repairs to windows, doors, water and ventilation systems or other structural parts of a home.
Rebuilding a home that has been destroyed.
Reimbursement for hotel or motel lodging expenses directly related to the disaster while the survivor’s home is being repaired. Those who must remain in temporary housing for an extended period may request more assistance until their home can be reoccupied or other permanent housing arrangements can be made.
Other Needs Assistance funds may be used for:
Medical, dental and funeral expenses.
Repair or replacement of damaged personal property, specialized tools for employment, household items, furniture and appliances.
Reimbursement for moving expenses and transportation costs (vehicle repair).
Other approved disaster-related expenses.
Survivors with questions about use of FEMA grants may call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

GENERATORS SENT TO HELP HURRICANE SANDY SURVIVORS

Army Sgt. 1st Class Barry "Lee" Newnam II, noncommissioned officer in charge, 249th Engineer Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C., assists in the movement of generators to be sent to areas in New Jersey that are in critical need of power. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jennifer Brady

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Soldiers Coordinate Generator Shipment for Sandy Relief

By Army Sgt. Jennifer Brady
10th Press Camp Headquarters

LAKEHURST, N.J., Nov. 9, 2012 - State and local authorities, with support from federal agencies, have been working to restore power to residents of the northeastern United States impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said his top priority is to restore power to those affected by the storm and the U.S. Army's 249th Engineer Battalion, based at Fort Bragg, N.C., is helping to do just that.

"We're conducting support of the national response framework by conducting assessments at critical facilities and sending the information back to the generator yard to begin sending generators out so that we can help bring power back to the people of New Jersey," said Army Capt. Michael Wiehagen, who commands the battalion's Bravo Company.

Wiehagen, a Pittsburgh native, is responsible for a number of engineer teams throughout New Jersey and parts of New York that are working around the clock to assess damage and determine the scale of assistance needed.

Once local power needs are identified, Wiehagen's mission is coordinating the allocation and shipping of generators to these areas.

For Army Sgt. 1st Class Barry "Lee" Newnam II, noncommissioned officer in charge, 249th Engineer Battalion, it's more than a mission; it's an opportunity to help fellow Americans.

"Being a United States Army soldier, it's a privilege to help the citizens of New Jersey in this time of need and I look forward to continuing to serve," Newnam said. "We are here to offer support to the state of New Jersey for as long as they need us and it's imperative that we continue this support at such a critical time."

The generators allocated for New Jersey residents are ready and capable, the engineers said, with enough power to support hospitals and other areas in critical need.

Four generators can provide enough energy to power a small town, and with hundreds of generators facilitated by the 249th Engineer Battalion, the soldiers and FEMA are well on their way to restoring power in New Jersey.

FEMA PHOTOS OF HURRICANE SANDY: THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS

FROM: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 7, 2012 -- Boats are strewn on streets near the shore in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy. FEMA is working with state and local officials to assist residents who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA

Sea Bright, N.J., Nov. 6, 2012 -- A six foot deep pool at a seaside motel is filled up with sand dumped here by Hurricane Sandy. FEMA is working with state and local officials to assist residents who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA

THE NATIONAL GUARD PROVIDES POST-SANDY AID

New York Army National Guard soldiers assist residents at Long Beach City Hall, N.J., for evacuation to shelters. Guard members are assisting throughout the flood-ravaged region. U.S. Army photo by Col. Richard Goldenberg, New York National Guard

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
By Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2012 - More than 7,000 National Guard members are providing aid to Hurricane Sandy-impacted communities along the East Coast and other areas, including thousands of Guardsmen in New York and New Jersey helping residents get onto their feet after the superstorm destroyed homes and crippled infrastructure.

National Guard members on Nov. 3 started supporting other state and federal agencies working to ease gasoline distribution challenges in New York. Guard members also provided food, water, presence patrols and transportation, going from house- to house on Staten Island conducting wellness checks and running pumps and generators.

More than 4,000 Guard troops are focused on the two states where Sandy did the most damage: New Jersey and New York.

"The National Guard takes its missions from the governor, and they're supporting the first responders, so when the capabilities of the first responders have been exceeded, then the National Guard is called in to support," said Army Gen. Frank J. Grass, the chief of the National Guard Bureau.

The National Guard has hundreds of thousands of troops available nationwide and a plethora of capabilities a phone call away, the general noted.

"We'll tailor those to meet the need, based on what the city and the state require," Grass said.

"More than 6,000 Army National Guard soldiers are part of the massive relief effort across the entire region," said Army Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr., the director of the Army National Guard. "Our soldiers are concentrated in communities hardest hit by the cold, flooding and power outages.

"We're ramping up our future operations as well," Ingram continued. "About a thousand additional soldiers from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Delaware are on their way to help out with critical transportation, security and supply distribution efforts in New York and New Jersey."

Grass saw the challenges New Jersey and New York residents face first-hand Nov. 2 during an eight-hour visit to assess damage and needs and thank troops.

"New Jersey is in consequence management, recovering," he said. "Lots and lots of contract capability, construction capability ... still long lines in some places as they recover and at the gas stations."

As Grass conducted a damage-assessment survey from a National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over New York City and its environs Nov. 2, he saw houses off their foundations, piles of soaked possessions including mattresses dragged to the curb, and sand-covered roadways from shore to shore of narrow barrier islands. As darkness fell, chunks of the metropolis were in darkness and gas stations were easy to identify by the police lights flashing outside and the miles-long lines of tail-lights snaking along approach roads.

"In New York, it's going to be a long haul there," Grass said. "So much damage -- especially the subways. It's going to take a while to get those pumped out. But the city looks like it's ready to roll. It's functioning down there. Some of the outer islands, you could see a lot of damage, and it's going to take a while to get that cleaned up."

"The National Guard has been called on again when our citizens are in need of help -- neighbors helping neighbors," Army Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, the adjutant general of New York National Guard, said during a visit to Manhattan to assess possible National Guard support to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers efforts to remove water from flooded road and subway tunnels.

"These are soldiers that have trained for combat but serve in domestic operations," Murphy said. "They've done just incredible work in the area of security, logistics distribution and working with law enforcement and their local partners. Our soldiers and airmen ... are true professionals and they want to help the citizens that they live with every day, their neighbors."

When he wasn't talking with troops on the ground Nov. 2, Grass was engaged in a steady stream of phone consultations with federal, state and local officials that left no time for even a food break. Returning to the Pentagon late Nov. 2, his weekend continued with a steady stream of White House, secretary of defense, Federal Emergency Management Agency and other meetings that started as the storm approached more than a week ago.

"I saw today many, many soldiers and airmen who have deployed overseas," Grass said as he returned to the Pentagon. "You couldn't ask for a better team to be ready to support the citizens and every one of those soldiers and airmen out there I saw today was very happy to do the mission they are doing."

Residents returned Guard members' enthusiasm for the post-storm aid mission with appreciation.

"The level of appreciation for the soldiers and the airmen is just unprecedented," said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jerome Jenkins, the senior enlisted leader of the New Jersey Army National Guard. "Astounding, great reaction, because they know that we're here to help. When they see the Guard, they know that we're here to help."

Search and rescue, sheltering, debris removal, food and water distribution, power generation support, door-to-door wellness checks, damage surveys and working with local authorities to maintain civil order are among New Jersey Guard members' missions, he said.

"It's been a great opportunity for us as Guard members to show our neighbors, the citizens of New Jersey, what they're paying for," said Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Vincent Morton, the senior enlisted leader of the New Jersey Air National Guard. "We bring a calming effect. Outside the door, the wind is blowing, the tide is coming up; when they see us in uniform, it brings that calming effect."

Morton added: "We get an opportunity to serve right here in the state of New Jersey. It's our neighbors. ... It's very rewarding: You go overseas, you serve your country -- but it's even more rewarding when you get back and you serve your neighbors. The Air National Guard is a key piece when there's a state emergency, we're always easy to get to, and we bring a huge skill set to the fight."

Guard members continued to provide support in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia.

Operations in those states included route clearance, mounted presence patrols, commodities distribution, power generation support, sand and debris clearance, snow clearance, traffic control, search and rescue and health and welfare checks on residents in remote areas, according to the National Guard Coordination Center in Arlington, Va.

States outside the affected area also were contributing. For the first time, a C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft from the Ohio National Guard supported a domestic mission by transporting soldiers and vehicles headed to New York to support relief efforts there.

USDA URGES FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO KEEP TRACK OF LOSSES FROM HURRICANE SANDY

Photo Credit:  USDA

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, USDA

Farmers and Ranchers Urged to Record Losses from Hurricane Sandy


WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2012--Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia today urged farmers and ranchers affected by Hurricane Sandy to keep thorough records of all losses, including livestock death losses, as well as expenses for such things as feed purchases and extraordinary costs because of lost supplies and or increased transportation costs.

Producers with damaged farmland should contact their local FSA office. The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) may be able to assist producer who need to repair farmland or remove debris due to Hurricane Sandy. FSA currently has $15.5 million available for producers in counties that received a Major Disaster declaration pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Producers located in counties that have not received a Major Disaster declaration should visit their local FSA office for information on ECP if funding becomes available in the future.


Producers with private forest land that was damaged should also visit their local FSA office for information on the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP). EFRP provides assistance to landowners of private forest land to help carry out emergency measures to restore land damaged by a natural disaster. Currently no funding is available, however, producers should visit their local FSA office for information if funding becomes available.


USDA's Risk Management Agency reminds producers faced with questions on prevented planting, replant, or crop losses to contact their crop insurance agent for more information. Producers who need emergency credit due may receive assistance through the Emergency Loan Program if they need assistance recovering from production and physical losses due to natural disasters. Producers are eligible for these loans as soon as their county is declared a Presidential or Secretarial disaster county.


Agriculture Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that the department's authority to operate the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill expired on Sept. 30, 2011. This includes SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage.


To deliver assistance to those who need it most, Secretary Vilsack effectively reduced the interest rate for Emergency Loans in July 2012, while streamlining the Secretarial disaster designations process, resulting in a 40-percent reduction in processing time for most counties affected by disasters. Among other administrative actions, USDA has also worked with crop insurance companies to provide more flexibility to farmers.


USDA will continue working with state and local officials, as well as our federal partners, to make sure people have the necessary resources to recover from this challenge.


Crops insured by federal crop insurance or by the Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) are covered when floodwaters have rendered them valueless. USDA encourages all farmers and ranchers to contact their crop insurance companies and local USDA Farm Service Agency Service Centers, as applicable, to report damages to crops or livestock loss. More information about federal crop insurance may be found at

Documentation of the number and kind of livestock that have died, supplemented if possible by photographs or video records of ownership and losses; Dates of death supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts; Costs of transporting livestock to safer grounds or to move animals to new pastures; Feed purchases if supplies or grazing pastures are destroyed; Crop records, including seed and fertilizer purchases, planting and production records; Pictures of on-farm storage facilities that were destroyed by wind or flood waters; and Evidence of damaged farm land.
FSA recommends that owners and producers record all pertinent information of natural disaster consequences, including:www.rma.usda.gov. Additional resources to help farmers and ranchers deal with flooding and other damage may be found at www.usda.gov/disaster.


To find the USDA Service Center nearest you, please visit http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=us&agency=fsa.

EPA WAIVES SOME CLEAN GASOLINE REQUIREMENTS IN SEVERAL STATES BECAUSE OF HURRICANE SANDY

Photo:  Hurricane Sandy.  Credit:  NOAA
FROM:  U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

EPA Approves Temporary Fuel Waivers to Assist States Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

WASHINGTON - EPA has exercised its authority under the Clean Air Act to temporarily waive certain federal clean gasoline requirements for gasoline sold and distributed in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, District of Columbia, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The waiver was granted by EPA in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE).

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson determined that, as a result of effects of Hurricane Sandy, extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist, which may result in a temporary shortage of gasoline compliant with federal regulations. The federal waiver will help ensure an adequate supply of fuels in the impacted states.

The waiver allows the sale and distribution of conventional gasoline in a number of Eastern states that are required to use reformulated gasoline, and allows a number of additional states to mix reformulated gasoline and conventional gasoline to remove potential barriers to the supply of gasoline to the region

NASA VIDEO: HURRICANE SANDY ON OCTOBER 29, 2012

NASA VIDEO

U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY PANETTA APPOINTS COMMANDERS IN PREPARATION OF HURRICANE SANDY

FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Panetta Appoints 'Dual' Commanders for Hurricane Relief

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2012 - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has appointed "dual status" commanders – those authorized to command both federal and state National Guard forces – in preparation for Hurricane Sandy.

As federal and state officials prepare for Sandy to make landfall between the Delaware and New York coasts tomorrow, Panetta agreed with the governors of several northeast coastal states to appoint the commanders "with the goal of helping to save lives and property during the storm," a Pentagon spokesman said in a press release issued yesterday.

"This special authority enables [the commanders] to effectively integrate the defense support operations and capabilities that governors request," the official said. Panetta made the appointments at the request of the governors of Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, he said.

"The secretary is prepared to quickly agree to similar requests from other states," he said.

The dual-status commander concept was created in 2009 and the first commander designees were appointed in August 2011 to prepare for Hurricane Irene, according to a Pentagon press release then.

DOD also is supporting Hurricane Sandy preparedness with its U.S. Northern Command, which has put aviation assets such as light- and medium-lift helicopters and rescue teams on 24-hour status to prepare to deploy in response to the storm, the release says. Northcom also is providing military installations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to use in its response operations, it says.

The National Guard Bureau is coordinating with the adjutants general and their disaster response teams in every East Coast state, the release says.

HURRICANE SANDY AS SEEN FROM SPACE

FROM: NASA

 

FLORIDA AIRMEN GET READY FOR HURRICANE SANDY

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
As Hurricane Sandy, a Category 1 storm, approaches, maintenance airmen assigned to the 920th Rescue Wing move a HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter onto the ramp to perform avionic systems operations checks at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 26, 2012. In between rain bands the service members huddled inside the aircraft during some of the more gusty conditions to finish their work for the day before tucking the helicopter back into the hangar with the rest of the aircraft for safekeeping. U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Cathleen Snow


Florida Airmen Brace for Hurricane Sandy

By Air Force Capt. Cathleen Snow
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., Oct. 26, 2012 - As Hurricane Sandy crept up the Atlantic coastline today blowing a mix of sand, rain and salt mist, 920th Rescue Wing airmen here moved the wing's six HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters inside an aircraft hangar to protect them from the storm.

"A damaging wind warning was issued earlier," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Charles Washington, range weather forecaster at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. While Hurricane Sandy isn't expected to exceed a Category 1, he said, sustained winds at 34 knots will be in effect until 5 a.m. Oct. 27.

The storm will be closest to Patrick later this evening at around 185 miles east of the base, Washington said.

Although no flying was scheduled involving the 920th today, maintenance airmen took precautions by policing loose items in and around the flight line, in addition to securing the 920th's five HC-130P/N King fixed-wing aircraft by fastening chains to their tails, noses and wings to steel rings embedded into the ramp.

"We [also] worked with the 920th Logistics Readiness Flight to put away deployment gear for the upcoming readiness exercise," said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Armand Barrett, logistic superintendent with the 920th Maintenance Operation Flight.

Long before the storm's eye neared, airmen moved one Pave Hawk onto the open aircraft ramp to perform avionic systems operations checks. In between rain bands they huddled inside the aircraft during some of the more gusty conditions to, "Get some work done today," Barrett said.

The 920th is a combat search-and-rescue wing dedicated to saving lives. It is a component of Air Force Reserve Command, based at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.