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# DLA Distribution Sigonella supports Navy ships amid historic flooding

By Dawn Bonsell, DLA Distribution Public Affairs Officer

                NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa.  –              
As a Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone, also known as a “medicane,” battered southern Italy for a third day in late October, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Sigonella workers raced to prepare shipments for Navy customers.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the DDSI team for pulling together during this major storm to ensure the warfighters have the supplies they need,” said Navy Cmdr. Eugene "Geno" Dawson Jr., DDSI commander.

                Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Sigonella, Italy, workers load three trucks October 26, 2021, for shipment to the USS Mount Whitney amid historical flooding in the region.                            DLA Distribution Sigonella supports Navy ships amid historic flooding                            Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Sigonella, Italy, workers load three trucks October 26, 2021, for shipment to the USS Mount Whitney amid historical flooding in the region.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DLA Distribution Public AffairsVIRIN: 211026-D-D0441-1142

As heavy rains and strong winds left roads completed submerged, knocked out power, flooded Naval Air Station Sigonella homes and base facilities and stranded people in their cars, DDSI’s mission essential workers loaded and sent three trucks to the USS Mount Whitney in Gaeta, Italy. The supplies included aviation maintenance gear — spare parts and consumables for Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28.

The DDSI transportation team prepared the manifest and customs forms Oct. 25 to allow trucks to depart the next day and the team proactively met with the carrier to discuss the urgency of delivering the maintenance gear, convincing the carrier to add two drivers to each truck.

DDSI workers swiftly loaded three trucks that departed as scheduled from Naval Air Station Sigonella for the ferry terminal in Messina, Italy. While this is the standard route trucks take to reach mainland Italy, the heavy rains from Sunday and Monday night caused a landslide on the Autostrada, the national Italian expressway, blocking the route to Messina. The trucks were ordered to turn around by the Italian Authorities. One of the truck’s travelled three hours to Palermo to take the ferry from Palermo to Messina and made it to Gaeta the evening of Oct. 26. The other two trucks were rerouted to the Catania port authority to take the ferry to Salerno, Italy. However, extreme weather and unsafe conditions at sea at Port Catania prevented the trucks from crossing. With the extra two drivers per truck, they were able to drive through the night, arriving in Gaeta, Italy, Oct. 27 at noon.

As the DDSI team braced for additional days of devastating rain and flash flooding, they moved material handling equipment to higher ground and installed a sandbag barrier around office doors and warehouse bays. Never pausing support to the warfighter, the team also received and shipped multiple trucks during the lull in the storm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

                Santo Santagati prepares material at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Sigonella, Italy, October 26, 2021, for shipment to the USS Mount Whitney amid historical flooding in the region.                            DLA Distribution Sigonella supports Navy ships amid historic flooding                            Santo Santagati prepares material at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Sigonella, Italy, October 26, 2021, for shipment to the USS Mount Whitney amid historical flooding in the region.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DLA Distribution Public AffairsVIRIN: 211027-D-D0441-0001

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DLADistributionDDSImedicaneNaval Air Station SigonellaUSS Mount WhitneyHelicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28