<!--/* //NOSONAR */--><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<!--/* //NOSONAR */--><html  lang="en-US">
<head id="Head"><meta id="MetaDescription" name="DESCRIPTION" /><meta id="MetaKeywords" name="KEYWORDS" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1" /><title>
	Southcom Commander: Military Hurricane Assistance Fast, Flexible
</title><link id="css3605" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/module.css" /><link id="css4619" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/desktopmodules/ArticleCS/styles/DOD2/style.css" /></head>
<body>
    <main>
    <div>
    <div class="aprint news">
    <div class="header">
        <img height="100" class="print-logo" alt="Site Logo" src="/Portals/7/Images/SOUTHCOM_logo_thumb.jpg?ver=SIvIeRRofyrg5ZHPpvvh6Q%3d%3d" />

        <h1 class="title">Southcom Commander: Military Hurricane Assistance Fast, Flexible</h1>
    </div>
    

    <div><b>By Terri Moon Cronk</b> <span class="date">/ Published Sept. 21, 2017</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">WASHINGTON, </span>
    <p><span>The strength and force of recent hurricanes in the Caribbean left historic levels of devastation on several island nations and territories in the region, said Navy Adm. <a href="https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography-View/Article/643347/admiral-kurt-w-tidd/" target="_blank">Kurt W. Tidd</a>, commander of <a href="http://www.southcom.mil/" target="_blank">U.S. Southern Command</a>. 


<!--image-->



<div class="media-inline media-inline-medium  media-inline-right  " style="max-width:400px">
    
    
    
    <a href="#pop2233219" class="popup" data-width="1620" data-height="1080">
        <div class="image-wrapper">
            <div class="overlay"></div>
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2017/Sep/18/2001815010/400/400/0/170917-M-IZ659-0241.JPG" alt="U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Austin C. Morgan, an assaultman with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), to clear debris at a local fire station that was affected by Hurricane Irma in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sept. 17, 2017." class="img-responsive" />
        </div>
    </a>
    
    
    
        
        
        
        <div class="minfo">
            
            
            <span class="caption">
                Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brandon L. Mills, center, a mortarman with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, moves debris blocking a drainage site at a fire station during Hurricane Irma relief efforts in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sept. 17, 2017. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Santino D. Martinez
            </span>
            
        </div>
        
        
    
    
</div>


<!--popup-->

<div style="display:none">
    
    <div class="media-inline-popup" id="pop2233219">
        <div class="media-inline-img-container"><img src="https://media.defense.gov/2017/Sep/18/2001815010/1920/1080/0/170917-M-IZ659-0241.JPG" alt="U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Austin C. Morgan, an assaultman with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), to clear debris at a local fire station that was affected by Hurricane Irma in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sept. 17, 2017." class="img-responsive" /></div>
        <div class="info">
            <span class="title">
                U.S. Marines, Sailors with the 26th MEU conduct relief work on Saint John
            </span>
            <div class="caption" style="max-width:1620px">
                Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brandon L. Mills, center, a mortarman with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, moves debris blocking a drainage site at a fire station during Hurricane Irma relief efforts in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sept. 17, 2017. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Santino D. Martinez
            </div>

            <div class="bottom">

                <div class="social">
                    <span class="subhead">SHARE IMAGE:</span>
                    <div class="a2a_kit a2a_default_style social-inner" data-a2a-url="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/IMAGERY/igphoto/2001815010/mediaid/2233219/" data-a2a-title="U.S. Marines, Sailors with the 26th MEU conduct relief work on Saint John" data-a2a-media="https://media.defense.gov/2017/Sep/18/2001815010/1920/1080/0/170917-M-IZ659-0241.JPG" data-page-url="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/1320668/southcom-commander-military-hurricane-assistance-fast-flexible/">
                        <a class="a2a_button_facebook social-link" aria-label="Share on Facebook">
                            <span class="fa fa-facebook"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_x social-link" aria-label="Share on X">
                            <span class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_email social-link" aria-label="Share by emailing content">
                            <span class="fa fa-envelope"></span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <script type="text/javascript" defer src="https://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js"></script>
                </div>

                <div class="action">
                    <div class="action-item download-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_download.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2017/Sep/18/2001815010/-1/-1/0/170917-M-IZ659-0241.JPG" title="U.S. Marines, Sailors with the 26th MEU conduct relief work on Saint John" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Download Image</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <div class="action-item detail-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_link.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/IMAGERY/igphoto/2001815010/mediaid/2233219/" title="U.S. Marines, Sailors with the 26th MEU conduct relief work on Saint John" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Image Details</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item photographer">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_photographer.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>Photo By: Lance Cpl. Santino Martinez</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item virin">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_info.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>VIRIN: 170917-M-IZ659-0241</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    
    
</div>













<style>
    #cboxClose {
        position: absolute;
        top: 5px;
        right: 5px;
        display: block;
        background: url(/desktopmodules/articlecs/images/media_popup_close.png) no-repeat top center;
        width: 40px;
        height: 40px;
        text-indent: -9999px;
    }

        #cboxClose:hover {
            background-position: bottom center;
        }

    .me-plugin {
        width: 100%;
        height: 100%;
    }
</style>
<script type="text/javascript">

    var gih = 0;
    var giw = 0;
    var pup;
    var g_isDynamic = false;

    function popupResize(ibox, w, h, doResize) {
        if ($(ibox).hasClass('dgov2popup-info')) {
            // This block is included once, so is shared by all media tokens.
            // this block is how we execute the special resize for dgov2's slideshow popup
            dgov2slideshowPopupResize(ibox, w, h, doResize);
            return;
        }

        if (!g_isDynamic)
            return;

        var isMobile = window.matchMedia('(max-width: 1200px)').matches;

        if (isMobile) {
            $.colorbox.resize({ width: "100%", height: "100%" });
            $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").width('100%');
            $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").height('auto');

            $(ibox).find(".info").css('height', 'auto');
            return;
        }

        var iw = w;
        var ih = h;
        var ww = $(window).width();
        var wh = $(window).height();
        var hextra = 40;
        var wextra = 360;
        var hborder = 120;
        var wborder = 120;
        var maxw = ww - wextra - wborder;
        var maxh = wh - hextra - hborder;
        var ratio = Math.min(maxw / iw, maxh / ih);

        iw = Math.floor(iw * ratio); // use floor to avoid overflow scrollbar
        ih = Math.floor(ih * ratio);

        //        console.log(iw + " " + ih + " --- " + (iw + wextra) + " " + (ih + hextra))

        $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").width(iw);
        $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").height(ih);

        $(ibox).find(".info").height(ih);

        if (doResize)
            $.colorbox.resize({ width: iw + wextra, height: ih + hextra });
    }

    $(window).resize(function () {
        if (g_isDynamic && pup !== undefined)
            popupResize(pup, giw, gih, true);
    });

    $(window).load(function () {
            $(".popup").click(function () {
                giw = $(this).data('width');
                gih = $(this).data('height');
                pup = $($(this).attr('href'));
                g_isDynamic = $(this).data('dynamic') === 1 ? true : false;

                popupResize(pup, giw, gih, false);

                var w = "768px";
                var isMobile = $(window).width() < 768 ? true : false;
                w = "auto";
                if (isMobile)
                    w = "100%";

                const isDgov2Slideshow = $(this).attr("data-isdgov2slideshow") != undefined;
                const isDGOV2 = false;
                const slideNumber = parseInt($(this).attr('data-slide-number'));
                const slideIndex = slideNumber - 1;
                //console.log("slideNumber for popup", slideNumber)
                const popupThis = this;
                $(this).colorbox({
                    className: 'inline-popup', fixed: true, transition: "none", opacity: .9, inline: true, width: w, height: 'auto', maxWidth:"80%", maxHeight:"100%", close: isDgov2Slideshow || isDGOV2 ? "<i class='fas fa-times' />" : "X", onClosed: function () {
                    },
                    onComplete: function () {
                        var popupHeight = jQuery(this.href.substring(this.href.lastIndexOf("#"))).outerHeight(true);
                        if (jQuery("#colorbox").height() < popupHeight) {
                            jQuery("#colorbox").height(popupHeight);
                        }
                        if (g_isDynamic) {
                            if (!isMobile) {
                                bodyScrollLock.disableBodyScroll(this);
                            }
                        }
                   
                        // for popup having data-isdgov2slideshow attr (see above)
                        if (isDgov2Slideshow) {
                            const popSelector = '#dgov2popup-target-1320668';
                            const ssSelector = '#dgov2slideshowId-1320668';
                            dgov2slideshowPopupInit({
                                numSlides: 0,
                            startingSlideIndex: slideIndex,
                                popupSelector: popSelector,
                                slideshowSelector: ssSelector,
                                slideshowMediaId: 1320668,
                        });
                giw = $(popupThis).data('width');
                gih = $(popupThis).data('height');
                pup = $($(popupThis).attr('href'));
                popupResize(pup, giw, gih, true);
            }
            $(window).resize();
        },
        onClosed: function () {
        pup = undefined;
        if (g_isDynamic)
            bodyScrollLock.enableBodyScroll(this);

        if (isDgov2Slideshow) {
            const popSelector = '#dgov2popup-target-1320668';
            const ssSelector = '#dgov2slideshowId-1320668';
            dgov2slideshowPopupDestroy({
                popupSelector: popSelector,
                slideshowSelector: ssSelector,
            });
        }
    }
    });

    });

    
    $(".popup-slideshow").colorbox({
        inline: true,
        onComplete: function () {
            SlideshowInit();
            $.colorbox.resize();
            // stop scrollbar from flashing
            $("#cboxLoadedContent").css("overflow", "");
            $("#cboxLoadedContent").css("overflow-y", "hidden");
        },
        onClosed: function () {
            $('.slideshow-gallery').trigger('slideTo', 0);
        }
    });
    
    });
</script>





</span></p>
<p><span>“These disasters underscore our [interconnectedness] and the importance of strong partnerships,” the admiral told reporters at a media roundtable today. </span></p>
<p><span>“It’s truly been a team effort among us and partner nation militaries, governments, federal agencies, and all those involved to move rapidly and to get support where it is needed the most,” he said.</span></p>
<p><strong><span>Military Capabilities </span></strong></p>
<p><span>Tidd said the U.S. military’s assistance was requested because of its “unique capabilities and the speed and flexibility that are needed most in the critical, early stages of disaster relief operations.”</span></p>
<p><span>Because some of the affected islands are United States territories, U.S. Northern Command in Colorado has been supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies’ aid to Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Tidd said.</span></p>
<p><span>Southcom is working with its lead federal agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development, in addition to the State Department on requests for foreign disaster assistance from a number of nations most heavily damaged by the storms, he said.</span></p>
<p><strong><span>Joint Task Force Leeward Islands</span></strong></p>
<p><span>Southcom deployed Joint Task Force Leeward Islands to Puerto Rico on Sept. 9 to support the evacuation of U.S. citizens and to provide assistance to the Dutch and French militaries on St. Maarten/St. Martin. To date, U.S. military forces have evacuated 2,073 American citizens from St. Maarten/St. Martin and Anguilla, a DoD report indicated.</span></p>
<p><span>Since its deployment, the task force has purified more than 21,000 gallons of water, distributed more than 7,000 gallons, and delivered nine water purification systems and high-capacity fork lifts and vehicles to help the French and Dutch governments.</span></p>
<p><span>“[The task force] is now working with French and Dutch authorities again to resume support of relief operations as quickly as conditions permit,” Tidd said.</span></p>
<p><span>U.S. is Compassionate</span></p>
<p><span>“Our country is a compassionate, generous and caring nation with a long history of aiding those around the world who are impacted by disasters,” the Southcom commander said. </span></p>
<p><span>“We are proud to support disaster assistance that helps nations save lives, mitigate suffering and transition as quickly as possible from response to recovery,” he added.</span></p>
<p><span>Tidd says it is anticipated that U.S. military support will decline as international relief efforts progress and as experienced relief organizations assume active roles supporting these islands’ governments. </span></p>
<p><span>“Transitioning tasks to our host nation and civilian partners will occur as rapidly as possible,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span>(Follow Terri Moon Cronk on Twitter: @MoonCronkDoD)</span></p><br />
</div>

    </div>
    </main>
</body>
</html>