Section Widget
Resources for Haiti
Category Widget (bottom-up)
View Profile
View Forum Posts
Private Message
View Blog Entries
Visit Homepage
View Articles
Round the clock support for EMG operations continues with officers identified in previous updates. Due to the storms in D.C., officers rotating in to support EMG operations will be reporting over the next several days as they are able. Two French-speaking pharmacists are actively supporting IRCT operations in Haiti.
The medical strike team performing triage of repatriated persons at Miami International Airport continues around the clock operations. The team has been partially demobilized due to operational demands.
Total officers deployed to date: 75
Total officers currently deployed: 45
2/8: Public Health Advance Team on the USS Bataan continues working as part of the CMOC to help coordinate activities off the ship with those on the ground in Haiti. The Applied Public Health Expeditionary Team (APHET) went ashore today in the area around Leogane to perform water and sanitation assessments and help focus U.S. Navy Construction Battalion activities in this regard. The APHET members were also to continue their work vaccinating in support of the Haiti Ministry of Health’s (MOH) National Vaccination Program as well as provide primary care and veterinarian services. The APHET is working in conjunction with the Haitian MOH, NGOs, the PAHO-organized Health Cluster, the U.S. Navy and Marines and Canadian Forces in the area.
The mental health LNOs to the IRCT continue to work in support of their activities. An officer from the on-call MHT#5 has been rostered to deploy in place of these LNOs later this week. Twelve officers continue supporting the IRCT in Haiti, in the planning, administration and finance, operations, and logistics sections.
The medical strike team at Orlando International Airport in Florida, deployed in support of repatriation medical triage activities, has been demobilized as of yesterday.
The medical strike team at Miami International Airport continues around the clock operations. Consideration is being made for realigning these medical teams with evolving operational demands, potentially demobilizing the team in the next day or two.
Total officers deployed to date: 69
Total officers currently deployed: 55
2/2: The entire Applied Public Health Expeditionary Team (APHET) went ashore today with Navy and Marine personnel, performing water and sanitation assessments, administering vaccines and providing medical and veterinarian services in the area in and around Grand Goäve.
Eleven officers continue supporting the IRCT in Haiti, in the planning, administration and finance, and logistics sections. LT Stone is now due to deploy in to Haiti tomorrow, 03 February. Her scheduled travel date has been pushed back due to logistical considerations.
Four USPHS officers with Creole language skills continue assisting in ASPR operations in Haiti. Two French-speaking pharmacists have been rostered to deploy in support of IRCT operations. Both of these officers are now due to deploy to Haiti tomorrow, 03 February, with delays in their departure date due to logistical considerations.
The medical strike team at Orlando International Airport in Florida continues around the clock operations, providing medical triage to evacuees. The medical strike team at Miami International Airport continues around the clock operations, augmented by the redeployed team from Homestead Air Force Base. Consideration is being made for realigning these medical teams with evolving operational demands.
Total officers deployed to date: 66
Total officers currently deployed: 53
1/27: The Haiti Minister of Health requested that the Navy and USPHS Advance Team develop and implement an immunization plan in the USS Bataan’s area of responsibility in concert with an overall plan for vaccination in the country. The Minister of Health also provided the USPHS Advance Team with a written document outlining their request for overall USPHS assistance. Eleven additional officers have been rostered by OFRD and are being traveled by ASPR to serve in the IRCT in Haiti in various capacities, as reported. They are due to report in to Haiti tomorrow, 28 January.
Total officers deployed to date: 57
Total officers currently deployed: 51
1/25: Five USPHS officers with Creole language skills continue assisting in ASPR operations in Haiti. Plans to redeploy these officers to their home stations were begun this afternoon along with plans for rotating subsequent officers in their place, should it be requested from ASPR. Twelve USPHS officers were deployed to help field 2 medical strike teams to perform repatriation triage at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida.
OFRD has rostered 4 pre-configured on-call response teams (~188 officers) and ~800 on-call Tier 3 officers who remain available for deployment this month. Communication with all Tier 1 and Tier 2 Team Leads took place this afternoon.
Total officers deployed to date: 35
Total officers currently deployed: 30
1/23: The 7-person Applied Public Health Expeditionary Team requested by the Commodore of the USS Bataan group awaits airlift from Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. One PHS officer is aboard the USNS Comfort continued medical operations in Haitian waters. Five USPHS officers with Creole language skills continue assisting in ASPR operations in Haiti.
OFRD has rostered personnel from the on-call Rapid Deployment Force 4 (RDF4) in response to the ASPR request for 2 strike teams, totaling 24 officers, to support a reception center, triaging evacuees returning from Haiti to Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. These teams are to be traveled to Homestead on 25 January.
Total officers deployed to date: 23
1/21: OFRD has rostered 4 pre-configured on-call response teams (~188 officers) and ~ 800 on-call Tier 3 officers who remain available for deployment this month. Communication with Team Leads occurs daily. Communication with all Tier 1 and Tier 2 Team Leads took place this afternoon.
Total officers deployed to date: 22
1/18: Three USPHS officers on board the USS Bataan into Haiti for shore duty. USS Bataan is due to arrive in Haitian waters on Tuesday, 19 January. This USPHS/USN advance element intends to link up with the Incident Response Coordination Team at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti in order to develop intelligence on possible public health needs. The USPHS/USN will return to the USS Bataan on 20 January.CAPT McRae, mental health LNO to the IRCT in Haiti is due to Haiti by chartered flight. Four Creole-speaking USPHS officers are scheduled to deploy into Haiti by charter on the 19th.
1/17: According to the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment (OFRD) the operational period for this mission will be 15 January 2010 with an unspecified end date. Unless otherwise notified, deployments will be 2 weeks in duration.
USNS Comfort Commanding Officer requested a senior medical planner from USPHS. CAPT David Robbins (environmental health officer from IHS and on call for APHT4 will fill the slot. LCDR Robin Lewis (HSO detailed to DoD - Naval Hospital Portsmouth) selected for deployment, under the USN, to the USNS Comfort. USNS Comfort is due to arrive in Haitian waters on 21 January.
CDR Ed Dieser, as the USPHS liaison (LNO) to US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), is facilitating communication regarding HHS response activities and is in contact with U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) liaisons at SOUTHCOM, including CAPT Havens from ASPR.
1/16: LCDR Angela Girgenti reported to USNS Comfort at 1330 15 January. This officer’s role initially is as an administrative officer in the USNS Comfort planning division. The USNS Comfort will depart Baltimore for Haiti on Saturday 16 January.
The three officers onboard the USS Bataan continue to work with Navy shipboard planners to develop operations anticipated upon the ships arrival in Haiti. USS Bataan is currently in port in North Carolina, embarking a Marine Expeditionary Unit and is due to sail for Haiti on Saturday.
OFRD had been requested by 4th Fleet Surgeon’s office to deploy officers to the USS Carl Vinson to perform disaster public health assessments in Haiti. However, this augmented detachment was not able to be assumed by the ship, given its primary mission in logistics support for relief activities. Similarly, the USS Bataan reported no available berthing due to the embarkation of a full Marine Expeditionary Unit (2,200 troops), thus prohibiting any augmentation with USPHS personnel requested by the 4th Fleet Surgeon. The requested officers for the USNS Comfort were identified; however, due to timing of the ships departure today, 16 January, USPHS officers are unable to travel for timely embarkation.
Round the clock support for EMG operations continues with officers identified in previous OFRD updates.
Confirmation was established today for travel for CDR Ed Dieser to US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) as the USPHS liaison officer (LNO) to assist in facilitating communication with DHHS response activities. CDR Dieser is due to travel to Miami this morning, 16 January.
CAPT Phil McRae awaits travel through ASPR to Haiti to imbed in the Incident Response Coordination Team (IRCT) as the Mental Health liaison. The IRCT was due to deploy into Haiti on the 15th. OFRD continues to coordinate with ACF and ASPR’s liaison at Department of State about possible incoming repatriation flights and related activities.
1/15: On-call teams from Roster #4 Rapid Deployment Force, Applied Public Health Team, Mental Health Team, Services Access Team and Tier 3 officers from Roster D are the pool of initial responders. Emergency Support Function #8 has been activated. USPHS officers will support the Navy's response.
The USNS Comfort sits at its pier in Baltimore, being readied to move out to provide medical support for earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
1/14: OPDIV Liaisons were notified today that the Commissioned Corps was activated by the Assistant Secretary for Health, and on-call officers assigned to report to the Secretary's Operation Center, to begin the process of filling liaison, admin and operational assignments and roles for a response to the earthquake in Haiti. Officers are anticipated to fill assignments aboard the USNS Comfort, and possibly ground missions in Haiti, with other Corps officers on call as needed.
Recent Blog Posts
Recent Forum Posts
