VMI 1991
Member
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Myself and everyone else in USS BATAAN are sitting off the coast of Mississippi completely involved in DR/HA operations.
I had the watch as TAO on Sunday when the first phone calls from NORTHCOM came in to CIC. Ever since, we have been at a full sprint doing everything possible to lend assistance to the disaster relief efforts.
We were returning to Norfolk after completing PANAMAX 05, so we had a LCU onboard, four MH-53s and 2 MH-60s, and a Fleet Surgical Team onboard. Once we offloaded the gear in Ingleside, we started heading home. We thought we might even make it back for the holiday weekend.
We were wrong.
The AGs had been briefing KATRINA when it was still in the Atlantic and by the time it crossed over Florida into GOMEX, it had been downgraded to a tropical storm. This was about the time when we pulled into Ingleside. When we left, it started increasing in strength and we started considering the possibility of remaining in the area in case we were needed.
Once the storm reached Cat 5, we recalled the -53s, which were on their way home and got them out to the ship. And as I said earlier, starting on Sunday, once everyone saw the flooding in New Orleans start, we knew we were going to be here for a while.
The helos were the first assets we could use to help, and they have been going continuously for the past five days. HM-14, HM-15, and HSC-28 have been doing amazing work pulling people off burning rooftops and delivering supplies whenever and where ever possible.
Until yesterday, we were the only navy unit at sea. Our watch standers were taking calls from everyone from NORTHCOM to the local coast guard. The watches I have stood over the last five days have been the busiest in 14+ years. Yesterday, we embarked a PHIBGRU commander and some of his staff and they are very welcome onboard.
We now have three LCACs and one LCU. Those of you who have been on LHDs know that they won't all fit in the well deck. The LCU has been underway operating IVO New Orleans, and we are getting ready to start using the LCACs for relief missions.
We are at 1A (Well deck ops/Ballasting detail) right now. To say that the situation and the plans change on an hourly basis is an understatement. Earlier this week it seemed like they were changing by the minute. But with the group staff on board and a lot of other senior staffs stood up on the beach, things are really starting to flow.
I'll update everyone when possible. I don't know how often that will be. It took me five days to get this posted...
Please pray for the people on the Gulf coast. They are in desparate straights.
Myself and everyone else in USS BATAAN are sitting off the coast of Mississippi completely involved in DR/HA operations.
I had the watch as TAO on Sunday when the first phone calls from NORTHCOM came in to CIC. Ever since, we have been at a full sprint doing everything possible to lend assistance to the disaster relief efforts.
We were returning to Norfolk after completing PANAMAX 05, so we had a LCU onboard, four MH-53s and 2 MH-60s, and a Fleet Surgical Team onboard. Once we offloaded the gear in Ingleside, we started heading home. We thought we might even make it back for the holiday weekend.
We were wrong.
The AGs had been briefing KATRINA when it was still in the Atlantic and by the time it crossed over Florida into GOMEX, it had been downgraded to a tropical storm. This was about the time when we pulled into Ingleside. When we left, it started increasing in strength and we started considering the possibility of remaining in the area in case we were needed.
Once the storm reached Cat 5, we recalled the -53s, which were on their way home and got them out to the ship. And as I said earlier, starting on Sunday, once everyone saw the flooding in New Orleans start, we knew we were going to be here for a while.
The helos were the first assets we could use to help, and they have been going continuously for the past five days. HM-14, HM-15, and HSC-28 have been doing amazing work pulling people off burning rooftops and delivering supplies whenever and where ever possible.
Until yesterday, we were the only navy unit at sea. Our watch standers were taking calls from everyone from NORTHCOM to the local coast guard. The watches I have stood over the last five days have been the busiest in 14+ years. Yesterday, we embarked a PHIBGRU commander and some of his staff and they are very welcome onboard.
We now have three LCACs and one LCU. Those of you who have been on LHDs know that they won't all fit in the well deck. The LCU has been underway operating IVO New Orleans, and we are getting ready to start using the LCACs for relief missions.
We are at 1A (Well deck ops/Ballasting detail) right now. To say that the situation and the plans change on an hourly basis is an understatement. Earlier this week it seemed like they were changing by the minute. But with the group staff on board and a lot of other senior staffs stood up on the beach, things are really starting to flow.
I'll update everyone when possible. I don't know how often that will be. It took me five days to get this posted...
Please pray for the people on the Gulf coast. They are in desparate straights.