FEMA staged at NAS Jax

It was almost a year ago that FEMA came to NAS Jax to provide relief to the victims of Hurricane Wilma. This year, they are back and FEMA's partnership with NAS Jax has resulted in the delivery of more than 50 truckloads of relief supplies and more than 50 urban search and rescue vehicles.

Although Ernesto's strength diminished late in the week, FEMA stayed on board NAS Jax to watch its track and ensure that their assistance was not going to be needed further up the East Coast.

''The interstate access makes us an ideal location for FEMA to pre-stage. Interstates 10 and 95 provide a one-day drive to wherever FEMA may be needed,'' stated NAS Jax Fire Chief Randy Hall. ''We are also ideal for a pre-staging location because FEMA appreciates the can-do attitude of our people here on base. They know we can get it done. This is our third year as partners with FEMA. We have built friendships with the teams as well as becoming familiar with what they need from us.''

Billy Freeman, a Memphis, Tenn. firefighter who works as a Federal Emergency Management Agency urban search and rescue team member, checks the communication vehicle before securing it in the pre-staging area.

NAS Jacksonville Emergency Manager Matt Melott had operations up and running within hours of notification of FEMA's pending arrival. ''We received notification that they were coming and our personnel didn't hesitate. All departments took it for action and were ready for FEMA to arrive long before they got here,'' said Melott.

NAS Jax personnel tirelessly ensured that FEMA had food, housing, security and logistical support so their efforts could be focused on the task that they came here to do.

''The entire base has done a superb job in supporting us. They understand that most of our team is not used to being on a military installation and the teamwork has been crucial to our mission,'' stated FEMA Incident Commander Joe D'Angelo. ''The response from

NAS Jax has been above and beyond what we could expect and it is great knowing that we can rely on them in our continued partnership.''

Police Officer Dave Bayot of NAS Jax Base Security, checks credentials and directs Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel in urban search and rescue vehicles to the pre-staging area at Hangar 116.

Initially, the weather forecast prompted FEMA officials to send out more than 480 truckloads of commodities and more than 100 urban search and rescue vehicles. ''NAS Jax Security personnel prepared to man numerous around-the-clock watches, open extra lanes in gate entrances and provide roving security throughout the FEMA staging area. When we were notified that the evolution was not going to be as large as it was last year, security personnel were able to quickly adjust accordingly to what was needed to effectively carry out the evolution,'' stated Director of Security Cmdr. James Thompson.

''Everyone worked so well together. If FEMA needed something, we either got it for them or found out where we needed to go to get it. Base personnel from numerous departments responded efficiently and professionally to the ever-changing evolution and their role in the operation will surely provide FEMA with a smooth foundation to getting aid to the people who needed it,'' stated Melott.