Community Chat

[pitdakota]

@Noel7, I know we have at least 2 military bases down there.  I don't think they are big bases....but you bet they have runways and if their radar is out as I mentioned the military does have mobile radar units.

They could use those spaces to coordinate helicopter operations.  They have those big Chinook helicopters which could carry quite a bit of water along with MREs that can help distribute supplies.

Heck at times, we have placed supplies in big crates, attached parachutes, and dropped them out of the back of C-130s.  Our military did that to help the people of that horrible tsunami in Thailand years ago. 

In those cases the C-130s wouldn't have to land.  They have a fairly impressive range, so they could take off and land from somewhere in the Bahamas or Miami. 

ETA:  meaning there are things we could already be doing. 

[Noel7]

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@pitdakota wrote:

@Noel7, I know we have at least 2 military bases down there.  I don't think they are big bases....but you bet they have runways and if their radar is out as I mentioned the military does have mobile radar units.

They could use those spaces to coordinate helicopter operations.  They have those big Chinook helicopters which could carry quite a bit of water along with MREs that can help distribute supplies.

Heck at times, we have placed supplies in big crates, attached parachutes, and dropped them out of the back of C-130s.  Our military did that to help the people of that horrible tsunami in Thailand years ago. 

In those cases the C-130s wouldn't have to land.  They have a fairly impressive range, so they could take off and land from somewhere in the Bahamas or Miami. 

ETA:  meaning there are things we could already be doing. 

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Thank you for going into detail for us @pitdakota

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is saying it is close to being a humanitarian crisis of people dying.  I don't know why we can't send military and civilian doctors and nurse volunteers to PR.  Couldn't they set up field tents for surgery?

At this time, Gupta is saying there are only two surgery rooms available on the island.   

[ms traditional]

@pitdakota  according to this article in Stars and Stripes, things have already been put in motion the last few days.  i expect that some things can't happen unless Rosello invites them to happen for obvious reasons, like 5000 US military being there. there are sovereignty issues.

https://www.stripes.com/news/pentagon-deploys-army-general-and-more-troops-to-lead-hurricane-respons...

[PrincessEleanor]

What makes this inappropriate

[PrincessEleanor]

@Noel7

The hospitals in at least 3 towns are standing and have been cleared. Just no electricity and such. The hospital right next to my parents house and some dr offices are seeing patients. Limited resources so I'm sure resources are being directed where they are needed in the hospital. Dark waiting rooms, HOT hallways, but yeah.

[ms traditional]

the USNS Comfort has been pressed into service it appears and the Kearsarge has been doing medical evacuations for the last week. 

[pitdakota]

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@ms traditional wrote:

@pitdakota  according to this article in Stars and Stripes, things have already been put in motion the last few days.  i expect that some things can't happen unless Rosello invites them to happen for obvious reasons, like 5000 US military being there. there are sovereignty issues.

https://www.stripes.com/news/pentagon-deploys-army-general-and-more-troops-to-lead-hurricane-respons...

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Thanks for the article @ms traditional.  According to it we are deploying major military operations as of today.  And they are deploying a general to oversee the operations.  Good!

I know that Ft. Campbell sent just a few Blackhawks earlier this week, but they need multiple units down there and it looks that is going to start happening.

Heck, if I could drive a truck....I would be on my way down there! 

I don't think sovereignty issues are a big hold up here though.  They want any and all help they can get. 

[pitdakota]

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@ms traditional wrote:

the USNS Comfort has been pressed into service it appears and the Kearsarge has been doing medical evacuations for the last week. 

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According to the article from Stars and Stripes, the USNS Comfort will not leave port at Norfolk and head to Puerto Rico until this weekend.  It won't reach the island until some time mid-week next week.

In the meantime once the military gets there, I am sure they will work on getting diesel to power the generators for the hospitals that are operating.

[tansy]

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@pitdakota wrote:

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@ms traditional wrote:

the USNS Comfort has been pressed into service it appears and the Kearsarge has been doing medical evacuations for the last week. 

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__________________________________________________

According to the article from Stars and Stripes, the USNS Comfort will not leave port at Norfolk and head to Puerto Rico until this weekend.  It won't reach the island until some time mid-week next week.

In the meantime once the military gets there, I am sure they will work on getting diesel to power the generators for the hospitals that are operating.

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Sheez...why such a delay in dispatching the Comfort?  

[ms traditional]

@pitdakota  i just read that they prioritized power restoration at hospitals and as of most recent report about 5/6 of hospitals had been restored to some level of power. obviously they have been evacuating where necessary.  i would hope that majorly sick people were evacuated before Maria when it was known of its seriousness.  lots of generators have been sent .  National Guard has been busy clearing airports, roads -  but may be needed for peacekeeping. i read that some fuel trucks were stolen last night.  uh-oh.