Slow to Offer Southern Comfort
Why was the USNS Comfort so late getting to New Orleans?
Yes, it takes *up to* five days to equip and staff before deployment, but for 9-11 and every other mission, Comfort came much more quickly. We knew this was going to hit hard -- I bought this domain when Katrina rounded the tip of Key West. if I could foresee what was coming.. what was our government doing?
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19909
Sept 2, 2005: -- Hospital ship USNS Comfort set sail for the Hurricane Katrina-affected region of the Gulf of Mexico in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s effort to provide medical support and humanitarian aid for victims of the recent natural disaster.
Comfort will join several other Navy ships currently deployed to the area. (Huh? What ships? How many troops did they bring?) Comfort and its more than 500-person crew is initially slated to function at a 250-bed capacity. In addition to the 59 active-duty Sailors and 63 civil service mariners who make up the reduced operating staff (ROS) aboard the ship, the crew has been augmented with Sailors from the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and Naval Medical Clinic, Annapolis, Md., as well as several other Navy military treatment facilities.
http://www.dcmilitary.com/navy/journal/8_33/local_news/24728-1.html
August 21, 2003: Comfort Receives Humanitarian Medal for 9-11 NYC Mission
Crewmembers from USNS Comfort were awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal (HMS) for their deployment to New York City (NYC) in support of "Operation Noble Eagle." The three-week mission, which started out with the hope of providing medical aid to possible World Trade Centers survivors, ended up being a logistical mission for the 1,000-bed hospital ship. (I thought it was 250 beds for Katrina?) Regularly designed to care for war-wounded service members, Comfort provided immediate humanitarian relief for thousands of "Ground Zero" workers and other NYC personnel. "In a matter of hours, the crew of Comfort mobilized, got underway and changed mission from trauma support to disaster relief, providing much needed respite for the relief workers in New York City," said CAPT Charles Blankenship, Comfort Commanding Officer. "The rapidity with which the mission changed, the quick response from the crew, and the ability to carry out one mission while preparing for a possible follow-on mission demonstrated the mobility, flexibility and capability offered by this platform and crew."
During the ship's deployment to NYC, crewmembers provided food and shelter for more than 10,000 relief workers. Comfort's 24-hour galley also fed an impressive 30,000 meals and the ship's Supply Department washed more than 4,000 lbs. of laundry, often replacing torn shirts and pants as well as ripped boots with clothing donations from the American Red Cross. (Wow! That would have been nice to have those first horrible days.)
However, the ship not only offered the indoor "comforts" to the city in need. Comfort flight deck personnel also supported to the city and other government agencies that required helicopter landings and layovers. Comfort also supported military efforts in the region, safely conducting 16 launch and recoveries for the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as NYPD aircraft. Although Comfort's main mission was logistical, its medical resources were also used to provide first aid and sick call services to nearly 600 people. The ship's psychological response team also saw more than 500 patients, helping many relief workers mentally prepare before heading back out to the WTC site. (Just think what that would have meant to those trapped at the Convention center.)
New York City police officer Kevin O'Keeffe, who came aboard the ship with fellow police officers, said, "The people on this ship are really amazing. When we first came on board, someone escorted us to the galley. It was like they rolled the red carpet out for us. As cops, we don't get treated like this unless it is Thanksgiving or Christmas, and we are at home."
http://www.comfort.navy.mil/facts.html
Aug 9, 1990 - OPERATION DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM: Comfort received the call to activate to Full Operating Status in support of Operation Desert Shield. Civilian mariners from throughout the Military Sealift Command, and military personnel from naval hospitals, clinics, and other ashore and afloat commands were activated as crew members. In all, more than 30 commands were eventually represented.
Aug 11, 1990 - Comfort departed Baltimore two days later and embarked on what was to be an eight-month deployment.
Yes, it takes *up to* five days to equip and staff before deployment, but for 9-11 and every other mission, Comfort came much more quickly. We knew this was going to hit hard -- I bought this domain when Katrina rounded the tip of Key West. if I could foresee what was coming.. what was our government doing?
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19909Sept 2, 2005: -- Hospital ship USNS Comfort set sail for the Hurricane Katrina-affected region of the Gulf of Mexico in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s effort to provide medical support and humanitarian aid for victims of the recent natural disaster.
Comfort will join several other Navy ships currently deployed to the area. (Huh? What ships? How many troops did they bring?) Comfort and its more than 500-person crew is initially slated to function at a 250-bed capacity. In addition to the 59 active-duty Sailors and 63 civil service mariners who make up the reduced operating staff (ROS) aboard the ship, the crew has been augmented with Sailors from the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and Naval Medical Clinic, Annapolis, Md., as well as several other Navy military treatment facilities.
http://www.dcmilitary.com/navy/journal/8_33/local_news/24728-1.html
August 21, 2003: Comfort Receives Humanitarian Medal for 9-11 NYC Mission
Crewmembers from USNS Comfort were awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal (HMS) for their deployment to New York City (NYC) in support of "Operation Noble Eagle." The three-week mission, which started out with the hope of providing medical aid to possible World Trade Centers survivors, ended up being a logistical mission for the 1,000-bed hospital ship. (I thought it was 250 beds for Katrina?) Regularly designed to care for war-wounded service members, Comfort provided immediate humanitarian relief for thousands of "Ground Zero" workers and other NYC personnel. "In a matter of hours, the crew of Comfort mobilized, got underway and changed mission from trauma support to disaster relief, providing much needed respite for the relief workers in New York City," said CAPT Charles Blankenship, Comfort Commanding Officer. "The rapidity with which the mission changed, the quick response from the crew, and the ability to carry out one mission while preparing for a possible follow-on mission demonstrated the mobility, flexibility and capability offered by this platform and crew."
During the ship's deployment to NYC, crewmembers provided food and shelter for more than 10,000 relief workers. Comfort's 24-hour galley also fed an impressive 30,000 meals and the ship's Supply Department washed more than 4,000 lbs. of laundry, often replacing torn shirts and pants as well as ripped boots with clothing donations from the American Red Cross. (Wow! That would have been nice to have those first horrible days.)
However, the ship not only offered the indoor "comforts" to the city in need. Comfort flight deck personnel also supported to the city and other government agencies that required helicopter landings and layovers. Comfort also supported military efforts in the region, safely conducting 16 launch and recoveries for the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as NYPD aircraft. Although Comfort's main mission was logistical, its medical resources were also used to provide first aid and sick call services to nearly 600 people. The ship's psychological response team also saw more than 500 patients, helping many relief workers mentally prepare before heading back out to the WTC site. (Just think what that would have meant to those trapped at the Convention center.)
New York City police officer Kevin O'Keeffe, who came aboard the ship with fellow police officers, said, "The people on this ship are really amazing. When we first came on board, someone escorted us to the galley. It was like they rolled the red carpet out for us. As cops, we don't get treated like this unless it is Thanksgiving or Christmas, and we are at home."
http://www.comfort.navy.mil/facts.html
Aug 9, 1990 - OPERATION DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM: Comfort received the call to activate to Full Operating Status in support of Operation Desert Shield. Civilian mariners from throughout the Military Sealift Command, and military personnel from naval hospitals, clinics, and other ashore and afloat commands were activated as crew members. In all, more than 30 commands were eventually represented.
Aug 11, 1990 - Comfort departed Baltimore two days later and embarked on what was to be an eight-month deployment.
1 Comments:
I see no mention that it took the Comfort about 3 days to get to NYC either. No mention if they had more staff and equipment available then either. Perhaps you would have preferred that they had been stationed in off La. before the storm arrived?
Huh? What ships? How many troops did they bring?
How about the USS Bataan, Uss Iwo Jima, USNS Comfort, USS Shreveport, USS Tortuga, USS Grapple etc. all bringing many crewmembers, disaster relief teams and tons of supplies? All told, there are over 58,000 servicemembers in LA. & MS.
I thought it was 250 beds for Katrina?
You casually left out this part is initially slated to function at a 250-bed capacity.
Patient Capacity:
Intensive care wards: 80 beds
Recovery wards: 20 beds
Intermediate care wards: 280 beds
Light care wards: 120 beds
Limited care wards: 500 beds
Total Patient Capacity: 1000 beds
Operating Rooms: 12
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