HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD CONCLUDES INITIAL SAMOAN RELIEF EFFORTS

For Immediate Release:  October 9, 2009

HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD CONCLUDES INITIAL SAMOAN RELIEF EFFORTS

American Samoa- A planeload carrying the last of Hawaii National Guard (HING) Airmen and Soldiers who supported relief efforts in American Samoa arrives in Honolulu later tonight. A majority of the HING members sent to Samoa for relief efforts returned earlier in the week, but about 15 members were still in Samoa assisting with hazardous material and damage assessment operations.

It was the first time the HING has deployed a Task Force (TF) of this size outside Hawaii to support a Pacific partner. Within 24-hours of notification, TF HING assembled and deployed a robust medical triage, search and extraction, and hazardous material identification team. The TF deployed with enough vehicles, equipment and supplies to facilitate self-sustaining operations for 96 hours, so as not to be dependant on local resources which may have been impacted by the disaster.

The Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Enhanced Response Package (CERF-P), is a specialized force composed of both Airmen and Soldiers. The CERF-P responds to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives incidents by providing security, decontamination, medical support, and casualty search and extraction. The American Samoan relief efforts marks the first deployment of a National Guard CERF-P anywhere outside the continental United States. The CERF-P medical triage element saw over 200 patients, treating nearly a third of those for minor injuries sustained during the earthquake or the series of waves that battered the island territory. The success of this unit validates the importance of sustaining this kind of capability as an agile and flexible force multiplier to military and civilian leadership who can send the CERF-P abroad.

• The 93rd Civil Support Team quickly integrated into a Joint-Interagency TF to support over 30 hazmat surveys throughout the island.
• The Communications element facilitated eleven phone bridges, a VTC session, and countless links for local authorities to ensure a consistent line of communication between first responders.

• The U.S. Army Reserve Center in American Samoa fully integrated and supported the HING mission by providing a Command and Control node, and a resupply and recovery point for TF-HING

###

For more information, contact:

Lt. Col.  Charles Anthony                                                                 

Public Affairs Officer                                                                                                

charles.anthony@hihick.ang.af.mil

Office: (808) 733-4258