CAN CC-177 Headed to New Orleans with GUSTAV Help

[The Bread Guy]

Shared in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act.

Canadian Forces plane heading to New Orleans as hurricane Gustav nears
Canadian Press, 31 Aug 08
Article link

Canada is sending aid to New Orleans to help with the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents as hurricane Gustav charges across the Gulf of Mexico.  Isabelle Hotte of the Department of National Defence says a Canadian Forces C-17 plane carrying a team of medical personnel is leaving today for New Orleans to help with air evacuations.  Gustav crossed western Cuba on Saturday and has already killed more than 80 people in the Caribbean.  The hurricane could bring a storm surge of up to six metres to the coast and rainfall totals of up to 38 centimetres.....


Canada sends emergency aid as Gustav pounds toward U.S. coast
Canwest News Service, Reuters, 31 Aug 08
Article link

A Canadian Forces C-17 carrying a military medical team and emergency supplies was expected to arrive from CFB Trenton Sunday to assist U.S. forces preparing for Hurricane Gustav, which is expected to hit land here as early as Monday with a force comparable to the devastating Hurricane Katrina.  The massive Globemaster left CFB Trenton at 12:42 p.m. Sunday afternoon bound for Louisiana, where thousands of people in New Orleans and across the U.S. Gulf Coast fled their homes as Hurricane Gustav barrelled through the Gulf of Mexico packing a punch potentially as powerful as Katrina, the storm that devastated the coastal city three years ago.  New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered mandatory evacuation of the city of 239,000 and told residents "This is still a big, ugly storm, still strong and I encourage everyone to leave."....

More on links

- edited to include Canwest coverage -

 

[Eye In The Sky]

I am just watching the CTV coverage of pre-Gustav.

It would be nice if our aircraft, aircrew and other mbrs were able to return home without the services being required...but that doesn't look like the case.

 

[The Bread Guy]

The other media aren't optimistic on that front, either - safe travels to our folks, and good luck all who live in the area.

 

[MarkOttawa]

A Torch post:

Canada/US Civil Assistance Plan: CC-177 helping New Orleans
http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2008/09/canadaus-civil-assistance-plan-cc-177.html

One result of that terribly suspicious civil assistance agreement
http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/defencewatch/archive/2008/02/27/mackay-questioned-on-secrecy-of-canada-u-s-military-deal.aspx
with the US that the government, for no good earthly reason, tried to keep quiet
http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2008/02/political-fingerprints.html
(here's hysterically paranoid reaction from the Council of Canadians).
http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2008/02/political-fingerprints.html
Now they're talking it up. About time.  The DND news release:..
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=2751

Mark
Ottawa

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Emergency vehicles carrying evacuees of Hurricane Gustav stage near a Canadian Air Force C-17 at Lake Front Airport, New Orleans, LA., Aug. 31, 2008. The C-17 is part of the Government of Canada's response to a request for assistance by the United States to help transport people to destinations safely outside the hurricane's path.

Photo : Staff Sergeant Shawn Weismiller



News Release
Canadian Forces Provide Assistance to U.S. Hurricane Response Efforts
NR#08.007 - August 31, 2008

OTTAWA - The Government of Canada, in response to a request from the United States Government, deployed a CC-177 Globemaster transport aircraft to Louisiana today to assist with the evacuation of people from areas under threat by Hurricane Gustav.

Designated Operation UNIFY, a CC-177 Globemaster, deployed under the provisions of the Civil Assistance Plan from CFB Trenton, Ont, to Lakefront, Louisiana to assist with American evacuation efforts. CF aeromedical personnel were also onboard the aircraft to assist with any medical issues.

“The Canadian Forces have a wide variety of equipment, vehicles, and expertise that can be used to offer assistance to those in need,” said Chief of the Defence Staff General Walt Natynczyk. “Whether it’s helping Canadians here at home, our neighbours to the south, or people in distress across the globe, the Canadian Forces stand ready to support the Government of Canada's efforts in promoting safety and security.”

“I am proud of our men and women in uniform for answering this call and know that we have the mechanisms in place to respond to these types of requests quickly and effectively,” said Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden, Commander of Canada Command and former commander of the Canadian Task Group that deployed to the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005 to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. “This Canadian Forces provision of support to our American neighbours upholds the longstanding tradition of cooperation and mutual support in times of crisis that has long existed between our two countries.”

Canada Command is the Canadian Forces formation responsible for the conduct of all Canadian military routine and contingency domestic operations in North America. Canada Command is working closely with its U.S. counterpart, Northern Command, and U.S. Transport Command, as part of a whole of government approach to ensure appropriate support to the United States.

The Civil Assistance Plan, signed on Feb. 14, 2008, is a bilateral Canada-United States plan that facilitates military-to-military cooperation in support of a civil emergency in either country, once agreement for assistance is reached between the two governments.


News Release
Canadian Forces Continue Assistance with U.S. Hurricane Response Efforts
NR#08.008 - September 1, 2008

OTTAWA - The Government of Canada, in response to a request from the United States Government, deployed additional aircraft today to Florida to assist with search and rescue efforts in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

Two CC-130 Hercules aircraft deployed from 14 Wing, Greenwood, N.S. and 17 Wing, Winnipeg, to provide assistance with the next phase of hurricane relief efforts. The two planes were sent to the United States under the provisions of the Civil Assistance Plan as part of Operation UNIFY, the official designation for the Canadian Forces (CF) mission. The CF also deployed a CC-177 Globemaster aircraft on Aug. 31 to assist with the evacuation in advance of the hurricane. That aircraft completed its mission but remains on standby at 8 Wing, Trenton, Ont., to provide further assistance, should it be requested.

“This effort is in keeping with the Canadian Forces’ long-standing tradition of providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," said National Defence Minister Peter MacKay. "The Government of Canada is standing by to provide any further assistance required by our neighbours.”

“One of Canada Command’s primary roles is providing civil and humanitarian aid in times of disaster,” said Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden, Commander of Canada Command and former commander of the Canadian Task Group that deployed to the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005 to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. “The Civil Assistance Plan has proven itself to be an excellent mechanism to facilitate our ability to support those in need, as agreed upon by our respective governments.”

“Canada’s Air Force has demonstrated exceptional flexibility and responsiveness with multiple air assets,” said Maj.-Gen. Marcel Duval, Combined Forces Air Component Commander. "We will continue to monitor the need and stand ready to assist where needed.”

Canada Command is the Canadian Forces formation responsible for the conduct of all Canadian military routine and contingency domestic operations in North America. Canada Command is working closely with its U.S. counterpart, Northern Command as part of a whole of government approach to ensure appropriate support to the United States.

The Civil Assistance Plan, signed on Feb. 14, 2008, is a bilateral Canada-United States plan that facilitates military-to-military cooperation in support of a civil emergency in either country, once agreement for assistance is reached between the two governments.

-30-

Note to editors: Photographs from Operation UNIFY are available on the Canadian Forces Combat Camera website at: www.combatcamera.ca or www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca.

Background information about the CC-177 Globemaster and the CC-130 Hercules aircraft is available at: www.airforce.gc.ca.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Into the mix, we add the American military press' view - photos below article....

Canada Helps Gustav Effort Through Civil Assistance Plan
Canadian Air Force Maj. Brian Martin, Special to American Forces Press Service, 2 Sept 08
Article link

A civil assistance plan signed six months ago between U.S. Northern Command and Canada Command was used for the first time over the weekend to expedite and coordinate Canadian military support to the U.S. Gulf Coast region in response to Hurricane Gustav.

"This was a great first use of the civil assistance plan,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart, NorthCom commander. “Everything went exactly as it was designed to."

After receiving approval from both the governments of Canada and the United States, the Canadian Forces quickly deployed a CC-177 Globemaster III aircraft from 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, to Lakefront, La. The aircrew and medical team aboard the aircraft flew seven littered and 13 ambulatory patients from New Orleans to Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 31.

“I am proud of our men and women in uniform for answering this call and know that we have the mechanisms in place to respond to these types of requests quickly and effectively,” said Vice Adm. Dean McFadden, commander of Canada Command and former commander of the Canadian task group that deployed to the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005 to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Signed on Feb. 14, the civil assistance plan formalized the longstanding tradition of military-to-military cooperation that has long existed between both countries, officials said.

(Canadian Air Force Maj. Brian Martin serves in the U.S. Northern Command/North American Aerospace Defense Command Public Affairs Office.)

U.S. and Canadian Forces personnel help an evacuee of Hurricane Gustav to board a Canadian Forces flight at Lake Front Airport in New Orleans, Aug. 31, 2008. As part of the civil assistance plan between the United States and Canada, the Canadian Forces aircraft was brought in to help transport patients to destinations safely outside the hurricane’s path. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller 

Emergency vehicles carrying evacuees of Hurricane Gustav stage near a Canadian Air Force CC-177 Globemaster III transport jet at Lake Front Airport in New Orleans, Aug. 31, 2008. As part of the civil assistance plan between the United States and Canada, the Canadian Forces aircraft was brought in to help transport patients to destinations safely outside the hurricane’s path. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller 

Emergency vehicles carrying evacuees of Hurricane Gustav stage near a Canadian Air Force CC-177 Globemaster III transport jet at Lake Front Airport in New Orleans, Aug. 31, 2008. As part of the civil assistance plan between the United States and Canada, the Canadian Forces aircraft was brought in to help transport patients to destinations safely outside the hurricane’s path. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller