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Thursday March 17, 2011
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Vol 1, Issue 2
Louisville, Ky.
Nearly Week After Blast, Response Continues Story by Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Pisano 361st PAOC
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early one week after the devastating nuclear attack in Louisville, Ky., the response by military forces of Joint Task Force Civil Support, alongside local, state, and federal authorities, remains resolute and ongoing. Search and rescue teams continue 24-hour-aday operations. To date, 1,648 individuals have been rescued. Highly-trained medical teams have been arriving daily to support both hospitals and federal medical stations in the field. So far, an estimated 61,419 survivors have received hospital and medical care. In addition, JTF-CS has distributed more than 1,000,000 individual meals and 340,000 liters of water to displaced citizens. JTF-CS has instructed its units to have one case of Meals-Ready-toEat and a case of water in every vehicle when encountering those in need, as they transition into shelters and other locations where food and water are being delivered. In the wake of this attack, the members of JTFCS are determined to stand side-by-side with the resilient American people as they recover from this crisis, helping in any way they can.
Army Cpl. Joshua Sebranek, team leader, 139th Military Police Company, from Fort Stewart, Ga., skillfully administers first aid to an injured displaced civilian after his convoy stopped to assist. (Army photo by Staff Sgt Christopher Pisano, 361st PAOC)
JTF-CS personnel are urging evacuees to follow these guidelines: • Use text messages to communicate instead of making cell phone calls as cellular service is being restored. • Self-decontaminate again, if possible, and properly dispose of contaminated clothing. • Use the designated evacuation routes and drive to the nearest Traffic Control Point/Decon site. • Follow directions of military forces, law enforcement, and medical officials. Soldiers of the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Fort Leonard Wood Mo., support local citizens that had not received local aid as they provide important information and help transition them to more permanent housing. (Army photo by Sgt. Peter Jun, 361st PAOC)
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• Report any injuries or sickness. Sick or injured will receive emergency medical treatment and decontamination, and then be evacuated to a collection point or trauma treatment center.
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Commanding General’s Message From Air Force Major General Jonathan Treacy Servicemembers of Joint Task Force Civil Support, CCMRF and supporting forces, I would like to thank Commander Joint Task Force Civil Support you for the service you are providing to your fellow
countrymen and women. You have volunteered and on a moment’s notice moved forward into hazards way to mitigate suffering and provide life sustaining support in the midst of a dangerous and catastrophic event. You’re not only important to your friends and your families, but now the country at large. That is why it is imperative that you take all measures to ensure the safety of yourself and your fellow servicemembers. You need to ensure that you and your wingmen are using the personal protective equipment provided to you to keep you safe and to keep you in the operation. I need leaders to check up on each of those service members under their direction and command to ensure that they are taking all precautions necessary to stay safe, to prevent casualties and allow them to continue to support the citizens of Kentucky. To our JTF-CS and Task Force family members and friends from across the U.S., your unwavering support, patience and encouragement is absolutely critical to the success of this mission. Rest assured that we will continue to strive to communicate to you regularly about what’s happening. More importantly, let me assure you that your loved ones serving in Kentucky are welltrained, well-equipped and provided the best medical attention and support as they continue to work tirelessly to help fellow Americans.
STAFF Commander 361st PAOC: Lt. Col. John Dowling Press Desk OIC: Capt. Carlos Agosto Press Desk NCOIC & Managing Editor: Staff Sgt. Christopher Pisano
Assistant Editor Spc. C. Terrell Turner Photojournalists: Sgt. Nazly Confesor, Sgt. Christy Dispennette, Sgt. Gregory Williams, Sgt. Peter Jun, Spc. Marc Heaton, Pvt .1st Class Robert Grant
JOINT TASK FORCE CIVIL SUPPORT is produced by the 361st Public Affairs Operation Center for Joint Task Force: Civil Support. This publication is printed under the provisions of and in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1 and does not reflect the views of the Department of Defense or the personnel within.
Thursday March 17, 2011
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If you have a story or photos you’re interested in publishing, please contact the 361st Public Affairs Operations Center at (703) 5373853 or PAOC361@yahoo.com. EXERCISE
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Kentucky Governor Welcomes Military Story by Army Sgt. Greogory Williams 361st PAOC
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entucky Gov. Steve Beshear visited Hite Elementary School Monday to thank military personnel for their support as part of the overall federal response to the nuclear detonation in Louisville, Ky. Beshear was accompanied by Army Col. Frank Y. Rangel, Jr., commander of the Task Force Operations - the command elements in charge of moving and supporting units in the area of operation. Following the tour, Beshear conducted a press conference at Hite Elementary School and highlighted the usage of the military forces that responded. “I came here today because I want to meet and talk with some of the heroes of our recovery efforts, who are the men and women in uniform,” Beshear said. Beshear said he was proud to be an American and introduced Rangel Jr., during the press conference. Rangel Jr. elaborated on military operations taking place in Kentucky and stressed how Task Force Ops will deploy all necessary personnel and equipment to ensure mission success. “While we mourn, our resolve is strong,” Rangel Jr. said. “Help is here and more is on the way. We will do everything we can to prevent any more deaths.”
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (left) visited military forces at Hite Elementary School on Monday, and was briefed on operation status by Army Col. Frank Y Rangel, Jr., commander of Task Force Ops. (Army photo by Spc. Kayla F. Benson, 358th PAD)
Task Force Med On Ground, Saves Lives Story and photos by Army Staff Sgt. Norman Llamas 14th PAD
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ore than 500 servicemembers assigned to Task Force Medical established command and control of military medical forces responding to the nuclear detonation. TF MED will provide health service support to civil authorities, help save lives, prevent further injury and set the conditions for transition of operations to civil authorities. TF MED is a joint task force that is equipped to handle numerous medical issues. It implements the use of services including forward surgery, dental care, behavioral health, food safety, pharmaceuticals, animal care and other capabilities to provide world class medical Servicemembers of the 602nd Area Support Medical Company assist citizens care to the citizens. TF MED is committed to that were injured in the nuclear attack. Soldiers provide outpatient treatment using life-saving capabilities to help the citiand other necessary services at Hite Elementary School Ky., to help enable the zens recover from this tragedy. community to recover.
Thursday March 17, 2011
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Chemical Co. Conducts Citizen Decon Story by Army Spc. Marc Heaton, 361st PAOC
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he 323rd Chemical Company, an Army Reserve unit from Sioux Falls, S.D., has deployed to the Louisville, Ky., area to assist with the relief and recovery efforts following the nuclear detonation by conducting chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear decontamination of local citizens and first-responders. The process of decontaminating personnel is a lengthy but fairly quick process once their unit is on the ground, said Sgt. 1st. Class Mark Johnson, the operations Non-commissioned Officer-in-Charge. The process starts immediately, upon the unit’s reconnaissance team arriving on the scene of a major incident such as this. “The reconnaissance team will find an area that is safe for our decon Soldiers to set up and begin the process of decontaminating firstresponders and civilians without endangering themselves,” Johnson said. The decontamination process begins with the contaminated individuals’ clothing being completely cut off. This is referred to as the “hot zone” phase of decontamination, according to Johnson. During the next step in the process, called the “warm zone”, the individual is showered and sprayed off to remove any remaining contaminates. The third phase, or the “cold zone”, is where the individual may receive clean clothes, blankets, food, water and other items to make them more comfortable, said Johnson. Throughout the entire process, individuals being decontaminated are continuously monitored both for remaining decontaminates and any injuries they may have. “The process takes a lot of monitoring,” said Johnson. “We monitor these folks at each step to ensure there are no remaining contaminates before moving that person onto the next phase in the process.” Everyone in the area of an incident is advised to go through the decontamination process. “Incident commanders will direct all first-responders, fire-fighters, police, and civilians in the incident area to where we are in order for them to be decontaminated,” said Johnson. The 323rd Chem. Co. strives long and hard to ensure mission success and the ultimate safety of all those who tragically continue to suffer from this horrible event.
323rd Soldiers remove the clothing of an injured citizen to start the decontamination process to remove hazardous contaminants and chemicals from blast victims. (Army photo by Spc. Kayla F. Benson, 358th PAD)
Soldiers of the 323rd carry an injured citizen to an ambulance to receive further medical attention after being decontaminated after the nuclear attack that occured southeast of downtown Louisville, Ky. (Army photo by Spc. Kayla F. Benson, 358th PAD)
Thursday March 17, 2011
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Decontamination line Soldiers scrub an injured citizen to remove any chemical agents from the blast victims being rescued from the affected areas (Army photo by Spc. Kayla F. Benson, 358th PAD)
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