FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - JAN. 30, 2009 -- Fort Campbell has teamed up with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to become a National Logistics Staging Area for distributing aid to Kentuckians impacted by ice storms earlier this week.
According to a press release from FEMA, "Federal emergency aid has been made available for the Commonwealth of Kentucky to help supplement state and local response efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm during the period Jan. 27, 2009, and continuing."
Danny Greene, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security emergency plans specialist, received the order from the NORTHCOM commander to provide FEMA with the space to set up and operate a NLSA.
"We have a place where they can bring trailers in. This is the first NLSA we've done," Greene said.
Fort Campbell has 15-20 representatives working together to coordinate FEMA's assistance to the surrounding area.
Different Fort Campbell agencies have come together to make this possible. The DPTMS, Directorate of Public Works, Directorate of Emergency Services, Directorate of Logistics and Garrison Resource Management are all contributing to the effort.
The FEMA site was established at Sabre Airfield. Sabre was a pre-designated area, picked during a meeting with FEMA and Fort Campbell representatives six months ago during contingency planning.
"Sabre was the best location because they don't have to worry about coming on post, and it is easy to get to major roads from there," Greene said. "It's all about ease of entry and ease of getting out."
The lights on the airfield also made it a perfect location for Fort Campbell to host such a service.
The first of the trucks ready to distribute aid arrived at 12:35 a.m. Friday morning, and by 8 a.m., twenty-four trucks had arrived and more were on the way.
These trucks are being loaded with emergency generators, food, water and other supplies and sent out to the Paducah and Greenville areas. Most of the counties have been without power and water since Tuesday.
Fort Campbell could be hosting the NLSA as far out as Feb. 17.
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