Evacuation @ MindSay

By Jim Garamone

 

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2006 – As the ceasefire in Lebanon took effect, the U.S. military evacuated 21 more Americans from Beirut in recent days, DoD spokesman Bryan Whitman said today.  This brings the total of Americans evacuated from Lebanon to 14,876 since the conflict between Israel and the terror group Hezbollah began July 16.

 

U.S. Navy ships remain off the coast of Lebanon to accommodate more evacuations, if needed. "But there are only trickles of people requesting to be departed," Whitman said. Seven vessels still are committed to the operation, as is the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The naval vessel Swift is still available to deliver humanitarian supplies. The destroyers USS Cole and USS Barry are available for escort duties, if required. Aviation assets, including CH-53 Sea Stallion and CH-46 Chinook helicopters, are available to fly evacuees to Cyprus, if needed.

 

The other vessels still in the area are: the USS Iwo Jima, the USS Trenton, the USS Nashville and the USS Whidbey Island.  All told, about 6,000 American servicemembers are participating in the operation.

 

U.S. ships are standing by in case humanitarian aid is needed. The United Nations is delivering aid that had been bottled up in Beirut by the fighting, Whitman said. "With respect to supplies, there is not a current shipment of humanitarian assistance that the U.S. military is looking at bringing in," he said. "As we go into the future, there will be opportunities for ship and eventually air to be able to deliver those types of things from other countries, commercially."

By Jim Garamone

 

WASHINGTON, July 19, 2006 – U.S. evacuation capacity in Lebanon will double each day for the next few days, a senior defense official said here today.  Yesterday, between 250 and 300 Americans left Lebanon in the face of fighting between Israel and the terrorist group Hezbollah. U.S. military helicopters airlifted 120 U.S. citizens to Cyprus, while another 150 to 200 citizens left the country aboard a Norwegian vessel.

 

This morning, the Defense Department-chartered Greek motor vessel Orient Queen left the pier in Beirut carrying about 900 U.S. citizens.  The Navy amphibious ship USS Nashville has arrived in Cyprus and will join evacuation efforts tomorrow, the official said. This will increase the evacuation capacity to 2,000 people per day. The arrival of other craft - including other Navy ships and another contract vessel, the Rahmah - will boost the capacity to 4,000 per day by July 21.

 

Two destroyers - the USS Gonzalez and the USS Barry - are operating today in the area. The ships are providing protection for contract carriers and other U.S. warships. "Committed to the operation, but not yet directly involved in the operation, is the Iwo Jima, Whidbey Island, Trenton and HSV-Swift," the senior official said. "They are committed; we will see if they are needed or not."

 

The evacuation is a complex operation involving DoD and State Department personnel. The State Department directs the effort and collects the data from Americans who wish to leave the country. The paramount mission for the U.S. government is the safety of Americans who wish to evacuate, officials said. "Our goal is to continue to have excess capacity to what is required by the State Department," the DoD official said.  A "permissive" threat environment exists in Beirut right now, officials said, adding that they continue to monitor the situation very closely and are prepared for any contingency.

 

The Marines aboard the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group bring a capability that will ensure the safety of American citizens in the evacuation. The sailors and Marines aboard the ships have rehearsed non-combatant evacuation procedures as a part of the typical training before a deployment, said Marine officials here.

 

Once the evacuees arrive in Cyprus, they become the responsibility of the State Department, which documents them and helps them find a way back to the United States. The military has "rudimentary" medical facilities available in case of need, the official said.  The operation is under the command of Marine Brig. Gen. Carl Jensen, the commander of Task Force 59. It is based in Cyprus.

Just heard that an evacuation border is, like, a block south of where I live.  So, like, if you live south of that street, you should evacuate tomorrow. 

Wow. 

Well, we're boarding up tomorrow and "wiring" our house for the generator just in case.  And of course we have our papers and all that to take with us.  And LOTS of gasoline. <laughing>  If we do not have to use the generator after all, we have enough gas to run the car for another month.  Better to be safe than sorry.

On generator use, for those who do need to use one:  Remember to keep it outside and away from a window. Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

I think I'm going to have some ginger tea and finish reading The Count of Monte Cristo this evening.  Then maybe I'll pull out a new book to read and recharge the batteries on the portable DVD player. 

Just in case.

Night, all. :) 

Oh, this is fun.  Suggested tags:  generator, name generator, insult generator, japanese name generator

As Hurricane Rita grows into a powerful Category -4- 5 hurricane Wednesday morning afternoon aiming at the Texas Gulf Coast, city officials and authorities are urging the city of Houston and many cities located near the state's coastline to evacuate. (Corrections and strikethroughs effective as of 3:03PM).

Galveston began evacuating residents on Tuesday. Further inland, Houston Mayor Bill White ordered a mandatory evacuation of residents in areas prone to storm surges or major floods. Texas Gov. Rick Perry urged residents along most of the state's coastline, from the Louisiana border almost to Mexico, to leave. -ABCnews

As some of you may know, I'm from Missouri City, TX (Fort Bend County). This city is only 2 miles from Houston, TX. and it is located near Stafford and Sugarland. The news on TV is considering this side of Rita's Path "The Dirty Side"...



The following images are the screenshots of Houston's Evacuation Zones as of Wednesday:




As of 3:03pm, it was reported that Rita is NOW a Category 5 Hurricane. I'm currently watching the news because I'm very, very near the Evacuation Zone C. I am in a zone meteoroligists consider "The Dirty Side" of Rita, which will be getting HEAVY rainfall. Southwest Houston, as in Harris County and Fort Bend County (including Sugarland and Katy) has been requested Voluntary Evacuation. However, that may change and right now, I'm getting ready.

My fellow Houstonians, I wish you all the best of luck. If you have to evacuate, please do so. I will be staying here to protect and watch the family property. Update: (09/21/05 9:00pm) Ok, nevermind. I'm convinced. I have packed my survival gear necessary for evacuation. Depending on the family's decision, a friend of mine and I may be headed to San Marcos, TX (Wimberley, TX to be exact).

I might post more about Rita later. The 90's Song of the Day will be postponed all throughout the weekend. Consider this my "Emergency Broadcast System" interruption. THIS ENTRY may be updated with newer information.

If there's anything I learned from Hurricane Katrina, after saying and thinking "Pssh, I would've just evacuated if I were them", it's actually NOT THAT EASY! Now that Hurricane Rita is on her way here, this is what I learned and I would like to share it with everyone:

Evacuation is easier said than done!

Don't get me wrong, I thank you all who suggested for me to leave Houston. Thank you very much. Missouri City, Stafford, Sugarland, Alief, Meadows City, Richmond, Rosenberg and Southwest Houston is still under voluntary evacuation. UNLESS it was made MANDATORY, I HAVE A SURVIVAL / EVACUATION GEAR and I'm READY for evacuation at any time, carrying the most important belongings with me.



Call me crazy, or call me Roger, but my family has been here in America for 13 years of struggle and hardship to just watch our home get smaller in our rearview mirrors. I have made a decision to stand my my family's side during these fearful times. The home we live in now, which is a fruit of our labor from the day we came to the US, if it goes down, I WILL GO DOWN WITH IT.

You guys KNOW I don't have a job, I don't have any cash for gasoline, motel, and food. Unlike many of the Houston evacuees, I don't really have much choice. The mayor of Houston emphasized to use our common senses. That's exactly what I'm doing.



With half a tank of gas and no cash, I think I'll use MY common sense.

Just so you guys know, I'll be ok. I'm a survivor. We are currently working on securing everything indoors and outdoors and we have enough food and water supply for the weekend. A power outage is a GIVEN and I might just miss a few days of blogging. Expect delays in my response to your comments and replies. Please don't worry about me. I'll be just fine. :D

This just in: My son and his mother just arrived at the Dallas / Fort Worth area. I spoke to my son and his mother last night and told them that we will be riding the storm. I promised my son that I will be finishing our unfinished business of our lightsaber duel next week. I have something to look forward to so, survival is NOT an option. I spoke to Meina, my son's mother, and told her "God bless you, our son and your family." She said the same to me in a much sincere manner I haven't heard since we were together.

My Fellow Houstonians: If you have already evacuated, you did the right thing and I'm very happy for you guys. For those who are riding the storm; Godspeed, GOD BLESS YOU and take good care. By next week, I expect to hear from the following Houstonians in my network:

• Myclette


• Claudia


• Pricilla


• Vanessa


• Roxie (Pasadena, TX)
• J0hnny P Nguyen (Alief Hurricane Rider, Houston, TX! Fcuk ya dude! ALIEF REPRESENT!!! :D)
  


• ...and for those Houstonians I have not met yet (comment so I know) God bless you all!

I will be back later on to post personal pictures of our preparation for the storm. Greenie will be taking over the 90's Song of the Day while I'm working through this. I might assign a few people to run this blog while I ride Rita... wait, that sounded bad.. lol