U.S. Aircraft Carrier Spotted Off The Coast Of The Rockaways As Part Of Federal Response To Sandy

newyork.cbslocal.com ^

[Sub-Driver]

U.S. Aircraft Carrier Spotted Off The Coast Of The Rockaways As Part Of Federal Response To Sandy November 1, 2012 3:38 PM

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – An aircraft carrier was spotted 3 miles off the coast of the Rockaways on Thursday afternoon.

Chopper 2 saw the military vessel in the Atlantic Ocean, a part of the federal response to superstorm Sandy.

It is a hopeful sight for folks in Queens, who were among some of the hardest hit residents during the storm.

The presence of the naval ship means the helicopters circling our area to survey the damage and provide relief are self-sufficient. They will not have to visit nearby airports for fuel as they supply troops and manpower to the devastated residents in the Rockaways and the Tri-State area.

[Joe 6-pack]

"All Navy Ships have HUGE Generators and can supply a lot of Electricity, they have Evaps and can supply Fresh Water and they have Manpower to assist....An Aircraft Carrier has Helicopters to deliver goods and Manpower to places that are cut off..."

They also have a bunch of Navy Corpse Men who can render emergency medical care.

[thackney]

Oct. 31st – Hurricane Sandy Update
http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2012/10/31/oct-31st-hurricane-sandy-update/
OCTOBER 31, 2012

By Rear Adm. John Kirby, Chief of Information

There have been a number of media reports today discussing the Navy’s role in providing support to those affected by Hurricane Sandy. I wanted to take a minute to clean things up a bit. Right now, the only official tasking the Navy has received is to provide contract support in obtaining industrial size pumps for the Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to dewater areas of New York City.

It is true that the Navy is moving ships to be closer to the areas affected by the hurricane; however these ships have not been officially tasked to provide support.

Yesterday, the helicopter carrier USS Wasp (LHD 1), which was already at sea riding out the storm, began to head north to be better positioned. And today the Fleet Commander ordered two other amphibious ships, USS San Antonio (LPD-17) and USS Carter Hall (LSD-50), to get underway and likewise head north.

These decisions provide national and local decision makers maximum flexibility and options should there be a need for Navy support. Most importantly, this will allow our forces to be best postured to minimize the amount of time it will take these forces to get on station if tasked.

Any and all such support will be coordinated through U.S. Northern Command. While the military plays an important role in disaster response, all our efforts are in support of FEMA first and foremost.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

USS WASP (LHD-1) is the lead ship of a class of multipurpose amphibious assault ships built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Litton in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Navy-Marine Corps team's newest amphibious warship has as its primary mission the support of a Marine Landing Force. USS WASP and her sister ships are the first specifically designed to accommodate new Landing Craft, Air Cushion for fast troop movement over the beach and Harrier II (AV-8B) Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing jets which provide close-in air support for the assault force. LHD-1, which is 844 feet long with a beam of 106 feet, also accommodates the full range of Navy and Marine Corps helicopters, conventional landing craft, and amphibious vehicles.

http://www.wasp.navy.mil/

[mkmensinger]

I read a story earlier in the week that helicopter carriers would be available, not the big carriers.

[Colorado Doug]

Just part of obama’s new, enhanced security detail.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Obama needs to learn that air strikes aren’t the best way to silence his critics. :)

[steve86]

Yeah, but those were remote third world areas with no innfrastructure and suffering real devastation after an actual cataclysmic natural disaster.

100% true. In this case, where are they going to evacuate the "refugees" to? A NYC hospital?

[Sub-Driver]

The navy pulled out of Norfolk last week ahead of the storm and headed north.

[1_Rain_Drop]

It has nothing to do with PR.

The helicopters have easier, faster and safer access to people stranded. Some places are hard to reach during and after a flood. Ground may not be stable for vehicles so soon. Some roads may have been washed out or bridges unsafe.

During Irene, the helicopters were used to pick up people from their roofs or isolated areas. They used the field behind my house to deposit the people who were then fed and taken care of.

[maine yankee]

What’s an “aircraft carrier”?

You may know it better as ‘contact alpha’

[tgusa]

TA-DA! We have a winner, no more calls ....

[Mad Dawgg]

"It’s all part of the horse-and-pony show."

Doubtful, it may be somewhat of a publicity issue but think about the situation for a sec.

Several of the hardest hit areas are islands with limited access via roads. The subways aren't working so the Highways are choked. A carrier or Amphib ship with Helos would allow direct transfer of assets like fuel and water and such bypassing an already choked transportation system.

It makes logistical sense. The military is very good at moving large amounts of supplies very fast. Especially units with helicopters.

[hamboy]

It may be amphibious assault ship (LHD) with wide flat helicopter deck. This USS Wasp LHD-1!

[RavenLooneyToon]

The press didn't identify the carrier that Obama sent for show.
It is rumored that it is the sole new one that Obama approved to be built. It's known as the USS Broadway, the enlisted men are forced to wear black leathers, native American costumes, cowboy outfits, and hard hats and parade and prance on the deck singing “In the Navy” and “YMCA”. While the naval aviators run down the hard deck wearing gossamer wings saying,”Think happy thoughts!”, as they fall to their icy doom in the deep waters of the North Atlantic that await them.
Obama may also summon the new underwater “ship” he had built, “The Bear Cub” which he simply adores watching it plunge in and out of the abyss. Sorry, getting election burn out. Less than a week and we can be proud of our country again. I really can't stand this gay Marxist radical that has no respect for our country's defenders and heroes.

[Sub-Driver]

Hey, did you weather the storm ok in Franklinville? Need to replace 2 windows and some water damage. And the yard looks like - well you know what.

[Wuli]

i was thinking one of our smaller carriers was quite largely a hospital ship - and maybe, there is some call for that kind of assistance for critical care with many area hospitals lacking power

[COBOL2Java]

What’s an “aircraft carrier”?

I think Obama said they're the ships that go underwater.

[COBOL2Java]

What’s an “aircraft carrier”?

I think Obama said they're the ships that go underwater.

[Surrounded_too]

— What’s an aircraft carrier? —

It’s a distant cousin to the bayonet.

[Rebelbase]

“The helicopters have easier, faster and safer access to people stranded. Some places are hard to reach during and after a flood. Ground may not be stable for vehicles so soon.”

Where the hell in Hoboken are they going to be rescuing people using helicopters where standard double-axle trucks can’t reach?

[GeronL]

bump