WASHINGTON — The whole-of-America response to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic continued throughout the weekend and today, as FEMA Project Airbridge flights arrived in Chicago with essential medical supplies, and National Guardsmen helped deliver food to needy families in Cincinnati and served at COVID-19 testing sites in Jacksonville, Fla. Over the weekend, U.S. Navy Sailors aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy held Easter services aboard the ship’s flight deck while it’s stationed in Los Angeles.
Under the White House Coronavirus Task Force's direction, FEMA, HHS and our federal partners are working with state, local, tribal and territorial governments to execute a whole-of-America response to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the public. In addition, all 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C., have been approved for major disaster declarations to assist with additional needs identified.
FEMA’s Project Airbridge expedites movement of critical supplies, in varying quantities, from the global market to medical distributors in various locations across the U.S.
As of April 13, Project Airbridge has completed 37 flights with an additional 43 scheduled.
- Eight flights landed on April 12 in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Columbus, Ohio.
- Medical supplies included: 7 million gloves (NY), 19 million gloves (Chicago) and 13 million gloves, 97,000 gowns and 106,000 shoe covers (Columbus).
To date, FEMA has obligated more than $5.2 billion in support of COVID-19 efforts.
Florida National Guard Lends a Hand at Jacksonville Testing Site
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (April 13, 2020) — Florida National Guard Spc. Dante Bell, with the 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), supports Jacksonville’s COVID-19 community-based testing site at TIAA Bank Field. More than 1,600 Florida National Guard soldiers are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the state by supporting multiple CBTS locations.
U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Baltz
USNS Mercy Sailors Treat Patients Aboard Hospital Ship
LOS ANGELES (April 13, 2020) — U.S. Navy Sailors transfer a patient to an intensive care unit aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy. Mercy deployed in support of the nation's COVID-19 response efforts, serving as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. DoD is supporting FEMA as well as state, local and public health authorities in helping protect the health and safety of the American people.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Luke Cunningham
USNS Mercy Sailors Observe Easter Sunrise Service
LOS ANGELES (April 12, 2020) — U.S. Navy Sailors attend Sunday Easter sunrise service on the USNS Mercy flight deck. Mercy is serving as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. This allows shore-based hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan M. Breeden
Ohio National Guard Helps Families in Need on Easter
CINCINNATI (April 10, 2020) — Ohio National Guard soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry Regiment help deliver meals and Easter baskets to the Friars Club, a nonprofit social service organization. The meals will serve children and families of the greater Cincinnati community. The soldiers are currently supporting operations at the Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati as part of the whole-of-America response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ohio National Guard photo
FEMA’s Project Airbridge Delivers Supplies for Nationwide Distribution
CHICAGO (April 11, 2020) — A FEMA Airbridge flight arrives at Chicago O’Hare International Airport with medical supplies for distribution by companies nationwide, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. FEMA is chartering planes to bring in supplies for companies, decreasing the shipping time for critical items, such as N-95 respirators, surgical masks, gloves and gowns.
FEMA photo by Alexis Hall
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