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Roughead: Navy committed to helping Haiti

The Navy’s top officer said the service is committed to helping Haitians in crisis, and he expects that effort will be long-lasting, multifaceted and likely require extensions of other worldwide deployments.

About 10,000 sailors and 16 ships are currently committed to humanitarian aid and disaster relief in a nation gripped by “absolutely extraordinary devastation,” said Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations. “We still have a long way to go. … We are prepared to stay however long it takes.”

Roughead said the Joint Staff will decide whether the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group, slated to deploy to the Central Command area of responsibility later this week, will be diverted to Haiti. If that happens, the forward-deployed ARG will be extended on station.

The admiral expects a “significant” death toll among Haitians, and is concerned about a “health catastrophe” that could spike in the near future. The intense heat, dead bodies and lack of potable water all combine for a “bad health situation,” he said.

Clean water is key to mitigating such a scenario, he said. In response, Navy ships are reducing their own water consumption to provide between 70,000 and 100,000 gallons each.

While some have characterized the Pentagon’s response as slow, Roughead said he sees things differently.

“I am very pleased with the response we’ve been able to provide,” the admiral told Navy Times.

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, tasked to be able to deploy within 96 hours, did it in half the time. USNS Comfort, which Roughead calls “one of the most sophisticated hospitals on the planet,” left Baltimore two days earlier than expected — faster than ever before — and with a medical cadre. The Navy “put a large airfield off the coast in about two days,” and amphibs are providing a large offshore staging area.

Still, Roughead said he understands the criticism.

“People are overwhelmed with the damage and suffering there and want to help,” he said. “It is a chaotic and frustrating environment, so I understand their reaction.”

The CNO is no stranger to massive humanitarian operations. He was at Pacific Command when the 2004 tsunami killed nearly 230,000 people in 14 countries. He is quick to identify the differences (that event swept most of the dead, and entire towns, into the sea); in Haiti, the admiral said, the effort will come in three stages: response, recovery and restoration. The Navy’s role in these will likely see sailors in country for the coming year “doing all that we can.”

The port infrastructure is destroyed, which is especially devastating since the island’s food and supplies come almost exclusively from the sea.

The salvage ship Grasp with embarked FBI dive team arrived Sunday to assist in port restoration. Navy divers from Virginia arrived Saturday. In addition, the Oceanographic research ship Henson will come through the Panama Canal Sunday and arrive in Haiti Wednesday. It will be joined by the research ship Sumner two days later. Together, they will check the disruption of channels and survey the ocean floor.

“We’re not waiting for the bureaucracy. We’re just moving to make sure we are in position if and when needed,” Roughead said.

Other ships participating include:

The carrier Carl Vinson and destroyer Higgins, which are on station.

The frigate Underwood and cruiser Normandy, which arrived Saturday.

The replenishment oiler Big Horn, which arrived Sunday.

The dock landing ship Gunston Hall, originally tasked to deploy to Africa Partnership Station, was diverted and will arrive Monday. The amphibious assault ship Bataan and dock landing ships Fort McHenry and Carter Hall along with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit will arrive Tuesday.

Guided missile cruiser Bunker Hill will arrive Wednesday. Dry cargo ships Sacagawea and 1st LT Jack Lummus will arrive Friday and Saturday, respectively. Navy P-3 Orions also are conducting aerial surveys and various units are providing assistance with sea-based helicopters.

Roughead said the Littoral Combat Ship Freedom may even be diverted to service in Haiti, where it’s large capacity and ability to operate in shallow waters make ideal for the relief effort.

“Every U.S. ship painted gray better be learning about Haiti,” he said.