WASHINGTON — The whole-of-America response to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic continues, as PPE donations from the Republic of Korea and Turkey are distributed to hardest-hit areas throughout the country.
National Guardsmen continue their steady support at food banks, nursing homes and testing sites, while FEMA Project Airbridge flights deliver critical medical supplies for distribution.
As of May 12, Project Airbridge has completed 132 flights with an additional 54 flights scheduled or in transit. Seven flights are scheduled to land today, three in Chicago, two in New York City and two in Los Angeles.
Through Project Airbridge, the following supplies have been delivered from overseas manufacturers to the U.S. and into private sector supply chains from March 29 to May 12:
- More than 1.3 million N-95 masks.
- More than 921 million gloves.
- More than 93.4 million surgical masks.
- More than 16.1 million surgical gowns.
- More than 2.3 million thermometers.
- More than 1 million face shields.
- More than 392,000 coveralls.
- More than 109,000 stethoscopes.
- More than 370,000 oxygen masks.
- More than 250,000 swabs.
- More than 160,000 cannulas.
As of May 12, FEMA, HHS, and the private sector combined have coordinated the delivery of or are currently shipping: 91.4 million N-95 respirators, 129 million surgical masks, 9.3 million face shields, 21.4 million surgical gowns and 99.7 million gloves.
To date, more than $5.8 billion has been obligated to assist with emergency protective measures. In the past 24 hours that amount includes:
- $13.8 million for California.
- $14.6 million for Colorado.
- $2.6 million for Washington
Republic of Korea Donates Protective Masks for COVID-19 Response
CAMP SPRINGS, Md. (May 12, 2020) — 89th Airlift Wing airmen and South Korean aircrew unload a Republic of Korea C-130 aircraft carrying protective masks at Joint Base Andrews. The protective masks are being donated in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, which began June 25, 1950.
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Spencer Slocum
National Guard Soldiers Disinfect Austin, Texas Nursing Home
AUSTIN, Texas (May 12, 2020) — Texas Army National Guard soldiers with Joint Task Force 176 disinfect the West Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Austin. JTF 176 members have also supported the COVID-19 response by distributing medical supplies and helping food banks distribute food.
U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Giles
Florida National Guardsmen Support Tampa Bay Foodbank
TAMPA, Fla. (May 12, 2020) — Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment support Feed Tampa Bay in distributing food to the local community.
U.S. Army photo by Pvt. 1st Class Orion Oettel
Healthcare Workers Honored During National Nurse’s Week
JACKSON, Miss. (May 12, 2020) — Mississippi National Guard soldiers and airmen gather at G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Veteran Affairs Medical Center to honor civilian healthcare workers during National Nurses Week in Jackson. On the last day of Nurse’s week and the anniversary of G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery’s passing, Guardsmen cheered for VA employees as they entered and exited the hospital during morning shift change and thanked them for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Christopher M. Shannon II
PPE Donations from Turkey Inventoried at W. Va. Warehouse
POCA, W.Va. (May 7, 2020) — The asset manager at the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management inspects a PPE shipment that recently arrived from Turkey. After being inventoried, the shipment will be broken down into smaller quantities and delivered to county emergency management agencies for distribution.
FEMA photo by Dave Melancon
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