WASHINGTON — The whole-of-America response to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic continued today, as two of the military’s elite flight demonstration squadrons performed flyover salutes to medical professionals and other front liners in the fight against COVID-19. The Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force’s Thunderbirds made flyovers in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, FEMA continues to expedite movement of commercially pre-sourced and procured critical supplies from the global market to medical distributors in various locations across the U.S. through Project Airbridge.
As of April 27, Project Airbridge has completed 89 flights with an additional 21 scheduled or in transit. Four flights landed in Chicago yesterday, three in Chicago and one in Los Angeles. Six flights are scheduled to land today, four in Chicago 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 April 27:
- More than 768,000 N-95 masks.
- More than 746 million gloves.
- More than 71.5 million surgical masks.
- More than 10 million surgical gowns.
- Nearly 2.1 million thermometers.
- More than 562,000 face shields.
To date, FEMA has obligated $5.9 billion in support of COVID-19 efforts. Recently, that figure includes:
- $2.9 million for California.
- $4.3 million for Iowa.
- $22 million for Kansas.
- $43 million for New Jersey.
- $1.5 million for Oregon.
Military Flyover Salutes COVID-19 Frontliners in New York
NEW YORK (April 28, 2020) — The military's elite flight demonstration squadrons, the Navy's Blue Angels and Air Force's Thunderbirds, give a salute to healthcare workers and others on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. A total of 12 fighter jets, six of the Air Force's F-16C/D Fighting Falcons and six Navy F-18 C/D Hornets streaked over New York City, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island and Newark, N.J., before heading to Trenton, N.J., and Philadelphia.
FEMA photo by K.C. Wilsey
FEMA Project Airbridge Flight Delivers More Medical Supplies
CHICAGO (April 28, 2020) — A FEMA Project Airbridge flight arrives at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport with medical supplies for distribution by companies nationwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. FEMA is chartering flights for companies to decrease the shipping time for critical supplies, such as N-95 respirators, surgical masks, gloves and gowns.
Photo by Alexis Hall/FEMA
Elite Flight Squadrons Thank Frontliners in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (April 28, 2020) — People took to their rooftops and windows today and response vehicles sounded their horns as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds soared over the Philadelphia skyline on their way from New York and New Jersey, and on their way south to Delaware, honoring healthcare workers and first responders on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
FEMA photo by Amanda Hancher
FEMA Procures Over Four Million Respirators
BALTIMORE (April 24, 2020) — A shipment of over four million FEMA-procured respirators from 3M arrives at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. The shipment is part of the federal government’s efforts to ensure critically needed PPE gets to the areas most impacted by COVID-19.
FEMA photo by Raymond J. Piper
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