Photos of Whole-of-America COVID-19 Response Volume 15

Release Date Release Number
HQ-20-094
Release Date:
April 10, 2020

WASHINGTON — The whole-of-America response to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic continued today.  Sailors aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy, deployed to Los Angeles, is supporting the nation’s COVID-19 response by serving as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients admitted to shore-based hospitals.

Meanwhile, National Guardsmen working in Nebraska and New Jersey ensured medical gear was set up in Atlantic City and flights were departing on time from Offutt Air Force Base, just south of Omaha, Nebraska.  Another FEMA Project Airbridge flight landed in Chicago’s Midway Airport today, carrying much-needed medical supplies for distribution to some of the hardest hit areas around the country.

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 to the nationwide emergency declaration, President Trump has granted 54 major disaster declarations to states, territories and the District of Columbia.

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 8, 21 airbridge flights have landed, containing critical personal protective equipment (PPE): gloves, gowns, goggles, and masks.  An additional 49 flights are scheduled over the next three weeks.

To date, FEMA has obligated nearly $5 billion in support of COVID-19 efforts.
 

Flightline Operations Continue in Face of COVID-19

A male soldier on a laptop

BELLEVUE, Neb. (April 8, 2020) — Airman 1st Class Bernard Coe, of the 55th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, reviews a technical order to prepare an aircraft for takeoff while wearing a protective cloth mask. Cloth masks are one of many mitigation efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. William O’Brien
 

New Jersey Joint Task Force Builds Up Field Medical Station in Atlantic City

3 male soldiers moving medical supplies

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (April 9, 2020) — New Jersey Air National Guard airmen set up medical gear during buildup of a Field Medical Station at the Atlantic City Convention Center.  Atlantic City is one of three stations that will offer overflow from local hospitals focused on COVID-19 patients.

U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt Hecht
 

USNS Mercy Sailors Support the Nation’s COVID-19 Response

Medical personnel monitor a patient.

LOS ANGELES (April 9, 2020) — U.S. Navy Cmdr. Youwei Lin, from Lexington, Mass. (left) and Lt. Cmdr. Trevares Baker, of Pensacola, Fla., monitor patient information during a surgery aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy. Mercy deployed to support the nation's COVID-19 response and is serving as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients admitted to shore-based hospitals.  This allows shore-based hospitals to focus their efforts exclusively on COVID-19 cases. The Department of Defense 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 2nd Class Ryan M. Breeden
 

Negative Pressure Tents Arrive for Chicago’s McCormick Center

Airmen unload cargo from a military plane with a forklift.

CHICAGO (April 8, 2020) — Negative pressure tents arrive in at Midway Airport, in Chicago, for use at the McCormick Place Convention Center.  The aircraft is part of FEMA’s Program Airbridge, which expedites movement of critical supplies from the global market to medical distributors in various locations across the country.  The McCormick Center is being used as an alternate care facility in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Susie Blair
 

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