Story: Red Cross forges partnership with NORAD and NORTHCOM to enhance disaster response capabilities

This story is written by Red Cross Volunteer Allen Crabtree.

“The American Red Cross actively collaborates with a number of non-governmental, faith based and private sector organizations, and military partners,” said Eric Jones, American Red Cross Disaster Officer for Disaster Readiness and Capacity Development.   “These partnerships allow us to greatly enhance and expand our joint capabilities to provide emergency relief to individuals and communities whenever and wherever disaster strikes.  We can accomplish amazing things when we work together!”

One of the Red Cross’ key partnerships is with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM).  Jones recently met with representatives from NORAD and NORTHCOM at the American Red Cross Service Delivery Site for disaster relief in Colorado Springsto discuss with our partners how the Red Cross is responding to the Colorado wildfires and how the partnership could be implemented in future disasters.

NORAD was established in 1958 as a joint command between the governments of Canada and the United States to provide coordinated defense against Cold War threats toNorth America.  NORTHCOM was established in 2002 to coordinate defense support of civil authorities and to provide command and control of Department of Defense (DOD) homeland defense efforts.

“Partnerships and partnering are important to us,” said Captain James Terbush (MC USN) at US NORTHCOM.  He continued: “The American Red Cross is a Primary partner of the NORAD NORTHCOM Interagency Team. We value highly this relationship and look forward to close collaboration with the Red Cross for this disaster and in the future.”

“Think of this partnership as an insurance policy for disaster relief,” Jones said.  “For example, there will be future disaster situations where air space and areas is restricted and the Red Cross will need the active participation of NORTHCOM and other DoD elements to help us get our emergency relief assets on the ground.  This partnership could facilitate the needs of the Red Cross being met with military assets and aircraft.  The collaboration we build today could be of immeasurable value tomorrow.”

Captain Terbush summed his observations of the meeting with these words:  “Thanks for the terrific visit to your American Red Cross, Colo. Springs, Disaster Recovery HQs yesterday. We gained a tremendous amount of information about your response to the Colorado Wildfires and also a different perspective on the strategic workings of ARC, up and down the chain. [This is] all excellent for our situational awareness.”

“This meeting and others like it provide a forum to share agency roles and allow for networking,” said Jones.  “The more we understand our respective missions and goals, the better we will be able to manage partner expectations and foster coordination so that the Red Cross can provide disaster relief where and when it is needed most!”