Rapid Alerts

DORAL, Florida - As part of its ongoing commitment to regional security and crisis response, U.S. Southern Command established a Combined Humanitarian Coordination Center (CHCC) at its headquarters in Doral, Florida.

The newly formed center served as a hub for U.S. military disaster relief efforts across Latin America and the Caribbean. Operating on an unclassified network, the cell provided a single location where allied and partner nations, alongside interagency partners, could synchronize humanitarian assistance efforts to improve shared situational awareness and accelerate life-saving assistance.

Since the area of responsibility that SOUTHCOM operates within is highly susceptible to natural disasters, such as devastating hurricanes and major seismic events, rapid response is critical. The Coordination Center aimed to shave vital hours off the mobilization process by having international planning, operations, and logistics experts co-located in a single workspace, all looking at the same common operational picture, said Dennis Turner, SOUTHCOM future operations planner.

“The greatest value of the coordination center proved to be the reduction of the time between identifying a humanitarian need and connecting it with an organization capable of meeting that need,” added Turner. “By bringing military, diplomatic, international, and partner nation representatives together in one place with a common operating picture, we were able to shorten decision cycles, reduce duplication of effort, and improve the delivery of life-saving assistance.”

Historically, U.S. military disaster relief operations, operating in support of the Department of State, the lead federal agency, require complex logistical orchestration. By standing up this dedicated coordination center, SOUTHCOM was able to build the infrastructure required to respond rapidly to humanitarian crises.

The cell is designed to coordinate critical logistics like airfield management and the delivery of vital supplies. During its activation for the recent humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operation, it demonstrated the value of leveraging advanced analytics to stay ahead of the crisis.

“The CHCC enabled participating nations to rapidly exchange information regarding available capabilities, transportation requirements, and evolving humanitarian needs,” said Col. Lorenzo Cabrera, Paraguay’s foreign liaison officer assigned to SOUTHCOM.

Beyond active crisis response, the center prioritized day-to-day preparedness and relationship-building among partner nations. A core component of this operational model was the creation of a "marketplace," a platform where partner nations could transparently highlight their contributions in relief and assistance efforts, ensuring effective multinational cooperation, said Turner.

“The integrated work in the CHCC with partner nations was a true joint and combined effort, allowing us to maintain a clear, shared picture of the situation in the emergency zone,” said Col. Christian Acosta, the Argentina foreign liaison officer assigned to SOUTHCOM.

By promoting continuous dialogue, shared platforms, and joint planning, the CHCC ensures that when U.S. service members are called upon to deliver critical relief, the mission is executed safely and efficiently, reinforcing SOUTHCOM’s role as the trusted partner for Caribbean, Central, and South American forces.

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - Following two earthquakes off the northern coast of Venezuela on June 24 the United States mobilized a humanitarian response at the request of the Venezuelan government. To support U.S. Southern Command’s rapid deployment of personnel and specialized equipment into the disaster zone, Littoral Combat Force 24 transitioned from scheduled regional security missions to support the U.S. government’s disaster response operation.

SIMÓN BOLÍVAR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Venezuela - After weeks of supporting a continuous, 24-hour airlift of global aid, the U.S. Air Force’s 621st Contingency Response Wing has concluded its disaster relief deployment in Venezuela. Operating at the direction of U.S. Southern Command to support a U.S. State Department-led mission, the "Devil Raiders" facilitated the transfer of nearly 3 million pounds of life-saving cargo intended for earthquake survivors.

When the earthquakes struck on June 24, critical supply lines were severely disrupted. In response, the 621st CRW deployed a Contingency Response Element of 110 Airmen with specialized airfield management expertise. This team quickly integrated with local aviation authorities to manage tower and ground operations, ensuring that vital supplies, heavy equipment, and relief personnel safely reached the front lines of the disaster zone as quickly as possible.

This direct logistical throughput enabled U.S. certified nongovernmental organizations to conduct hand-to-hand delivery to an estimated 930,000 impacted residents.

The relief effort was a truly global response. CRE aerial porters offloaded a steady stream of international aircraft, pushing pallets of aid from Germany, Mexico, Japan, Uruguay, and many other nations from across the globe - rapidly transferring the cargo to local transport networks for distribution.

The operational impact of the relief mission drew a July 6 visit from U.S. Southern Command Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan. Visiting the CRE's Joint Operations Center, Donovan met face-to-face with the contingency response Airmen to survey the ongoing disaster response.

During the walkthrough, Donovan highlighted the professionalism and operational effectiveness of the unit. He also recognized the coordinated command structure that enabled the rapid logistical throughput, specifically noting the leadership of Col. Joseph Michaels, Joint Task Force-Port Opening commander, and Lt. Col. Jessica Foster, CRE commander.

“I'm very proud of the effort of our Air Force element at Simón Bolívar Airport, the contingency response element, who were literally on the ground within the first 24 hours. They were able to get the airfield open and operate at max capacity right away, and that's important when you bring in relief supplies,” Donovan said.

Executing a disaster response of this scale required mobilizing the Air Force’s Total Force network. While the mission was led by the 321st CRS, the deployment integrated active-duty augmentees from the 521st and 621st squadrons at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Crucial logistical and airfield capabilities were also seamlessly integrated from the Air National Guard, incorporating the California Air National Guard’s 146th Contingency Response Flight in Oxnard, California, and the Puerto Rico Air National Guard’s 156th Contingency Response Group.

Following two significant earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, the Department of War and the Department of State coordinated efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to communities impacted by the natural disasters. Among the many service members who supported the relief effort was Lt. Cmdr. Johnny Quintong, an operational logistics planner assigned to Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Jacksonville.

There was no change to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated to reflect changes to U.S. embassy operations. Do Not Travel to Haiti due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, and limited health care. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Advisory summary Haiti has been under a national state of emergency since March 2024. This state of emergency remains in effect. U.S. government employee travel restrictions U.S. government employ...

SIMÓN BOLÍVAR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Venezuela — In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, U.S. military forces have mobilized to support a Department of State-led disaster assistance mission to deliver critical relief to the region.

At the direction of U.S. Southern Command, the 621st Contingency Response Wing deployed a Contingency Response Element (CRE) from the 321st Contingency Response Squadron to Simón Bolívar International Airport. The 110-Airman element is working with local aviation authorities, the Venezuelan interim authority, and the U.S. interagency response team to safely expand the intake of humanitarian aid via air transport.

First on the ground, the Contingency Response Airfield Assessment Team evaluated the airfield’s structural integrity and runway load-bearing capacity to ensure heavy cargo aircraft could land safely. Once verified, the remaining CRE elements arrived to establish airfield operations in support of the host nation’s air traffic control operations, airfield management, and cargo handling.

“The ability of our Contingency Response Airmen to quickly adapt to their environment and inject the order needed to move aid is nothing short of amazing, which the entire joint force and interagency immediately recognized,” said Col. Joseph Michaels, 621st Contingency Response Group commander.

By stepping in to help manage tower and ground operations, the Airmen are clearing logistical bottlenecks. This critical infrastructure support ensures that vital supplies, heavy equipment, and relief personnel reach the front lines of the disaster zone as quickly and safely as possible.

"I am immensely proud of our Griffins and their selfless service in supporting the Venezuelan people,” said Lt. Col. Jessica Foster, 321st Contingency Response Squadron commander. “During any crisis, international cooperation is essential, but it is the incredible tenacity and profound care for humanity our Airmen have showcased that is truly awe-inspiring. It is a privilege to lead such an impressive and inspiring team."

Executing rapid mobility operations in the wake of natural disasters is a cornerstone of the 621st Contingency Response Wing’s mission. Known as the "Devil Raiders," the wing has built a proven history of delivering critical humanitarian assistance and disaster relief on a global scale.

When a devastating earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, the wing provided vital airfield operations expertise in the immediate aftermath. That same year, the wing managed complex logistical flows to support relief efforts during the massive floods in Pakistan.

At the direction of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and the Department of War, assigned U.S. military forces are actively supporting Department of State-led disaster assistance to the people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes on June 24. The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) and Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) have arrived in the region to provide rapid, life-saving humanitarian assistance and disaster relief o...