puerto rico national guard state guard command … · 1/20/2020 · hon. ricardo ros sello nevares...
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COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO
PUERTO RICO NATIONAL GUARD
STATE GUARD COMMAND JOINT FORCES HEADQUARTERS
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE P.O. Box 9023786, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-3786
Hon. Ricardo Ros sello Nevares (787) 289-1400
Governor
PRSG: RSA TF CO 15 May 2018
MEMORANDUM THRU JTF-PR TF CO, JFHQ-PRSG, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-3786
FOR THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF PUERTO RICO, PRSG, San Juan, Puerto Rico
00902-3786.
SUBJECT: After Action Report Operation Hurricane Maria (OE-2017-047)
Handling Instructions
The information gathered in this AAR/IP is classified as For Official Use Only
(FOUO) and should be handled as sensitive information not to be disclosed. This
document should be safeguarded, handled, transmitted, and stored in accordance
with appropriate security directives. Reproduction of this document, in whole or in
part, without prior approval from Puerto Rico State Guard or Puerto Rico
National Guard is prohibited.
At a minimum, the attached materials will be disseminated only on a need-toknow
basis and when unattended, will be stored in a locked container or area offering
sufficient protection against theft, compromise, inadvertent access, and
unauthorized disclosure.
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“Always Ready… Second to None”
1. General:
A. On 18 SEP 04, PRNG BG Isabelo Rivera Negron, The Adjutant General (TAG) of
Puerto Rico, and the Director-State Emergency Management Agency (PREMA)
called his key personnel to once again review the imminent arrival of Hurricane
Maria to the island. All Puerto Rico State Guard (PRSG) units were alerted as well
as personnel tasked to operate the PRNG Joint Operations Center (JOC) reported
to duty the following morning (21 Sep 17). On the early morning of 20 Sep 18,
Hurricane Maria made landfall as a hurricane Category 4 with winds of 155 mph,
initially at Vieques then Culebra and into the eastern portion of the island of Puerto
Rico, with sustained wind of 64 mph (103 km/h) with a gust to 113 mph (182 km/h).
After landfall, wind gusts of 109 mph (175 km/h) were reported at Yabucoa Harbor
and 118 mph (190 km/h) at Camp Santiago 45 to 79 mph raging winds, bringing
heavy thunderstorms and rain showers.
Furthermore, severe flash flooding affected a significant portion of the Island. As
the day progressed the weather deterioration was evident. Early that morning the
Adjutant General of Puerto Rico, BG Isabelo Rivera Negron, instructed his key
personnel on the utilization of PRSG assets in support of emergency relief
operations to severely affected municipalities. All of this support will be under State
Active duty (SAD) parameters.
B. The PRSG Commanding General, BG Edwin I. Rivera Malave issued his
commander´s intent stating his expectations for the delivery of services to the
people of Puerto Rico by the soldiers and airmen of the PRSG. Major Subordinate
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Commands (MSCs) immediately exercised their respective alert rosters as they
began to call-up personnel to report to duty early morning next day.
C. On 21 SEP 2018, The Honorable Ricardo A. Rossello Nevarez, Governor of Puerto
Rico, signed Executive Order (EO) 2017-047. This EO backed-up his intent and
formally authorized The Adjutant General of Puerto Rico, to employ the Puerto
Rico Military Forces assets to provide Military Support to the affected Municipalities
and others Local and Federal Agencies.
2. Operations:
A. The actual disaster relief operations “on location” were conducted during the
period of 21 September 2017 to 19 May 2018. The PRSG personnel gave support
to different missions. The demobilization phase for Operation Maria including
Regional Staging Areas, Mass Care and Communication Personnel thereafter,
was performed between 11 May 18 to 19 May 18.
B. Scope of the mission: One of the main purposes for this State Activation for the
PRSG was to execute the entire operational structure for the distribution of
commodities to all Municipalities of Puerto Rico through the different Regional
Staging Area (RSA) during the State Activation and complement and assist the
Puerto Rico National Guard in any other mission requested.
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Troop to task with the peak number of soldiers by mission site:
TROOP TO TASK PRSG (COMMODITIES/MEDICAL/ENGINEERING)
MISSION MUNICIPALITY MAXIMUM
PAX
ASSIGNED TASK
AGUADILLA RSA (PRNG Armory) AGUADILLA 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
ARECIBO RSA (DE Warehouse) ARECIBO 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
BAYAMON RSA (DE Warehouse) BAYAMON 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
CAGUAS RSA (DE Warehouse) CAGUAS 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
CANOVANAS RSA (DE Warehouse) CANOVANAS 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
CEIBA RSA (PRNG Armory) CEIBA 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
GUAYAMA RSA (PRNG Armory) GUAYAMA 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
MAYAGUEZ RSA (PRNG Armory) MAYAGUEZ 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
PONCE RSA (CEC Warehouse) PONCE 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
PONCE RSA SECURITY PONCE 10 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
UTUADO RSA (Municipal Baseball Park) UTUADO 22 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
SUPPORT TO FEMA MASS CARE CATANO (FEMA Warehouse)
(40 PAX Max) CATAÑO 40 COMMODITIES HANDLING & REPAKAGING
SUPPORT TO FEMA MASS CARE CAYEY (FEMA Warehouse) (50
PAX Max) CAYEY 50 COMMODITIES HANDLING & REPAKAGING
RSA TASK FORCE/PRSG G3/C2 CELL (FEMA JFO/PRNG JOC) GUAYNABO 36 COMMAND AND CONTROL
CHAPLAIN SUPORT TO PRNG TASK FORCES ISLAND WIDE 6 CHAPLAIN SUPPORT TO PRNG
COMMUNICATION SUPPORT PRNG JOC FORT BUCHANAN 12 COMMUNICATION SUPPORT TO PRNG
MUNICIPAL LNO's & BRANCHES FORT BUCHANAN 160 LNOS FOR COMMODITIES DISTRO
SUPPORT TO PRNG JOC FORT BUCHANAN 24 C2
LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO MUÑIZ ANGB FOR COMMODITIES
DISTRO CAROLINA 65 SUPPORT TO COMMODITIES DISTRO
MEDICAL SUPPORT TO PREMA/PR Department of Health PONCE / UTUADO 47 MEDICAL SUPPORT
PRSG PAYROLL/ADMINISTRATIVE FORT BUCHANAN 4 PAYROLL/ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
SUPPORT 65 INF BN CAYEY CAYEY 3 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
SUPPORT 190th ARMORY CAGUAS CAGUAS 5 COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION
SUPPORT TO DONATIONS AND COMMODITIES DISTRO (1st
LADY OFFICE) GUAYNABO 10 DONATION HANDLING & COMMODITIES
DISTRIBUTION SUPPORT TO PRNG WATER PURIFICATION ISLAND WIDE 9 BULK WATER DISTRO
SUPPORT TO FEMA/PRASA INSTALLATION OF WATER
BLADDERS ISLAND WIDE 5 BULK WATER DISTRO
HOME RE-CONSTRUCTION MISSIONS (50 PAX) ISLAND WIDE 0 ENGINEERING SUPPORT
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706 TOTAL PAX
C. The main missions executed by the PRSG were as follows:
a. RSAs Management and Operations: The operational control and
management of the Commodities Distribution System thru nine (9) Regional
Staging Areas in the municipalities of Aguadilla, Arecibo, Bayamon, Caguas,
Canovanas, Ceiba, Guayama, Mayaguez, Ponce and the Point of Distribution
(POD) Utuado for the surrounding municipalities.
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b. Legal Counseling to soldiers and airmen: The PRSG Legal Team provided
legal assistance and counseling to our force regarding the Puerto Rico Military
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Code and the provisions related to the State Active Duty Mobilization. The
PRSG Legal Team, led by COL Jorge A. Santini-Padilla, submitted an
amendment to the Puerto Rico Military Code that eventually was approved by
the Puerto Rico Legislature and signed into a law by the Governor of PR. The
amendment intent was to provide more benefits and protections to all members
of the Puerto Rico Military Forces call to duty as part of a State Active Duty
deployment.
c. Support FEMA Mass Care Task Force for commodities handling,
inspection and repackaging in the municipalities of Cataño and Cayey.
The total pallet of boxes of meals inspected and repacked by our soldiers and
airmen on this mission was approximately 8,000.
d. Communication support to the PRNG including infrastructure recovery
throughout the island.
This team use radio communications HF, VHF UHF, ALE and folded dipole
broad band antenna to support the PRNG. After hurricane wins they set up
antennas and opened a net control to cheeked conditions of the PRNG
Communications. They established contact with all PRNG armories. They
assigned RTO’s to the PRNG JOC atFort Buchanan and at the Convention
Center.
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e. Logistic, Security Forces and Engineering support to Muñiz Air National
Guard Base. This team provided civil engineering support, logistic and aerial
port support, EOC operations support and Security Forces support to Muñiz Air
National Guard Base.
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f. Security Forces support to 141st Air Control Station at Aguadilla. This
team provided Security Forces support to the 141st Air Control Squadron and
Punta Borinquen, Aguadilla, PR.
g. Liaison Officers and NCO support to the PRNG Joint Operation Center.
This team provided operational and administrative support to the PRNG JOC
at Fort Buchanan.
h. Liaison Officers and NCO support to all Municipalities of Puerto Rico for
the POD coordination. The PRSG provided at least two liaisons officer for each
municipality of Puerto Rico. They served as subject matter experts on the
implementation of the point of distributions concepts and as point of contacts
among the PRNG and the municipalities.
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i. Chaplain Support to the PRNG and FEMA. The PRSG provided chaplaincy
support to the PRNG Task Forces and Subordinated Units, to the FEMA JFO
personnel, and to PREMA personnel.
Chaplaincy Interventions:
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j. Medical Support to the Puerto Rico Department of Health, PRNG, FEMA
and PREMA throughout the island. The PRSG Medical Personnel provided
medical support to several vulnerable communities across the Island. They
impacted more than 15 communities in 11 Municipalities or Puerto Rico for a
total of more than 7,242 patients. Our medical team also provided support to
several mission sites of the PRNG. Just in Utuado our medical team impacted
more than 1,800 patients.
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Some of the sites impacted by our medical team were:
1. Shelter of the Municipality of Jayuya
2. Shelter of the Municipality of Adjunta
3. Santa Isabel Municipal Hospital
4. Two Shelters at the Municipality of Juana Díaz
5. Fort Allen PRNG Field Hospital
6. Shelter of the Municipality of Peñuelas
7. Utuado Municipal Hospital
8. Municipality of Guayanilla Field Hospital
9. Shelter of the Municipality of Ponce
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10. Two Shelters at the Municipality of Salinas
11. Camp Santiago PRNG Hospital
k. Support to the 65th Infantry BN in Cayey on commodities distribution. This
team helped the PRNG 65th Infantry BN on administrative matters and
documentation management.
l. Payroll and administrative support. This team provide payroll and
administrative support to the PRNG.
m. Support to the 190th armory in Caguas on commodities distribution and
engineering. This team provided engineering support to the PRNG 190th EN
BN in several missions around the Island.
n. Support to the 296th Water Purification Company. This team provided
technical support for water purification to the PRNG 296th Water Purification
Company.
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o. Support to the Camp Santiago Joint Training Site and Fort Allen on
engineering and vehicles maintenance. This team provided engineering and
mechanics support to Camp Santiago and Fort Allen.
p. Support to Puerto Rico Search and Rescue Team. This team provided
technical and administrative support to the PRUSAR.
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q. Support to PRNG Army Aviation on Military Police tasks and commodities
distributions. This team provided security and logistic support to the ARMY
Aviation Unit for the Commodities Distribution missions.
r. Military Police support to municipalities of Cataño and Toa Baja. This team
provided security support directly to the municipality of Toa Baja.
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s. Support to the 1st Lady Office for donated commodities distribution. This
team provided technical and logistical support to the PRNG on donation handling
and commodities distribution.
Logistic support to FEMA and PRASA for water bladders installations on
vulnerable communities. This team provided technical and logistical support
to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority. From 02 January 2018 to 15
May 2018, this mission impacted more than 35 Communities in 12
Municipalities of the center area of Puerto Rico.
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t. Command and Control, Safety, Social Work Services, and Medical Support
for all the operational areas and missions. The
Safety/Medical/Chaplain Team keep the high moral and welfare of the troops
in every RSA. No mayor incidents of accidents were experienced on any of our
mission sites. The PRSG/RSA Task Force Command & Control Cell provided
coordination support and oversight for all PRSG missions.
Safety Inspections performed:
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Medical History Report:
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PRSG: RSA TF CO
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D. Strength:
a. Puerto Rico State Guard Strength breakdown per month.
Strength after 26 Sep 2017 was estimated.
PRSG Strength SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY
OFF 49 78 131 142 72 36 38 35 10
WO 4 9 21 26 12 8 8 8 1
ENL 235 358 513 538 388 299 211 185 60
TOTAL 288 445 665 706 472 343 257 228 71
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E. Operations Summary:
1. Planning/Alert:
a. The PR TAG verbal instructions as well as the Executive
Order (EO2017047) signed by the Governor of Puerto Rico
provided BG Edwin Rivera with sufficient legal authority to
activate the required PRSG troops. On the morning of
September 22, 2017 part of the PRSG General Staff met
at the PR Emergency Management Agency Headquarters
to receive the first reports after Hurricane Maria made
landfall on the Island and the mission requirements for the
impending Disaster Relief Operation.
b. Although other municipalities on the island suffered from
the effects of flash floods, structural damage and the loss
of more than seventy eight percent (78%) of island-wide
communications; given the severity of the unprecedented
damages and at the request of BG Isabelo Rivera Negron,
PRSG BG Edwin Rivera and the Federal Emergency
Management
Agency (FEMA) requested additional PRSG units to join the mission.
c. The Governor of Puerto Rico and PREMA issued a formal
instruction to open the Regional Staging Areas as part of
the Commodities Distribution Plan and ordered that PRSG
assume the Command and Control of that operation.
2. Operations (Execution):
b. This operation began on 22 SEP 18: An effective military
leadership was noticed at every level. The PRSG Col Jesus E.
Delgado was assigned to this operation as the Incident
Commander, Maj. Hector Vazquez as the Operation Section
Chief, 2dLt Nahum Rodriguez as Staging Area Manager, Lt Olga
Davila as Administrative Personnel Officer, 2dLt Luis E. Carbonell
as Planning Section Chief, AIC Javier Ramirez as Logistic
Section Chief, and MSG Manuel Alonso Gay as PRNG JOC LNO. The
Incident Organization Chart (ICS 207) was designated for this operation.
Supported by FEMA, PREMA, PRNG-Directorates and Major Subordinate
Commands (MSC), the operation was executed without major significant
problems.
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c. 24 SEP 18: A total of seventy-eight (78) municipalities were
declared and validated as disaster zones by both the local
government and FEMA. All available PRSG troops were call to
duty by several means, including radio announcements, personal
contacts, and by phone when available. Many PRSG soldiers and
airmen reported to duty on their own initiative and following the
prescribed mobilization instructions.
d. 26 SEP 18: (Readiness) From top to bottom, the soldiers in the
field locations across the nine RSA around the island were in
direct contact with municipal administrations, regional
dependencies guaranteeing the organizational stability of the
government and delivery of commodities for all citizens. This also
covered areas that needed administrative tasks and other
logistical support tasks for quick and effective decisions.
At the beginning of each duty shift, soldiers revisited the scope of mission
and the limitations associated with them and their equipment. Safety was
emphasized at all times.
e. 27 SEP 18: The Local Government and Federal Agencies pointed
out their priority (DR-4339-PR Hurricane Maria) of support the
commodities distributions on the municipalities of Utuado, Las
Marias, Maricao, Corozal, Florida, Lares, Adjuntas, Jayuya,
Barranquitas, Orocovis, Villalba, Ciales and Yauco.
Note: A POD was open to serve only the municipality of Utuado. (Super
POD).
f. 27 SEP 18 to 5May 18:
i. No later than 72 hours after the Hurricane, nine (9) RSAs and one
(1) Major Municipality POD (Municipality of Utuado) were
established as part of the distribution plan during the response and
recovery phases. The RSAs opened were:
a. Mayaguez (PRNG Armory)
b. Aguadilla (PRNG Armory)
c. Ceiba (PRNG Armory)
d. Guayama (PRNG Armory)
e. Ponce (PRNG Armory moved to Commerce and
Export
Company Warehouse)
f. Caguas (Department of Education Warehouse)
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g. Canovanas (Department of Education Warehouse)
h. Arecibo (Department of Education Warehouse)
i. Bayamon (Department of Education Warehouse)
ii. At the fourth week of the operation, a decision was made to make
direct pushes from the LSA’s to eight (8) Major Municipalities and
take those municipalities out of the RSA area of operation.
iii. All nine RSAs were open and distributed a total of 89,072,324 bottles
of water and 26,215,660 meals to all citizens of Puerto Rico,
answering the call to service and complementing the National Guard
of Puerto Rico in more than 40 other missions.
iv. As part of the Commodities Distribution Plan, every municipality
opened their respective PODs and implement their Local
Commodities Distribution Plans.
v. Also, several air missions where deployed to impact the central and
other vulnerable areas of the Island.
vi. Deficiency in the communication across Puerto Rico interrupted the
distribution response.
vii. At the beginning of the mission, we had a significant delay on the
receiving of PPE’s and MHE’s from PRGSA. FEMA took care of that
and provided us the resources needed.
viii. Some commodities came with expiration dates close to the date of
distribution. For this reason, FEMA established an Inspection and
Repacking Operation at two Mass Care Warehouses (Cataño and
Cayey). That operation was led and executed by the PRSG. ix. At
the RSAs the PRSG received more than 8 different types of grocery
and meals. Hard to quantify and keep inventory.
x. Most municipalities didn’t follow the FEMA Point of Distribution
Standards (as stated on the IS26 course) to run their distributions points.
Municipal points of distribution needed stabilization in terms of improving
local coordination and procedures. For that reason, the PRSG was
directed to assign LNOs to each municipality to provide oversight over the
municipal distribution operation. xi. Prior to commencing the RSA mission,
and contrary to the standards established on the IS26 for PODs
Operations, no standardized forms or protocols were available to manage
the RSAs. The PRSG created them.
xii. All RSAs were closed on 12 May 2018. They were properly cleaned
and handle back to the Department of Education and the Puerto Rico
National Guard.
xiii. At the end of the mission, all commodities from all RSAs were send
to the PREMA Warehouse at Ponce. See inventory in Annex A.
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3. Administrative Matters:
a. Accidents and Incidents: See Annex B
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d. Public Affairs: A PRSG photographer from the Public Affairs Section (PAO)
was assigned to the PRSG-RSA Task Force. This photographer visited all
field locations to capture the moments where our soldiers eagerly combined
their efforts to help less fortunate people. The photographer took pictures of
the various operations conducted by State Guard Personnel. (See Annex
C)
e. Morale and Discipline: Both were very high and beyond any expectations
throughout the entire operation. The common people, at every municipality
in which our soldiers provided assistance, were very impressed with their
valuable services, discipline, commitment and overall support rendered.
Some willingly and openly expressed their gratitude and appreciation for a
job well done. Others went further and called them “their new family”.
4. Associated Costs (personnel & logistics):
a. Payrolls processing: The PRSG assigned personnel to provide support to the payroll section of the JTF-PR. The PRNG Administrative Office will provide the final costs associated with this mission.
b. The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico requested to the
President of the United States that Puerto Rico be declared a disaster zone.
With this declaration all associated costs are forwarded to the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for reimbursement. The PRNG-
Administrative Services Division, as the state representative for the Puerto
Rico Nation al Guard, will submit to FEMA all applicable costs for
reimbursement. The total amount for reimbursement is estimated as TBD
by PRNG Administrative Services Office. Finally, these funds will be sent to
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico General Fund.
c. Maintenance: To ensure equipment readiness, Preventive Maintenance
Checks & Services (PMCS) was performed on all PRNG and PRSG
equipment on a daily basis. During the programmed reconstitution phase
all military and material handling equipment will have its final maintenance
thus insuring its full readiness for the next hurricane season, prior its turn in
to the assigned storage locations.
5. Lessons learned:
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A. What Supposed to Happen?
a. As preplanned and stated on the PRNG Mission Ready Package, the PRSG
will operate the Regional Staging Areas (RSA) for the commodities distribution
to the people of PR.
b. Provide Liaisons Officers/NCOs to every municipality of PR
c. Provide Medical Support to Vulnerable Communities of PR as requested by
FEMA/PREMA
d. Provide Chaplain Support to PRNG Task Forces and PRSG Operations.
e. Provide Engineering and Mechanics Support to CSJTC & Fort Allen.
f. Provide Logistic, Engineering, and Security Forces Support to Muñiz ANGB.
g. Provide Support and Personnel to PRNG Water Purification Units.
h. Provide Communication Support to the PRNG.
i. Provide Support to FEMA Mass Care TF for the inspection and repackaging of
commodities.
j. Provide Support to Army Aviation for commodities distribution to the citizens of
PR.
k. Provide Support to FEMA and PRASA on water bladders installations on
several sites.
l. Provide Support to the CSH Humacao with medical personnel and translators.
m. Provide Support to PR Urban Search and Rescue (PRUSAR) Team.
B. What Happened?
a. Regional Staging Areas (RSA) for commodities distribution to the
people of PR were properly operated and manned by PRSG.
b. Liaisons Officers/NCOs were assigned to every municipality of
PR.
c. Medical Support to Vulnerable Communities of PR as requested
by FEMA/PREMA was properly provided to several communities
of Puerto Rico.
d. Chaplain Support to PRNG Task Forces, PRSG Operations and
FEMA/PREMA personnel was appropriately provided.
e. Engineering Support to CSJTC & Fort Allen was properly
provided.
f. Logistic, Engineering, and Security Forces Support to Muñiz
ANGB was properly provided.
g. Support and Personnel to PRNG Water Purification Units was
properly provided.
h. Communication Support to the PRNG was properly provided.
i. FEMA Mass Care TF for the inspection and repackaging of
commodities was properly provided.
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j. Support properly provided to Army Aviation on military police and
commodities distribution to the people of Puerto Rico.
k. Support properly provided to FEMA and PRASA on water
bladders installations on several sites.
l. Support properly provided to the Army Combat Support Hospital
at Humacao with medical personnel and translators.
m. Support properly provided to PR Urban Search and Rescue
(PRUSAR) Team.
C. What went right?
a. The PRSG personnel answered effectively and promptly to the call to duty with
a very hi sense of moral and commitment. More than 700 PRSG soldiers and
airmen were deployed on SAD.
b. As planned, we received commodities from FEMA for distribution to the people
of PR.
c. As planned, we received support from PREMA/FEMA for the commodities
distribution and RSA Operations.
d. Our soldiers and airmen adapted and improvised on an outstanding manner to
the lack of MHEs at the beginning of the operations.
e. The PRNG performed several commodities distribution missions from the RSA
to different vulnerable communities of PR.
f. We provided more than 75MM bottles of water and 25MM meals to the people
of PR. We also provided significant amount of pet food to the municipalities and
animal shelters.
g. We had a great integration of our personnel with the Department of Education
authorities and other agencies.
h. Our personnel gave support to the Department of Education on the
maintenance of their warehouses.
i. The Department of Education provided four (4) warehouses for the RSA
operations.
j. The PRNG provided four (4) armories for the RSA operations.
k. The Exports and Commerce Company provided one (1) warehouse for the RSA
operations.
l. We received PPE’s and MHE’s from FEMA/PREMA/ASG.
m. More than 5,000 patients were take care by our Medical Personnel.
n. At the RSA Task Force, we had an outstanding integration and joint work with
the New Jersey and New Mexico National Guard personnel that were
embedded to us.
o. We had a great integration of our LNOs with the municipal authorities and other
agencies.
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p. In coordination with PREMA, the RSA Task Force launched direct missions to
impact vulnerable communities around the Island.
q. In coordination with FEMA, the RSA Task Force and PRSG Chaplain Corps
launched some missions to support PRNG/PRSG soldiers with children with
disabilities. We are providing hygiene items and commodities directly to their
homes.
r. Outstanding Communication support were provided to the PRNG by PRSG
personnel.
s. Outstanding support by the PRASG personnel to the Muñiz Air National Guard
Base.
t. No significant incidents or accidents occurred during the operations.
u. Our JAG Section proposed a Law 62 (Military Code of PR) amendment in
benefit of all the soldiers and airmen of the PRMF. The same was approved by
the Senate and House and signed by the Governor.
D. What went wrong?
a. A large number of our PRSG soldiers and airmen were victims/survivors of the
path of the hurricane and were aversively affected. This prevented their
deployment to the SAD mobilization.
b. Lack of effective ways of communications at the beginning of the operations.
c. Lack of knowledge by some PRNG personnel about the military roll of the PRSG
as part of the Military Forces of Puerto Rico and the customs and courtesies that
should prevail among us.
d. Lack of security personnel for the RSAs. They were supposed to be provided by
the PRPD.
e. Delay on the receiving of the soldiers’ payroll payments.
f. Lack of billeting for soldiers near or at the mission sites.
g. Difficulties to coordinate the subsistence of the soldiers on every site of
operations.
h. At the beginning of the mission, we had a significant delay on the receiving of
PPE’s and MHE’s from the Administración de Servicios Generales (ASG).
i. The PRNG/PRSG HQ were affected by the hurricane and didn’t have a power
generator to operate.
E. How can we improve?
a. Review of daily reporting procedures: Units were submitting their daily strength
reports late at the JOC. This is turn made JOC to submit late reports to both
state headquarters as well as to the National Guard Bureau. Reports of this
nature must arrive NLT 0900 hrs on a daily basis at the JOC.
PRSG: RSA TF CO
SUBJECT: After Action Report OPERATION – Hurricane Maria (EO 2017-0047)
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b. Increase the PRSG integration with the counterparts of the PRNG. Only by
drilling/working together we will know the capabilities of each other, respect
each other, and help each other to fulfill the mission of the PR Military Forces.
c. In a Joint process with PREMA/FEMA/PRNG, we will improve the SOP’s for the
RSA operations, and standardize the Forms and Processes for the RSA’s Ops.
d. Prepare a RSA Operations course that could be presented to FEMA as a
national standard.
e. Provide the FEMA IS-26 course (Point of Distribution Operations) to all our
LNOs and the Municipalities.
f. Prepare a State Mobilization Procedures and Task Force Operations course
that will be use to prepare the PRNG-PRSG for any State Active Duty
Mobilization.
g. Establish an Incident Management Team and an Incident Management
Assistant Team to be subject matter expert on the Incident Command System
and National Incident Management System.
h. In a Joint process with PREMA/FEMA/PRNG, we will improve the SOP’s for the
LNO’s operations. Re-establish the course for the PRSG/PRNG LNO’s where
we train them about their roles and responsibilities and how to interact with
municipalities and other agencies.
i. Increase the PRSG participation and integration in every PREMA / FEMA /
PRNG DSCA / DOMOPS exercise or planning section.
j. Establish at least four (4) permanent warehouses for RSA operations at each
cardinal point of the Island. The PRSG will drill on those sites on regular basis
to practice the RSA operations and keep the facilities in good shape.
k. Issue a clear guidance about the use of equipment and weapons by the PRSG
personnel.
l. Integrate and keep an actualized PRSG personnel roster to the PRNG G1 data
base. Improved the PRSG Personnel Management System and Identification
Card to increase the interoperability with PREMA, FEMA and other emergency
management agencies.
m. In order to provided support to the PRNG/PREMA or any other agency, the
PRSG is going to organized an Incident Action Team that will be composed by
Subject Matter Experts on Incident Command System, National Incident
Management System, ICS Forms, DSCA and State Active Duty mobilization
processes. This Team could be integrated to the PRNG DOMOPS on a drill by
drill basis.
n. Provided more spiritual/psychological and any other kind of help and support to
PRNG/PRSG soldiers and airmen that were survivors of the hurricane and had
several losses and/or PTSD.
PRSG: RSA TF CO
SUBJECT: After Action Report OPERATION – Hurricane Maria (EO 2017-0047)
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o. Acquire appropriate administrative supplies and office equipment for the PRSG
HQ and Subordinated Units.
p. Evaluate and Improve the PRNG Payroll process and procedures.
q. Plan, Train and Exercise.
6. Attachments
a. Annex A: Final Inventory at Ponce PREMA Warehouse
b. Annex B: Final PRSG SAD Personnel Roster
c. Annex C: Awards Distribution by PRSG Units
d. Annex D: Subordinated Sections & RSAs AARs
7. PRSG Point of Contact and Signed
Col Jesús E. Delgado-Morales, PRASG
Commander, PRSG/RSA Task Force
PRSG: RSA TF CO
SUBJECT: After Action Report OPERATION – Hurricane Maria (EO 2017-0047)
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Phone: 787-342-2169
Email: [email protected]
Maj Héctor R. Vázquez-Rivera, PRASG
Planning Section Chief, PRSG/RSA Task Force
Phone: 787-460-9226
Email: [email protected]
2d Lt Nahum J. Rodriguez-Oquendo, PRASG
Planning Section Adm. Officer, PRSG/RSA Task Force
Phone: 787-502-8888
Email: [email protected]
Puerto Rico State Guard HQ
P.O. Box 9023786
PAR 3 ½ San Juan, P.R. 00902-3786
CC: PRSG CG
PRSG: RSA TF CO
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Annex A: Final Inventory at Ponce PREMA Warehouse
PRSG: RSA TF CO
SUBJECT: After Action Report OPERATION – Hurricane Maria (EO 2017-0047)
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Annex B: Final PRSG SAD Personnel Roster
PRSG: RSA TF CO
SUBJECT: After Action Report OPERATION – Hurricane Maria (EO 2017-0047)
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Annex C: Awards Distribution by PRSG Units Annex D:
Subordinated Sections & RSAs AARs