Army ready to roll for stranded communities
Rachel Riley
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Commanding officer of the 3rd combat engineer regiment Lieutenant Colonel Jen Harris who is also the 3rd Brigade’s commander of the emergency support force, said personnel and 70 vehicles from the emergency support force were primed and ready to deploy from Lavarack Barracks.
“There are some communities that remain cut off and we expect in the next 24 hours the local and state emergency services and governments will have a better understanding of the actual impact and damage and we’ll be able to surge forward and support where the need is the greatest,” Lt Colonel Harris said.
She said the local army and cyclone- affected communities had only just started to assess the damage.
“We’ve had recon elements out today really looking and understanding where the impact areas are but also importantly the status of those key routes.”
Lt Colonel Harris said they were very keen to get out there and support cyclone- affected communities.
“We maintain a high readiness force in this high- risk season and they are absolutely prepared and keen to get out and help the community which is very much a part of who we are at 3 Brigade.”
Lt Colonel Harris said the army’s focus was to be a supporting effort following Cyclone Debbie.
“Our key focus is not to create a burden in these communities.
“It is to make sure we are ready to surge where the local response either can’t provide support or is exhausted.”
Lt Colonel Harris said the response team was made up of two key components.
The first component is the response force.
“( This is) very much man power intensive ( and includes) 140 guys and girls with chainsaws and tools ready to provide that dismounted debris removal effect,” she said.
The second is a more technical engineer component.
“It is heavy plant focused on the removal of debris, clearing lines of communication and tradesmen who are able to support to make safe services.”
Lt Colonel Harris said the army also had niche capabilities including water purification and hazard identification and disposal.