Logistics Agency Overnights Maps for Haiti Relief

By Stephen J. Baker
Special to American Forces Press Service

RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 20, 2010 – The Defense Logistics Agency’s map facility here has been working quickly to supply military and federal agencies with maps essential to the humanitarian relief effort in Haiti since the Jan. 12 earthquake there.

Albert Zamora, Hydrographic/Digital Section chief in Defense Supply Center Richmond, Va.'s Mapping Customer Operations Division, and other team members have shipped 38,000 maps and charts since last week's earthquake in Haiti to military units on scene and en route to support disaster relief efforts there. Courtesy photo by Stephen J. Baker   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Employees at Defense Supply Center Richmond's Mapping Customer Operations Division have processed more than 1,300 orders for nearly 38,000 maps and charts, the division's deputy chief, Kevin Bettis, said.

The maps were sent from Richmond -- more than half via overnight delivery -- to units on the scene and en route to Haiti, Bettis said.

The supply center always is prepared for emergencies, Bettis said. ”We have a philosophy that we need to always be ready because you never know when the next crisis is going to occur,” he said.

There was a similar increase in map orders during the 2004 tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka, Bettis said, adding that he expects the surge in orders to continue for another two weeks.

"The more troops we send in, the more support we're going to need to provide,” he said. “And we'll be ready to do it."

As the Defense Department's combat logistics support agency, DLA is responsible for providing the military, other federal agencies, and joint and allied forces with logistics, acquisition and technical services including fuel, food, clothing, medical supplies and equipment, repair parts for weapons systems and energy services.

(Stephen J. Baker works for Defense Supply Center Richmond.)