Leaving Toulon on September 13, the Tonnerre projection and command building arrived this weekend in Saint-Martin, where it unloads significant resources intended for the reconstruction of the island devastated on September 5 by the hurricane Irma.
Carrying on board a catamaran (EDAR) and two landing craft (CTM), the BPC of the French Navy transports more than 1000 tonnes of equipment, 116 vehicles and machines and 500 men from the three armies. It also brings a significant air reinforcement, with two Caïman helicopters (NH90) of the light aviation of the Army, as well as two Puma, one belonging to the ALAT and the other to the Army. 'Air. The BPC can also accommodate the appropriate medical teams to transform itself into a floating hospital with 70 beds.
These reinforcements bring the device to more than 2000 soldiers from the three armies, mobilized to provide assistance to disaster victims in the Antilles. "In continuation of an engagement of the Armies initiated even before the passage of Hurricane Irma, the deployment of machines and specialists in the engineering weapon, and logistical means will allow to reinforce the teams already engaged and to begin the transition from the emergency phase to the reconstruction phase. He will notably participate in summary restoration work which will facilitate a return to normal life and the establishment of the conditions necessary for the start of the reconstruction phase, "specifies the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
The latter recalls that following Irma, then José and Maria, the Air Force deployed 2 Puma helicopters, as well as 4 transport planes (2 Casa and 2 A400M). Several rotations from the mainland have also been carried out by military A310s and A340s. These aircraft have diverse and complementary missions: medical evacuations, transport of people and freight, reconnaissance flights. They enabled the establishment of a real air bridge materialized by more than 200 connections in 15 days.
The army, with the deployment of four companies, carries out patrols as part of the security of Saint-Martin. A Puma maneuver helicopter, reinforced with the arrival of the BPC by another Puma and two Cayman, also takes part in the aerial system. A Genie detachment (specialist in clearing and rough reconstruction) is also engaged on Saint-Martin with its construction machinery. It will be supplemented by heavier means transported by the BPC. They will contribute to the first reconstruction operations. The Regiment of the Adapted Military Service (RSMA, which concerns young people from 18 to 25 years old), contributes for its part to the clearing of roads and the transportation of drinking water. In total, before the arrival of Thunder, the ground system included 1200 soldiers deployed, mainly in Saint-Martin.
The French Navy, in addition to the arrival of the BPC, has also been mobilized since the start of this crisis with its two surveillance frigates (Ventôse and Germinal) based in the Antilles and each carrying a helicopter (Panther and Alouette III). They provide transport and routing of reinforcements, food and freight. Naval aeronautics also implemented two Falcon 50 maritime surveillance aircraft, which greatly contributed to the assessment of the damage after each hurricane.
As an example, specifies the ministry, an air and sea bridge made it possible before hurricane Maria passed, last week, to convey an additional 200 tonnes of water to Saint Martin. In addition, more than 100.000 rations (a ration equivalent to 3 meals) were distributed.
Finally, it should be recalled that France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, all committed to helping populations in the area, have decided to set up a joint operation, called Albatros and intended to coordinate and pool everyone's efforts for more efficiency.
The deployment of engineering resources in Saint-Martin will allow the transition between the emergency phase and the reconstruction phase of our "Friendly Island" to begin. _AF
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