WASHINGTON — Hurricane Gustav weakened slightly Saturday as it passed over Cuba, but the Defense Department was taking no chances as the huge storm moved toward the Gulf Coast.
U.S. Northern Command spokesman Michael Kucharek told Stars and Stripes on Sunday morning that the military’s forward Operational Command Post, set up at England Airpark in central Louisiana, “could, if Gustav becomes catastrophic and relief efforts become large, morph into a Joint Task Force much like you saw during Hurricane Katrina.”
JTF-Katrina was led by Army Lt. Gen. Russell Honore during Katrina relief.
The operational command post can quickly receive augmentation and further support hurricane relief efforts in close cooperation and in support of civil authorities.
