Month: September 2024

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Defense News: Evacuation Signage and Black Flags Help Protect Norfolk Naval Shipyard Workforce

Source: United States Navy

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia — While driving around Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), you may have noticed new signage in the parking lots and black flags flying from some buildings and gates. It’s all in an effort to mitigate risks to both personnel and property.

“The new parking lot signage identifies evacuation zones in the event a hazard is present where all personnel need to be removed from the immediate area, such as from airborne hazards or contaminants,” said Installation Emergency Management Officer Nicole Roten. “It is expected that if the entire shipyard population is sheltered, we would need to release personnel in an orderly fashion to avoid, or at least reduce, traffic congestion as much as possible, both on the installation and in the cities of Portsmouth and Chesapeake.”

Personnel should look for the evacuation signage in their parking lot to be aware of their zone and make sure to review the Installation Emergency Management Plan, NAVSHIPYDNOR M-3440.1, Chapter 2, Emergency Support Function 16, Release of Personnel/Evacuation located on the sharepoint website at https://flankspeed.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/CNICCNRMAHub/NNSY/NNSY%20Instructions/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FCNICCNRMAHub%2FNNSY%2FNNSY%20Instructions%2FNAVSHIPYDNOR%20M%2D3440%2E1%2C%2022%20Feb%202024%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2FCNICCNRMAHub%2FNNSY%2FNNSY%20Instructions.
Personnel with questions should contact the Installation Emergency Management Officer Nicole Roten at (757) 396-9491 or alexis.n.roten.civ@us.navy.mil.

Protecting the workforce is a top priority at NNSY and the intense summer heat puts everyone at risk for heat exhaustion or stroke. Everyone should be familiar with the Heat Stress Flag Status and that NNSY notifies the workforce regarding “black flag” status via AtHoc alerts, Giant Voice and posted flags at Building 1500, industrial area Gate November, and the NNSY Callaghan Center Gymnasium.

“The purpose of the black flags is to notify personnel when a black flag heat stress condition exists,” said Roten. “This means the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) has reached or exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit.”
“When black flag conditions exist, strenuous, non-essential outdoor physical activity will be suspended for all personnel, excluding operational commitments not for training purposes,” said Roten. “All reasonable efforts should be made to reschedule these activities during cooler periods of the day.”

Personnel should make sure they are prepared for hot weather by monitoring the conditions outside, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and dressing accordingly. If any individuals onboard the shipyard require emergency assistance, call (757) 396-3333.

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Defense News: PP24-2 Assists with the Preservation of WWII Memorials in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia

Source: United States Navy

YAP, Federated States of Micronesia – A multinational team of service members deployed in support of Pacific Partnership 2024-2 (PP24-2) helped preserve WWII memorial markers during a host nation outreach cleanup event (HNOE) with the Yap Visitors Bureau and members of the Yap Veterans Association at multiple WWII crash sites on the Island of Yap, Sept. 7.

Strategically located between the Philippines and Guam, Japanese-occupied Yap was targeted almost daily by American aircraft from June of 1944 to August of 1945. This resulted in several historical ruins on land and in the water that offer a glimpse into the island’s wartime past.

There are 19 WWII aircraft crash sites on the Island of Yap, four of which were identified as needing revitalization by the Yap Visitors Bureau.

“This is American history preserved by the Yapese. They were the ones decades ago that identified the sites, and erected these monuments with tributes to the fallen service members,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Zumwalt, PP24-2 mission chaplain and HNOE lead. “We as Americans owe a significant debt of gratitude to the people of Yap for preserving these sacred locations.”

The Yap Visitors Bureau purchased the supplies for the restoration project and escorted the PP24-2 teams to the remote crash site locations, on the sides of mountains, in the middle of jungles or town villages, all at the end of long trails. The Yap Veterans Association worked side-by-side with the PP24-2 team to rehabilitate the memorials.

The Yap Visitors Bureau purchased the necessary supplies for the restoration project and guided the volunteer teams to the remote crash site locations—whether perched on mountain slopes, nestled in dense jungles, situated in small village squares, or at the ends of long trails. The Yap Veterans Association collaborated closely with the PP24-2 teams to rehabilitate the memorials.

“This is a way for us to express our gratitude to them, to thank them for their preservation of our history, but also to recognize our fallen brothers from previous wars and to pay it forward to future generations as they come out and explore these sites,” Said Zumwalt. “It’s a fantastic opportunity and personally it affects me to see the stories of these service members, to read about their hometowns, their families that they left behind, the bright futures that they sacrificed for our country.”

U.S. Navy Lt. Dylan J. Rich, from St. Clair Shores, Mich., medical operations officer for PP24-2 assisted in the preservation of the crash site memorial of an FG-1 Corsair from the U.S. base on Peleliu Island, flown by U.S. Marine Corps 1st. Lt. Girvis Haltom, Jr. of Stephens, Ark., a pilot with Marine Fighter Squadron 122. Lt. Rich discusses why he participated in the project and what it means to him personally.

“I think honoring those who have gone before us, especially in the wars of WWI and WWII in this case is vitally important and I wanted to do a small part and help out with that,” said Rich. “I was able to read the plaque behind me, just one story of many, it was very powerful for me. It’s too easy to lose sight of the macros, so many people were participating (during WWII), but everyone has their own story and it just really brings it home and reminds me of why I’m doing what I’m doing, being able to clean it up and memorialize the 1st Lt., it’s impactful for me and hopefully for his family as well.”

During the mission stop, the HNOE team also organized 25 community engagement events consisting of school visits, U.S. Navy recruiting events, interfaith dialogue sessions, and concerts from the Pacific Partnership Band, composed of musicians from the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band and the Royal Australian Army Band.

Now in its 20th iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the U.S. Navy’s largest annual multinational humanitarian aid and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.

For more information about Pacific Partnership visit, www.clwp.navy.mil/Pacific-Partnership.

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Defense News: Minister of Defence of Finland Visits DESRON 15 and USS Benfold (DDG 65)

Source: United States Navy

“We welcome the visit from Finland’s minister of defense and his supporting team,” said Capt. Justin Harts, commander of Destroyer Squadron 15. “We hope to continue goodwill visits such as these from our partners and allies across the globe in to enhance surface operations in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Minister of Defence of Finland Antti Häkkänen speaks with Sailors aboard USS Benfold (DDG 65) during a visit to Fleet Activities Yokosuka. (MC2 Caitlin Flynn)

Capt. Justin Harts speaks with Minister of Defence of Finland Antti Häkkänen, center left, during a visit to DESRON 15 at Fleet Activities Yokosuka. (MC2 Caitlin Flynn)

Minister of Defence of Finland Antti Häkkänen, center, poses for a photo with Sailors aboard USS Benfold (DDG 65) during a visit to Fleet Activities Yokosuka. (MC2 Caitlin Flynn)

During the visit, Häkkänen toured the DESRON 15 command cave and met with staff members. After the visit to the cave, Häkkänen transitioned to the waterfront and visited USS Benfold (DDG 65) to meet with the captain and crew.

Häkkänen is Finland’s 59th minister of defense. He has served as minister of defense in Petteri Orpo’s government since June 20, 2023.

DESRON 15 is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed destroyer squadron and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. It is forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

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Justice Department Webinar on Designing Accessible Public Schools is a Key Resource for School Safety Planning

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

An important area for school safety planning that is often overlooked is school accessibility for students with disabilities. Accessibility barriers in public schools remain pervasive even decades after passage of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which bars disability discrimination by recipients of federal financial assistance, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Some of these barriers pose significant problems for ensuring school safety for students with disabilities. For example, students who use wheelchairs or mobility scooters must have an effective means of evacuating during a safety threat situation, such as a fire emergency, when elevators may not be used.

A new resource is available that provides valuable information on public school accessibility. We recommend that schools review and consider including information from this resource in their school safety planning. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report 20-448, K-12 Education: Justice Should Provide Information to Help School Districts Improve Access for People with Disabilities, found two-thirds of the nation’s school districts have facilities with physical barriers that may limit access for people with disabilities. In response to this GAO report, the Justice Department, in consultation with the Department of Education, recently developed a virtual training on designing accessible public school buildings. This new resource fills a gap; few resources currently exist focusing specifically on accessibility in the context of public schools. The GAO report noted that public schools lack access to information about accessibility requirements and called on the Justice Department to make additional resources on this topic available.

Presented by an architect for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the training video describes accessibility features schools should consider to ensure they are accessible to students with disabilities as required by the ADA. The training explains key accessibility features needed by students with disabilities to get to school, to participate in classes and get around school buildings and facilities, to use playground equipment and to participate in school activities. The training is user friendly, with diagrams and photographs showing examples of accessibility barriers and required accessibility features.

Providing accessible public schools requires accessible routes and entrances. Schools must reserve accessible parking spaces, make sure curb ramps and walkways are not too steep or uneven, have adequate entrance signage and have accessible doors and security check-ins. Corridors, classrooms and toilet rooms must be easy to navigate and not present obstacles or other protruding objects. And common-use areas such as libraries and media centers, cafeterias, auditoriums, play areas and stadiums and athletic fields much be accessible such that no student is unable to participate in activities occurring in these spaces. For additional information regarding federal accessibility requirements, visit www.ADA.gov. Links to relevant laws, regulations and standards, including the ADA’s accessibility requirements for state and local government entities, are available on this website.

As noted above, school accessibility is critical not just to ensuring equal educational opportunity but also to making sure students with disabilities can remain safe in educational settings. Families and communities entrust public schools to keep their children safe and secure from a variety of emergency events, like accidents, crime and natural disasters. Effective emergency planning is an essential component of school safety, and it includes actions schools should take to prevent these incidents from occurring and to mitigate their impact when they do occur.

To ensure students with disabilities remain safe, schools should take an inclusive and equitable approach to emergency management planning by ensuring that the needs of these students are reflected in such planning. Planners should consider a variety of disabilities and the range of vulnerabilities student may have — including those that are visual, communication, mobility, cognitive, attentional and emotional-related — to adequately protect them during emergency situations. Once these needs have been identified, schools can acquire the appropriate personnel, equipment and supplies to support them.

SchoolSafety.gov suggests strategies and resources for inclusive emergency planning here. Further the Department of Education’s Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center fact sheet describes how schools can integrate K-12 students with disabilities before, during and after an emergency in accordance with these laws. It provides that schools districts should make the same proactive decisions for students with and without disabilities, considering how best to address each student’s needs to keep them safe and secure.

The new Justice Department webinar complements these existing resources by offering a comprehensive overview of specific requirements that are necessary to ensure physical accessibility under the ADA. It provides online training, training materials and links to technical assistance specific to accessibility for public school facilities. It addresses accessibility issues that also impact safety and security in public school facilities and includes information in plain language, such as information about accessibility requirements for classrooms, recreational equipment and school grounds, that should be factored into school safety and security planning. Accessibility is necessary to ensure that students with disabilities are fully included in school safety efforts and that they can be safely evacuated during emergencies. We highly recommend that public schools review this resource and incorporate it into their school safety planning.

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Six Men Charged in Cockfighting Operation

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Six men were arrested and had their initial court appearances yesterday after being charged in a five-count indictment with violating the Animal Welfare Act in connection with a cockfighting operation. A federal grand jury sitting in Providence, Rhode Island, returned the indictment last week.

The indictment alleges that on March 6, 2022, Miguel Delgado, 73, hosted a series of individual cockfights, known as “derbies,” at his Providence home. Delgado is also charged with sponsoring and exhibiting roosters in an animal fighting venture on multiple dates, buying and transporting sharp instruments or “gaffs” for use in the cockfights and unlawfully possessing roosters for use in an animal fighting venture.

Onill Vasquez Lozada, 39, and Antonio Ledee Rivera, both of Rhode Island, were charged with unlawfully possessing roosters in April 2021 for use in an animal fighting venture and for sponsoring and exhibiting roosters at the March 2022 derby at Delgado’s home. Rivera was additionally charged in connection with an earlier derby at Delgado’s home.

Germidez Kingsley Jamie, 31; Jose Rivera, 67; and Luis Castillo, 35, all residents of Massachusetts, were charged with sponsoring and exhibiting roosters at an animal fighting venture at the March 2022 derby. Jamie and Jose Rivera are also charged with one count of buying and transporting gaffs for use in an animal fighting venture.

Cockfighting is a contest in which a person attaches a knife, gaff or other sharp instrument to the leg of a “gamecock” or rooster and then places the bird a few inches away from a similarly armed rooster. This results in a fight during which the roosters flap their wings and jump while stabbing each other with the weapons that are fastened to their legs. A cockfight ends when one rooster is dead or refuses to continue to fight. Commonly, one or both roosters die after a fight.

If convicted of Animal Welfare Act violations, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha for the District of Rhode Island made the announcement.

The Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), Postal Inspection Service, Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation and Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Rhode Island State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division and Providence, Woonsocket, and Attleboro Police Departments.

To report animal fighting crimes, contact your local law enforcement or the USDA-OIG’s complaint hotline.

Senior Trial Attorneys Gary Donner and Stephen Da Ponte of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams for the District of Rhode Island are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.