FEMA

Tennessee lawmaker to pursue vaccines at truck stops

A Tennessee lawmaker said he would look into the potential for making vaccines available at a major truck stop operator after hearing about concerns faced by small-business truckers.

Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett made the offer on Thursday in response to testimony from Lewie Pugh, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), who explained the difficulties drivers will be facing particularly with vaccines that require a follow-up second shot.

“One...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tennessee-lawmaker-to-pursue-vaccines-at-truck-stops

MetalCraft Marine sees post-COVID market bounce back ahead

With yards in both Canada and the U.S., MetalCraft Marine brings a unique perspective to bear on the markets in which it specializes: High-speed fireboats, patrol craft and workboats. We asked the company’s Contracts Manager Bob Clark to give us some insights into the company, its product lines, and what it sees ahead.

Marine Log (ML): MetalCraft has two facilities—one in New York and one in Ontario. Are they similarly sized and equipped and which producdes the most boats?

Bob Clark (BC):...

https://www.marinelog.com/news/metalcraft-marine-sees-post-covid-market-bounce-back-ahead/

FEMA launches 5-year supply chain plan for pandemic preparedness

National Guard troops unload a large pallet out the back of a helicopter.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday encouraged more companies to participate in a voluntary agreement to better coordinate manufacturing and distribution of critical health care products, such as personal protective equipment and pharmaceuticals, to combat COVID-19 and other pandemics during the next five years.

The agreement enables private sector partners to more freely share information with the federal government, and across industries, and take  action in the public interest...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/fema-launches-5-year-supply-chain-plan-for-pandemic-preparedness

Tight trucking market may hamstring Laura recovery effort

Chart of the Week:  Truckstop.com 7-Day Van and Reefer Rate Per Mile – USA SONAR: TSTOPVRPM.USA, TSTOPRRPM.USA

In a year that has become the poster child for natural disaster, Hurricane Laura became the latest in a long line of internet meme-generating events that have characterized 2020. To make matters worse for the victims of the first major hurricane to make landfall in the U.S., the recovery efforts may be hindered by the tightest freight market in years. 

The average national rates for dry...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/tight-trucking-market-may-hamstring-laura-recovery-effort

Hurricane season heats up – responding to a big one

Believe it or not, hurricane season is well underway, which means it’s time to keep a close eye on the weather. The Atlantic hurricane season started in June and continues through the end of November; this roughly six-month timeframe presents many opportunities for a storm to wreak havoc on economies and entire infrastructures of coastal communities large and small. 

Motor carriers and independent drivers operating within Hurricane Alley need to plan prior to the landfall of a costly storm and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/hurricane-season-heats-up-responding-to-a-big-one

FEMA winds down Project Airbridge

Large cargo plane being loaded, view from underbelly at tail end.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Project Airbridge, the emergency logistics effort to rush personal protective equipment and other critical supplies into the U.S. to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., has accomplished its mission and will be phased out by the end of the month.

The decision, announced Thursday, reflects the fact that hospitals, nursing homes, first responders and distributors now have enough face masks and other hospital gear to meet their needs and can use...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/fema-winds-down-project-airbridge

What a freight-centric airport can do for shippers

As retailers halted international shipments due to COVID-19, cargo-dedicated airports like Rickenbacker International (LCK) in Columbus, Ohio, had to pivot quickly.

When the freight on shipping routes of Rickenbacker’s retail partners like Gap, Eddie Bauer and Lululemon dried up, a pipeline of charter flights began bringing in personal protective equipment (PPE). LCK was one of the very first airports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency designated to accept relief flights. At the same...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/what-a-freight-centric-airport-can-do-for-shippers

DoD: Shipbuilding, Aviation Hardest-Hit Sectors in Defense Industrial Base by COVID Pandemic

P-8 Poseidon in Seattle Factory. Boeing photo.

The shipbuilding, aviation and small space launch sectors are the three hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic within the defense industrial base, according to the under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, despite a slew of memos and authorities signed out by the Pentagon to relieve pressure from sick workers and facilities closures.

“We see a slowdown in the shipyards to an extent. Aviation is actually the most highly impacted sector...

https://news.usni.org/2020/04/20/dod-shipbuilding-aviation-hardest-hit-sectors-in-defense-industrial-base-by-covid-pandemic

USNS Mercy Arrives in Los Angeles With More Hospital Beds, Doctors

The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-20) arrives in Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2020, in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts, and will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. Navy photo

Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) arrived in Los Angeles on Friday, bringing additional beds and medical professionals to help alleviate the stress on the local healthcare system.

Mercy’s mission is focused on...

https://news.usni.org/2020/03/27/usns-mercy-arrives-in-los-angeles-with-more-hospital-beds-doctors

OMSA provides list of hurricane relief vessels

The offshore service vessel Harvey Deep-Sea in Louisiana. LSU photo.

Early last week as Hurricane Dorian churned west, the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) surveyed its members to see what vessels could do relief work — a move designed to let the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Maritime Administration (Marad) know in advance exactly what was available before any Jones Act waivers were considered.

“We didn’t know what would be needed,” OMSA president Aaron Smith said Wednesday. So they asked operators about everything from berthing and...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/omsa-provides-list-of-hurricane-relief-vessels/

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