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Figure 1. Natural Disaster Trends.
Source: UNEP 2005Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mis-
sions pull resources from the available force structure
that might otherwise be used for defending the Nation
and preparing for tomorrow’s combat contingencies.
In 2010, U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)
responded to natural disasters in Guatemala, Chile,
and most notably Haiti where a 7.0 magnitude quake
shook the country causing a reported 316,000 deaths
and countless injuries and homes destroyed. To these
crises, USSOUTHCOM collectively deployed over
20,220 military personnel, 24 ships, dozens of aircraft,
and helped deliver millions of pounds of food and
water (USSOUTHCOM 2010). The numbers of natu-
ral disasters will increase as the globe experiences the