From a guy in the know:
Jonah,
As a Civil Affairs officer the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations are what I help plan and execute. The air drop is possible, however you’ve got to first identify the unit that will run the logistics site, where are you going to set up the drop zone (DZ) and then is that DZ accessible to other forms of lift to get the supplies and equipment to the affected areas, what is it you deem necessary to palletize and drop, and finally can you secure the area. That option is probably working through the final planning stages as I type. My reserve civil affairs unit has a planning team and a CAT (civil affairs team 4 personnel) on standby to head to Haiti when called. The call will come. Our unit has Creole speakers; i.e. Haitians that live in Miami that are in the military. SOUTHCOM is running the operation right now and they haven’t even had time to assess the overall situation. Until that is completed the command will not surge forces into the region just to do something. Yeah we know it is real bad, but how bad and where and what do we need on the ground to avert compounding the disaster? My initial guess is water purification units, tentage, medical supplies and mobile surgical hospitals, and first and foremost combat arms forces to secure the population.
Another option is to fuel and clear the aircraft that are stuck on the runway. If they can’t be fueled and operated then clear them. We’ve got aerial port squadrons (Air Force units) that specialize in those operations as well. If it is too congested on top of that then the ATC (Air Traffic Controllers) will have to establish time windows and areas for off loading and back haul. That has probably already been completed.
Right now there is probably an operating CMOC (Civil Military Operations Center) at the airport where civil affairs or Special Forces personnel are conducting briefings to give guidance and direction to the various agencies trying to assist. In other words they are telling them where the worst areas are and what they need based on their initial assessments. The CMOC serves as a meeting place where NGOs, IOs, IGOs, and others can come to get information on where their capabilities are most needed. USAID should also be in full force down there, but I don’t have a real feel for which agencies are on the ground right now.
[Name, rank and unit withheld]
P.S. Could you keep my name in the weeds on this one. I haven’t given you anything that is classified, but I’d just as soon stay background. Thanks.