Worldwide natural disasters are inevitable. When disasters occur, the U.S. Department of Defense is often called upon to aid those in need.

Service members were able to practice sea and shore sustainment operations during the annual Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore (JLOTS) exercise, June 8 at Naval Magazine (NAVMAG) Indian Island.

JLOTS is a critical military capability to transfer solid and liquid cargo to specific areas without the benefit of a fixed port facility. The exercise aims yearly to improve logistics interoperability, communication and cooperation between military components.

This year's exercise was conducted simultaneously as part of Cascadia Rising, a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami exercise. It is named after the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 600-mile-long fault just off the coast that runs from Northern California to British Columbia.

"Our purpose here is to show what the Department of Defense could provide to the state of Washington in the event of an earthquake," said Capt. Greg Vinci, Naval Support Element commander. "JLOTS is exercised annually and it's an opportunity for us to work together across all the component commands across the DoD to support one another."

The Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard worked together with local and state emergency management offices and federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), enhancing their capabilities for tactical or humanitarian missions, improving the military's overall readiness when responding to natural disasters and other logistical sustainment issues around the world.

"No one can accurately predict when a disaster like a major earthquake will occur, but we can all be prepared for them," said Rear Adm. Jeff Ruth, commander, Navy Region Northwest. "Partnering with federal agencies like FEMA, the Coast Guard and the Army, as well as with state and local emergency management offices during exercises like JLOTS and Cascadia Rising is the best way to be prepared and to protect our communities."

According to Vinci, the state of Washington would first establish priorities for recovery, FEMA would then define the requirements needed, and then FEMA would get support from the DoD.

"Once we would get approval from the Department of Defense we would mobilize our assets based on what's needed," said Vinci.

Operations at NAVMAG Indian Island focus primarily on cargo delivery and transport and liquid transfer in unimproved areas where ports are unavailable or damaged. Approximately 600 Sailors and Soldiers participated at this location.

"Our beach party team provides positive control and communications over Navy lighterage and landing craft from approximately 1,000 yards offshore to the beach-landing site," said Lt. Steve Aguirre, beach party officer-in-charge. "In doing that, we're transporting troops, vehicles, equipment and supplies in support of humanitarian aid and relief efforts."

During JLOTS operations at Indian Island, one prepositioning ship, USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR-300), containing cargo, supplies, and equipment was anchored in Port Townsend Bay.

The cargo, supplies, and equipment were offloaded and transported using a variety of craft, including: Improved Navy Lighterage Systems (INLS) and Landing Craft Utility. The cargo consists of approximately 200 pieces of rolling stock (wheeled vehicles), materials handling equipment, and 20-foot containers.

The INLS is a system of powered and non-powered barge systems used to transport containerized assets and rolling stock to include tracked and wheeled vehicles.

"Our team at the lighterage support center is composed of staff that manages personnel as well as craft while working closely with the lighterage repair facility for the maintenance of all of our INLS, consisting of causeway ferries and warper tugs," said Lt. Albetro Alshabazz, lighterage support officer. "In addition, we work closely with the ship for close coordination of through put operations; additionally we work closely with the beach party teams and other component commands for the execution of our task."

According to Vinci, the region can never be too prepared.

"I had the opportunity to actually provide hurricane relief to Haiti and the same things that you saw here were done in Haiti back in 2010," said Vinci. "Obviously the northwest scale is a lot bigger than the country of Haiti, but it's great to continue to see what we've grown from."

Officials estimate about 20,000 people are involved in Cascadia Rising. In the scenario, the Port of Tacoma is severely damaged by an earthquake and tsunami, making normal port operations impossible for immediate relief operations.

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