|
U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE
You are subscribed to Collected Releases. Here is new content for this topic:
Office of the Spokesperson The United States is mobilizing an unprecedented, large-scale response to the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026. The Trump Administration has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) with more than 250 people, including three specialized Urban Search-and-Rescue (USAR) teams, which will conduct crucial life-saving operations. The Department activated three Urban Search-and-Rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, Los Angeles County, California, and Miami-Dade County, Florida. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (USA-1), which deployed with 79 members and six canines, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department (USA-2), which will land soon, deployed with 74 members and six canines, after transportation from U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft. The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (FLTF-1) is en route with 80 members and six canines and expected to arrive late Friday, June 26. These USAR teams will conduct systematic search operations across collapsed structures, working to locate and extract survivors, and coordinate with local emergency responders and the Venezuelan interim government to prioritize the most heavily impacted areas. Together, they bring more than 200,000 pounds of specialized equipment. Each team is a multidisciplinary unit comprising firefighters trained in structural-collapse rescue, physicians and paramedics providing on-site emergency medical care, structural engineers assessing building integrity and collapse risk, and canine search specialists capable of locating survivors in rubble and debris fields. All teams have prior international deployment experience. The Los Angeles and Fairfax teams have trained and deployed with the State Department and were activated in response to Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, where they surveyed affected areas in Jamaica, cleared debris to facilitate access, and assisted with the transportation of relief commodities to communities in need. The Department of State has requested the uniquely specialized capabilities of the U.S. military to support State-led disaster response and humanitarian assistance operations in Venezuela. The Department of War (DoW) is playing a crucial role in securing logistics for the response, including by leveraging military assets already positioned in the region and forward deploying personnel to accelerate the delivery of life-saving assistance. The DART and elements from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) are working together to implement life-saving activities in close coordination with partners on the ground, drawing on SOUTHCOM’s regional presence to ensure rapid and sustained operational support. This includes: SOUTHCOM’s involvement reflects the deepening civil-military partnership with the Department’s Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response (DHR), including the recent establishment of a U.S. humanitarian assistance hub in South Florida and the embedding of DHR disaster and humanitarian advisors at SOUTHCOM to strengthen coordination and technical expertise across the region. When disaster strikes, restoring connectivity is critical to saving lives. The U.S. Government is working with Starlink to provide free satellite internet service to those affected by the Venezuelan earthquakes, rapidly deploying Starlink terminals to restore connectivity in the hardest-hit areas. This partnership is made possible by a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the U.S. Department of State and Starlink on June 11, 2026. The MOU leverages Starlink’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology, an American innovation, to restore critical communications when crises and natural disasters damage infrastructure. Under the agreement, DHR coordinates with Starlink to provide rapid connectivity to emergency responders, humanitarian organizations, and people in acute need. This response marks one of the first major activations of this partnership, demonstrating the real-world impact of the Trump Administration’s commitment to harnessing American innovation in service of humanitarian response. The Trump Administration is mobilizing $150 million in assistance to Venezuela, including: The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans. The Department of State is working tirelessly to provide consular assistance to U.S. citizens and their families in the affected areas. We are also monitoring conditions in Venezuela as recovery work proceeds. Americans in Venezuela can reach us 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 for assistance. Family and friends in the United States who are concerned about Americans in Venezuela can call toll free +1-888-407-4747. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at STEP.state.gov to receive safety and security updates from the U.S. Embassy, review the Department’s Travel Advisory for Venezuela, and follow @TravelGov and @USEmbassyVE on social media and WhatsApp “U.S. Department of State – Security Updates for U.S. Citizens” for the latest information. Those who wish to donate or find other ways to help may visit the response webpage.
External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.
|
