| On December 26, 2004 , a magnitude 9.3 earthquake off the west coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia triggered at least two large tsunami waves that inundated coastal communities in thirteen countries throughout South and Southeast Asia , as well as Somalia , Tanzania , Seychelles and Kenya in East Africa . As of July 2005, more than 176,000 people died, 49,500 are still missing, and over 1.7 million were displaced by the tsunami. |
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OFDA responded to disaster declarations from Sri Lanka , Maldives , India , Indonesia , and Thailand , Malaysia , Somalia , and the Seychelles . The Senior Regional Advisor in Bangkok , Thailand led the USG response, serving as DART leader for over 40 field staff, including team members provide by DASP . DASP ’s senior Disaster Response Specialist, Ron Libby, and DASP detailer Scott Hocklander (BLM/Alaska) were relocated from an assignment in Kenya to Sri Lanka , where they conducted initial assessments and coordinated the receipt and distribution of relief commodities. They were joined by DASP detailers Bill Laspina (BLM/NIFC), Nick Oprandy (Forest Service/Region 4), and Deanne Shulman (Forest Service/International Programs) who served as Logistics and Field Officers. DASP detailer Tom Frey (BLM/NIFC) was deployed to Thailand as a Military Liaison.
A Washington-based RMT was activated on December 27, 2004 to help coordinate this large response. The team was active until February 23, 2005 with assistance from ten people supplied by DASP , who served as Logistics Officers, Planning Officers, Communications and Records Recorders/Coordinator, and the Deputy Manager for Response.
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