PHILADELPHIA –
As the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort deployed to support Hurricane Matthew relief efforts, it did so with a timely re-supply of food by the Defense Logistics Agency, including dairy items, bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, and Meals, Ready-to Eat.
The Comfort, stocked with medical supplies and a 1,000 bed treatment facility, moved from Norfolk, Virginia toward the Category 4 storm as it hammered Haiti Oct. 4.
DLA Troop Support’s Subsistence supply chain worked with its regional prime vendor to ensure the Comfort received the food in time.
“DLA Troop Support is uniquely positioned to respond to crises like Hurricane Matthew at a moment’s notice with world class logistics,” said Victor Harmon, deputy director of DLA Troop Support Customer Operations. “Troop Support’s extraordinary expertise coupled with strong relationships with our industry partners allows us to precisely support the joint task force commander or government partner with the right materiel to speed recovery in a disaster situation.”
The Subsistence supply chain also delivered 822 cases of water and 863 cases of MREs for relief efforts in Haiti.
The Construction and Equipment supply chain provided the materials for four helicopter pads to be built in Haiti, as well as materials to build 100 pallet skids for the loading and unloading of helicopters. C&E also delivered 6,000 gallons of non-potable water daily initially and is still delivering 3,000 gallons per day.
As military installations along the coast from Florida to Virginia prepared for Matthew’s arrival, nearly 6,000 Marine recruits were evacuated from Paris Island, South Carolina. Subsistence provided MREs, ice and fresh fruit and vegetables to the recruits at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia.
C&E also delivered two sand bagging machines to the South Carolina Army National Guard within 24 hours after the order was received.