The U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Guard are all providing much-needed assistance to the victims of superstorm Sandy.
NBC News reports the Navy has ordered the USS Wasp, USS Carter Hall, and USS Mesa Verde to the coasts of New Jersey and New York. All three are helicopter carrier ships, and will provide places to land for the Coast Guard and National Guard.
Members of the Coast Guard from Ohio and Michigan have been sent to the East Coast to help out. Coast Guard Capt. Jeff Ogden, commander of Sector Detroit, tells the U.S. Coast Guard Compass Blog:
“We are providing crewmembers and assets that are normally used for ice rescue operations and are now going to be used in a completely different environment. There are millions of people affected by this storm, and we are ready to assist them in any way we can.”
The National Guard has deployed as many as 12,000 troops to help with rescue and recovery efforts. The New Jersey National Guard rolled into the hard-hit city of Hoboken today, according to USA Today. Troops there are handing out food, water, and dry clothing to residents, and helping to evacuate others. The city of Hoboken's Facebook page reported:
National Guard trucks are coming around. Please check on your neighbors to see if they have an emergency and need help evacuating.
NBC News puts the death toll in the United States from Sandy at 46.
