JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - Victims of Superstorm Sandy are receiving much needed supplies in a timely manner thanks to the fast and efficient response of federal, state, and local authorities. The coordination of these agencies ensures the smooth flow of subsistence items into the affected areas. The Defense Logistics Agency has been a driving force in ensuring that these government agencies have what they need to aid in relief efforts.

"DLA is supporting Superstorm Sandy relief efforts most significantly through power generation and with fuel support," said Lt. Col. John C. Belanger, Jr., DLA Troop Support. "Generally speaking, our mission is to provide commercial support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Defense and state requirements. Whatever the requirements are, we are leveraging the commercial industry."

To ensure that these requirements are met as soon as possible, DLA has agents working in conjunction with federal and state agencies during the recovery.

"We have about five or six people who are currently embedded with FEMA. They are feeding their requirements to our DLA headquarters and DLA headquarters is making sure we are providing the support that they are requesting," said Belanger, a native of Philadelphia. "We also have personnel embedded with the governors of New Jersey and New York. We are embedding people in the key places so we can make sure that if they have a requirement we can help vet it through the system so that we can help get that support out to them."

Some areas are still without power, necessitating the need for generators and fuel to operate them. According to Belanger, DLA has leveraged contracts to directly support the fuel requirement. These contracts provide an estimated 800,000 gallons of fuel daily to be distributed to affected areas.

"The fuel that is leaving here today is going to the northern parts of New Jersey and in New York City. It will be used to power generators and civilian vehicles," said Tim May, an assistant fuel transfer technician for one of the contracted companies, and a native of Appomattox, Va. " I feel good about helping out people in need. It's a great feeling to actually be here and be involved in this mission."

William Price, a truck driver for one of the fuel trucks on mission, echoed similar sentiments, stressing the importance of being there for fellow citizens in need of assistance.

"This is my first time doing humanitarian efforts, and I am happy to be helping others out and making a difference in those communities," said Price, an Axton, Va., native.

Trying to meet the growing demand for fuel, generators, emergency blankets, Meals-Ready-to-Eat, bottled water, and propane is no simple task, but DLA manages to stay on top of the demands by thinking ahead and anticipating future needs.

"What is really unique about this mission is some of the guidance that our DLA director gave us. He really pushed on us, as logisticians, to think ahead of FEMA and Joint Forces Land Component Command and try to be more intuitive," said Belanger. "We try to figure out what they are going to need and push it to Fort Dix so that when they ask for it we don't have to reach far back to get it. It's already here and ready to go."

Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va., the DLA provides logistics support to both federal and civilian agencies, bridging the gap between the said agencies and the commercial industry.

"The DLA’s mission is unbelievably important. The commercial industry out there is incredibly powerful, and all they need is a funding document and an address," said Belanger. "Sometimes you'd think it would be really easy, because all you have to do is pay them and tell them where to go, and they will deliver it. They will make sure it gets there as quickly and efficiently as they can. But it doesn't always happen as well as that, so we're able to kind of put that lubricant in the system, and that coordination effort, to make sure that once they get that funding document they get paid and get told where to deliver, and we make sure it gets delivered to where it needs to go."

Belanger expressed his delight in being able to serve as an integral member of DLA's team and in helping to serve in this capacity.

"It's been a ride; it's been a real challenge. We have been working really hard, but it's been really rewarding."

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