Lewis-McChord base sends team to help with hurricane relief

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD — A team of 13 specialists from Joint Base Lewis-McChord are headed to New Jersey to help with hurricane relief efforts.

Battallion Commander Kimberlee Aiella said the team from the 62nd Medical Brigade will helping with water testing and distribution, as well as other efforts to prevent illness in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

They are expected to spend as much as 30 days on the East Coast. Other activities may include sanitary inspections of food service facilities, advising others who are setting up camps and rodent control.

Aiella said the base may be sending up to 40 more troops in the next few days if the Army decides relief personnel need more help setting up hospitals and distributing medical equipment and supplies.