Senior Airman Ralph Steele, 49th Materiel Maintenance

Senior Airman Ralph Steele, 49th Materiel Maintenance Squadron logistics planner, looks over the palletized cargo to ensure 100 percent accountability at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Nov. 2. The 49th MMS was tasked with supporting the humanitarian relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. In response to the tasking, the 49th MMS worked for 15 straight hours preparing more than 58,000 pounds of cargo spread across eight pallets. The cargo consisted of two water pumps capable of pumping 400 gallons of water a minute, 12,000 feet of hose, and two containers of system support items. "The 49th Materiel Maintenance Group from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., shipped equipment today in support of Hurricane Sandy," said Col. Andrew Croft, 49th Wing commander. "We are prepared to deploy anytime, anywhere to aid civilian efforts to recover from the devastating effects of a natural disaster - in this case, Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast. Our hearts go out to those who were affected by this horrendous storm." (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman DeAndre Curtiss/Released)