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Thomas Wills, contractor with Pride Industries, throws a tree limb into a brush truck near Wurman Hall on Dix Oct. 30, 2012. Several units from the joint base are supporting recovery operations following the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy which struck the base Oct. 29. Several inches of rain, combined with powerful winds, caused power outages in various base housing areas and unit facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Carbajal)

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Joint Base recovers from Hurricane Sandy

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- A range operator uses a backhoe loader to move a fallen tree out of the roadway on Range 65 here Oct. 30, 2012. Several units from the joint base are supporting recovery operations following the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy which struck the base Oct. 29. Several inches of rain, combined with powerful winds, caused power outages in various base housing areas and unit facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. David Carbajal/Released)

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A convoy of ambulances drives down Delaware Blvd. on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Oct. 30, 2012. The Federal Emergency Management Agency used JB MDL as a staging area for emergency vehicles. Many of the vehicles departed the installation to areas which sustained more emergent damage. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ryan Throneberry)

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Robert Whitehead, a contractor with Pride Industries, picks up several trees Oct. 30, 2012. Several units from the joint base are responding to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, which struck the base Oct. 29. Several inches of rain, combined with powerful winds, caused power outages in various base housing areas and unit facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Carbajal)

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Staff Sgt. Raymond Sanchez, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron electricity section, uses a high-voltage detector on an electricity switch near the 621st Contingency Response Wing warehouse Oct. 30, 2012. Several members of the 87th CES are troubleshooting power outages on McGuire in an attempt to restore electricity in the affected buildings. The 87th CES is one of many joint-base units supporting recovery operations following the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy which struck the base Oct. 29. Several inches of rain, combined with powerful winds, caused power outages in various base housing areas and unit facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Carbajal)

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Tree branches and debris litter Infantry Park after Hurricane Sandy came through Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Oct. 30, 2012, here. Crews were mobilized to pick up debris and assess damage across JB MDL as soon as weather conditions permitted. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ryan Throneberry)

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A tree is cracked in half and uprooted after powerful wind and rain from Hurricane Sandy swirled through Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Oct. 29, 2012. Sandy caused power outages in base housing areas and unit facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ryan Throneberry)

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A bench rests upturned Oct. 30, 2012, here after succumbing to high winds as Hurricane Sandy came through Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Debris such as soccer goals, loose equipment and other small articles were strewn about as a result of Hurricane Sandy's powerful winds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ryan Throneberry)

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JB MDL continues recovery efforts, provides FEMA base of operations

Published Oct. 30, 2012
By 2nd Lt. Alexis McGee
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst personnel are continuing with recovery efforts and expect to resume most operations Wednesday.

Impact from the storm includes fallen trees, scattered debris, some property damage, minor flooding and power outages.

"The entire joint base's preparation efforts went a long way toward mitigating serious damage," said Maj. Chris Wedewer, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron, operations flight chief. "A majority of the facilities and base housing units on McGuire and Lakehurst have full power. Several power lines were downed by the storm and as a result, most of Dix remains without power. The downed power lines do pose a hazard, but we're working to get them repaired as soon as possible."

The base continues to house 300 U.S. Coast Guard recruits from Cape May, N.J., in addition to providing an installation support base for FEMA Region II and III. FEMA Region II serves New Jersey and New York while FEMA Region III serves Washington D.C., Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

"FEMA will continue recovery efforts for the central and southern New Jersey area from JB MDL as long as necessary," said Bill Douglass, external affairs specialist at FEMA, Region II. "FEMA will also be actively engaged throughout New York, just as it was through much of last year and this, helping communities recover from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in both New York and New Jersey."

In spite of current limitations, base personnel will resume normal operating hours Wednesday.

"The efforts by a small group of people were phenomenal," said Col. Jeffery Doll, Army Support Activity-Dix commander. "I fully expect the recovery effort at our ranges to be completed within 24 hours and for training to resume once power is restored to our facilities."

Evacuated aircraft are also preparing to return to the installation from their temporary shelter locations.

"We're just thankful our folks weathered the storm without serious injury and that we continue to support recovery operations in the local area by hosting the FEMA team here," said Col. John Wood, JB MDL commander.

Photos can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/jointbasemdl/sets/72157631860166573/.

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Joint Base recovers from Hurricane Sandy