200330-G-MR731-1003 NEW YORK (March 30, 2020) The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is escorted by U.S. Coast Guard, New York Police Department and New York Fire Department assets as the ship arrives in in New York City, March 30, 2020. Comfort deployed in support of the nation's COVID-19 response efforts and will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. This allows shore-based hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases. One of the Department of Defense's missions is Defense Support of Civil Authorities. DoD is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, as well as state, local and public health authorities in helping protect the health and safety of the American people. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Cory J. Mendenhall/Released)