171025-N-PG340-052 CARIBBEAN SEA (Oct. 25, 2017) Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Jennifer Andrades Karl, a laboratory technician from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), prepares an agar plate to diagnose bacteria in the ships laboratory. Comfort has processed 11,859 laboratory tests since arriving in Puerto Rico. The Department of Defense is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, in helping those affected by Hurricane Maria to minimize suffering and is one component of the overall whole-of-government response effort. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephane Belcher/Released)