The dock landing ship USS Ashland sits idle off the coast during the U.S. Defense Support of Civil Authorities relief effort in response to Super Typhoon Yutu, Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Nov. 3, 2018. Businesses, government buildings, homes and schools were heavily damaged by Super Typhoon Yutu, which made a direct hit with devastating effect on Tinian Oct. 25 packing 170 MPH winds – it is the second strongest storm to ever hit U.S. soil and the strongest storm of 2018. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and CLB-31 have been leading a multi-service contingent since Oct. 29 as part of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency-directed DSCA mission here. The Ashland arrived today to deliver a larger contingent of Marines and Seabees to further assist the people of Tinian. The Marines arrived at the request of CNMI officials and FEMA to assist relief efforts in the wake of Yutu, the largest typhoon to ever hit a U.S. territory. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region. - The dock landing ship USS Ashland sits idle off the coast during the U.S. Defense Support of Civil Authorities relief effort in response to Super Typhoon Yutu, Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Nov. 3, 2018. Businesses, government buildings, homes and schools were heavily damaged by Super Typhoon Yutu, which made a direct hit with devastating effect on Tinian Oct. 25 packing 170 MPH winds – it is the second strongest storm to ever hit U.S. soil and the strongest storm of 2018. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and CLB-31 have been leading a multi-service contingent since Oct. 29 as part of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency-directed DSCA mission here. The Ashland arrived today to deliver a larger contingent of Marines and Seabees to further assist the people of Tinian. The Marines arrived at the request of CNMI officials and FEMA to assist relief efforts in the wake of Yutu, the largest typhoon to ever hit a U.S. territory. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Marine 7-ton trucks with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to distribute water and supplies from the USS Ashland to local civilians as part of typhoon relief efforts in Saipan, Aug. 11, 2015. The 31st MEU and the ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group are assisting the Federal Emergency Management Agency with distributing emergency relief supplies to Saipan after the island was struck by Typhoon Soudelor Aug. 2-3. - U.S. Marine 7-ton trucks with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to distribute water and supplies from the USS Ashland to local civilians as part of typhoon relief efforts in Saipan, Aug. 11, 2015. The 31st MEU and the ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group are assisting the Federal Emergency Management Agency with distributing emergency relief supplies to Saipan after the island was struck by Typhoon Soudelor Aug. 2-3.

U.S. Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the USS Ashland offload relief supplies from the ship for typhoon recovery efforts in Saipan, Aug. 8, 2015. The MEU and the ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group will assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency in delivering the supplies to the victims of Typhoon Soudelor in Saipan. The island, part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, was struck by the typhoon Aug. 2-3. - U.S. Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the USS Ashland offload relief supplies from the ship for typhoon recovery efforts in Saipan, Aug. 8, 2015. The MEU and the ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group will assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency in delivering the supplies to the victims of Typhoon Soudelor in Saipan. The island, part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, was struck by the typhoon Aug. 2-3.