From the Northern Command update:

•20 ships (16 Navy, 4 Coast Guard cutters) are on station in the affected area. Three ships from Canada are en route.

•The Mexican vessel MS Papaloapan and Dutch vessel HNLMS Van Amstel are in the area and coordinating relief operations with the USS Bataan.

•More than 200 members of the Army of Mexico along with 45 vehicles are at the former Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas to provide hot meals, potable water and medical/dental assistance for up to 7,000 people.

Every bit helps, and the moral support it represents helps, too.

An additional unrelated item from today's release:

•Two specially equipped C-130 aircraft from the Air Force Reserve are positioned at Duke Field, Fla., in preparation to begin insect abatement spraying over areas affected by the hurricane as requested by FEMA and Louisiana state officials. The flights are intended to reduce the potential threat of insect-borne disease.