Cy-Fair native helps those affected by Superstorm Sandy

Michael J. Berger, a 1994 graduate of Mount Carmel High School and a Navy Petty Officer, Second Class, was part of the Seabees unit that helped provide disaster response support in New Jersey and New York in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

The group helped out federal, state and local officials in disaster recovery efforts.

The first mission for the Seabees was to help clear tons of debris from Seaside Heights in New Jersey. The team also removed more than 80 cars, boats and other large objects that had been displaced during the storm.

In addition to the cleanup, the team also aided in a de-watering project that helped local authorities gain access to water and gas lines for repair and to get to roadways that had been inaccessible because of sink holes and storm damage.

The Seabees also cleaned up a World War II Veterans Memorial in time for a Veterans Day celebration on Staten Island.

A team of 25 Seabees worked to clean up the Breezy Point area on Staten Island.

The Seabees are now in Gulfport, Miss., after spending eight months in Afghanistan. The group continues to train in preparation for their next deployment in less than a year.