mikeandronda
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- May 13, 2003
- Messages
- 1,888
I have a friend who has been contacted by the red cross and another Org. that says its looking for volunteers. He is thinking about loading up his pick up with tools and whatever else we can and heading south. I really want to go with but Im wondering if it is something the Government wants us to do. I mean I was thinking we could take my boat and do what ever we could. I am not the most talented person in the world but Im blessed with a job I can put on hold and Im willing to do whatever I can to help........What does everybody think? Is this something that is possable or would they rather keep civilians out?
. if you volunteer with the redcross they will let you in if your team is tasked with an operation. I have done several of the rescue efforts with HSUS and IFAW. in fact they called me wednesday night and are setting up teams to go assist with the domestic and wild animal problems as well as people issues now. I asked to go to the Mobile/gulfport area as I grew up in pascagouls and grand bay, its very difficult to get in as each house must be cleared by the proper autorities due to any bodies found must be treated as a crime scene and cleared by local athourities before any clean-up or altering of the scene can occur.so while ya just cant drive down and start if you wish and have the time its usually not difficult to volunteer. the team I am on requires being up to date on all hepititas tetanus and pre-exposure rabies vaccinations, I have all mine as well as yellow fever and a few others. I was in contact with some friends in the grandbay area last night that had been to pascagoula on thursday, most of the area east of highway 90 was wiped as well as parts of moss point, they could not get much farther than pascagoula. my mom lives in western Mobile and still has power and water. the power father southis very spotty. I cant contact a team member that lives in gulfport yet. we pray she left and is ok. you will find that in the disaster area burn out occurs very rapidly. the sight,sounds and smells will remain with you for years. my opinion of the overall effort, from what I can gather from friends and family in the affected area, is the govt reaction has been generally poor. the new orleans area is just a small area there is about 900sq miles more of destroyed places. yet all the big 6 cyl gensets lined up at NAS norfolk are still sitting. some of the Gaurd members I know from the MS/LA area complain all their major equipment is not in country. some of the marines and airforce friends I know have been ready to deploy and chomping at the bit to go since subday. so far nothing has happened. the seabees and the combat engineers are still sitting in place with all their temporary bridges, comm equipment,mobile kitchens and emergency power stations are still waiting for the go orders. seems a lot of politicians are patting them selves on the TV about what a good job they are doing but nothing is happening on the ground. the new orleans area is a small area compared to the hundreds of small towns, some with no post offices scattered between Mobile and new orleans, should have been air drops as soon as the winds let up. I think FEMA and homeland security are way to top heavy and cant move. Just like in the Floyd Floods here in carolina. while the wheels met for conferences every morning from 8-11 we were in the water at 6 am doing while they were on TV talking about doing.when we were not on the water we assisted the redcross and others in the food kitchens and sorted donations.so it will be some months before any reconstruction will take place in most the area there will be plenty of work to be done. so if you wish to volunteer there is many organizations that will accept you but most will ask for vaccinations as well as any other training. luckily I have some extensive training in security,first aid, swift water rescue and high angle resue. seems funny cause heights terrify me but I did it and can do it. most of the affected area of the LA and MS coast are very poor and fairly rural. infastructure there was iffy in good times. so if ya volunteer just be aware that its difficult work but very rewarding. also be aware to take anything you think you may need cause money is worthless there. bug spray, asprins, toothpaste ,toiletries, all will be unavalible. I spent 13 days paddling my jon boat around the kinston,princeville,tarboro area after floyd and other than some gas I spent nothing, there was nothing to buy. however I did meet some wonderful people that came from all over the states. was overall a wonderful experience. so if you go go with an open mind. its tough work but its good work and the damage is more widespread than our top heavy overly beurocratic govt can handle. there will be many private volunteer teams from various places that will never get TV coverage yet they will do the bulk of the work. my mom has contacted the redcross and offered her services based on about 40 years as a nurse, 23 of it with labor and delivery. my sister is with the redcross as a volunteer in Meridian MS now. so if ya go take anything you think you may need and then some, even toilet paper is worth more than gasoline sometimes.
