IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Emails and pictures from Shoreline
firefighters Lt Ed Barnes and FF/PM Gary
Allender part of the FEMA response to the relief
effort after Hurricane Katrina.
Day ??? I
loose track (9/14)
Well it is midnight here in Houston and we
are wrapping up our day. It has been a bit
exhausting the past few days with travel and
work. Nothing like 95 degrees and 90%
humidity to take it out of you, oh yeah, and
it rained for most of the day. We started our day in San Antonio checking
Shelters. Ed and I stopped at a shelter
that has about 2000 people at it. The
location is an old department store in a
mostly abandon mall. The private owner
opened it a number of days ago and the place
was well organized and had plenty of
security. The department store obviously
has no showers to speak of so a phone call
somehow got placed to the local Fire
Department around 3am the day people were
bussed in. Within 2 hours the Firefighters
had contacted the manager of the local Home
Depot and had a delivery of supplies with
which they built showers. Inside phone
banks have sprang up and computer
connections have become available with Red
Cross and FEMA members manning the
stations. They are getting people aid,
locating other family members, etc… SBC had
donated phone lines and long distance for
the people. It sure is inspiring.
The stories…. What do you say…
The Stories….. Complete Losses… They are
numerous and tragic. There are some good
stories mixed in. Today our team assisted a
guy with the internet to look at the
devastated area through a website that had
the satellite view,
he realized his house was outside the
flooded area. We cautioned him that it
still may have been damaged, but the mere
fact that it was not currently underwater
elated him.
We moved on to Houston and found ourselves
at a small shelter with about 50 evacuees.
We worked with them to find out if relief
was on its way in form of a check, by using
the internet. They were all assisted on
Tuesday with registering via the internet.
Out of the 50, 1 couple had a bank account
(or were willing
to give out their bank account), 1 other
couple had an e-mail address, the rest have
no e-mail at all. We are headed back in the
morning to help the volunteers assist them
with the process of getting a free e-mail
account and then register with FEMA and
other organizations. We hope to get the
process started and then become free to move
on.
O ne
of the shelters we visited had 375+ people
and they have exhausted the supplies of
donated clothing and apparel. The last
shelter with 50 people has a room with
tables stacked high with clothes and no one
that needs it. We just keep solving issues
like this.
Well on a personal note, we are headed in
the right direction as far as closer to the
devastated area. Our team like many others,
really hopes to get into the devastated
areas to do a bit more of the hands on work
that we really specialize in. Time will
tell. We have another am conference with
the regional heads of FEMA, anything can
happen.
Team Shoreline out,
There are
not words to explain (9/21)
Home sweat
home, Gautier.
Ed and I are back at camp, the Glendale AZ
boys have this place wired tight
( running well
). They have done a great job here.
Well our dispatch orders were to the town of
Pass Christian, a 40 minute drive to the
west. I-10 past Biloxi and Gulfport and
then a turn South
into town which is/was located right on the
coast. Approaching the town about 1 mile
from Hwy90 which runs right down the beach,
we can see large amounts of debris scattered
through the trees as high as 50’ up. At the
half mile mark there are select houses
flattened or swept off foundations. From
about the ¼ mile point all the way to the
water it is complete destruction. From this
point we cannot see the
ocean, you just know what direction
it is. There are only the rare structures
still standing, and by their looks they can
be knocked down with a sledge. The first
and second blocks of homes from the beach
are all completely gone, and I mean every
single house. There really is not even any
debris left in the first couple of blocks.
The third block and beyond are where some
shells of structures sort of remain,
sometimes in the middle of a street and
other times up against a stand of large
trees.
I have included pictures again
tonight, I will
attempt to make them a bit smaller this
time.
Our team has finally drawn a good
assignment. There is a large field close to
town that FEMA has moved a large amount of
trailers into. Eligible evacuees can wait
in line to fill out applications for
“Temporary Housing”. Our team personally
visits their proposed temporary housing site
to assess the availability of the basics.
Only 2 of the 12 sites that Ed and I visited
today were ready for a trailer. At other
sites we work with applicants to get them
their own personal check list for what their
site needs to be ready. Naturally we got
very little instruction on the specifics of
what is actually required, but after a
couple of phone calls we seem to have a good
handle on the job.
Again today, I am not on the roof of the 3
story apartment complex with 20’ flames
escaping my large square
vent hole while I take that short moment to
admire the work. But, our assignment today
is another example of why professional
Firemen are the best choice for assistance.
The intuition that comes with some years in
our career was demonstrated time after time
today. Despite the challenges of rare
street signs, no house numbers, and only the
occasional house, our team evaluated almost
50 properties today. We turned in “No BS”
assessments of locations. Our teams we able
to help the “single mother of 3” locate the
utilities and at times prepare them for
trailer hook up. Many of those properties
will have trailers situated shortly which
also equates to another family out of some
shelter.
Did I mention it is HOT
!!! Now even the locals are saying
this is a bit much. Thankfully the school
has A/C. Ed breaks a sweat when he looks
out the window from the gym we call home.
Oh, and Ed is really sensitive about that
tummy issue, so I know I can trust everyone
to keep the secret. Anyway the ½ bottle of
Imodium has him right back on track.
Later,
Oh I almost forgot about Rita. We leave
camp with our bags packed and full of gas,
if the evacuation call is made, we head for
Birmingham AB. Well that is the plan for
now.
A short note tonight (9/21)
Well it is 23:30 and we have wrapped up for
the night. I am just writing since I can
tonight and do not know about tomorrow.
One short story from the day. So you know
about the bottle of Imodium Ed choked
down….. 
That wasn’t it, I know, about the picture I
am sending tonight. We were on a short
street today inspecting a site when I took
this picture of a couple of houses removed
from the foundations. Something just looked
odd on this street, “we have one too many
houses here”. The house with the purple
shutters is from the foundation in the
foreground. The one to the right of it, you
guessed it…. Extra. Note the trees in the
background of this shot, especially their
height. Trees just like these completely
surround this little dead end street. There
are no other close neighborhoods. No drag
marks across the ground, the fence across
the street is still standing. I am not sure
where the house flew in from? But it
traveled some distance to get there.
Sounds like Rita has it in for the Evacuees
from New Orleans, it is headed for Houston
where most of them are held up. So for now,
no evacuation for us. Back to work…. Good night all,
Another short note (9/23)
I am exhausted,
It is another 23:30 night trying to get
a quick not out.
Well we have been promoted “Expert
Temporary Housing Locator/Inspector”,
chief can you get my business cards on
order. Oh Ed is tugging at his collar
(again… this is getting old), make sure
his Captain Courageous. Thanks
With the “Expert” title, comes
responsibility. We spent our morning
training some newbies in our form of
site inspection. Thank you Mr. GPS, I
would not have found my way to ¼ of the
places today without it.
Short story from today, I got a call
from some guy. Got a rush job, very
important!
Yeah whatever… There are so many people
in need, how do you determine someone’s
level of need. I am inspecting sites
for trailers that people have been
tenting it for the past 2 weeks. The
special needs list is long already…
“Head over to this address right away,
they need a trailer!” [ like the other
4000 people that have applied don’t
also] I’m thinking.
Arriving at the address I shake hands
with a FEMA guy that identifies himself
as the Director of Operations for Div 7,
I think that is MS, AB, LA… maybe a
couple more states also, I can’t
remember. He takes me to a lot where a
mobile home has been destroyed. I meet
the 65 year old female and 68 year old
male residents… It doesn’t take me long
to realize the clothes stacked on the
tongue of the mobile home beside a
couple of chairs, may be an indicator of
their living conditions. A short
conversation confirms these two have
been surviving without shelter of any
kind for the past couple of weeks.
Well I got on the phone and had the
trailer dispatched out right away. The
power was cut to the place. I informed
the director that we needed to get them
power somehow.
“I will make that call. Mississippi
Power will be out today. I will see to
it.”
The trailer was delivered within about ½
hour. I am not sure when the power got
hooked back up.The hours are long, but it does have its
rewards.Have a good night,
Rita
Shmeeta (9/24)
“ I “
Day +4
My humor
is
giving
way to a
bit of
concern….
With
that out
of the
way.
Hahahaha
Still
nothing
to
report.
Well are
still in
Camp
Gautier
(Go
Shay)
until
Tuesday,
they
want to
start
school
for some
reason.
Yesterday
was
interesting
with
Rita
passing
close
by. They
evacuated
all
working
personnel
west of
us to
various
places
north
and
east. We
were on
the
western
front
and with
Tornado
warnings
for the
next two
counties
to the
west, we
were not
going
anywhere.
They
kept us
close to
camp
early in
the day
and the
wind and
rain
came in.
The
storm
surge
cut off
east and
west
routes
by
taking
out a
bridge
that had
been
weakened
by
Katrina.
There
were
still
several
routes
out of
Gautier
if
needed.
I heard
reports
that the
storm
surge
here was
around 8
feet. We
ended up
in “lock
down” by
early
afternoon
to ride
it out.
Last
night
the rain
woke us
up a
couple
of
times,
some to
the
sound of
it,
others
to the
annoying
dripping
on your
head. We
had to
move
Dustin’s
bed
around
and
install
a
bucket.
Dustin
is from
Woodinville
and is
part of
our
group.
Back to
work
today in
Pass
Christian.
Scott
who was
our
group
leader
is now
in
charge
Harrison
County,
Ed has
been
bumped
up to
Group
Leader.
We
worked a
long day
checking
trailer
sites
with 3
new
crews
added to
our
area. We
are
really
getting
some
work
done
now. Our
group
was able
to move
far
ahead of
the
deliveries
now and
give us
some
breathing
room. We
get
trained
tomorrow
on the
post
inspection
portion.
It is
mainly
to
insure
that the
Contractors
hired to
hook up
trailers
are
actually
delivering
as
agreed.
Amazing
though
we are
probably
going to
be
training
some of
the
people
about
how the
systems
operate
in the
trailers.
We have
moved
through
about
1700
applications
in the
few days
we have
worked.
Our crew
met a
man
today
that
lost his
wife in
daughter
during
the
storm
and the
28’+
storm
surge
that hit
their
house.
They
apparently
found
his
family
at the
neighbors
where
their
house
once
was. We
end up
spending
some
time
with
some of
these
people
just
talking.
For many
we are
the
first
“officials”
they
have
seen
since
the day.
It is
sad.
We have
an early
day
tomorrow,
starting
5:30 so
we can
get
training
and stay
ahead of
the
deliveries.
I have
included
a
picture
tonight
that
shows
some of
the
anger
down
here.
The
others
are just
more of
the
same…
Destruction
everywhere….
Gautier
[Go -
shay],
MS
(9/27)
As I
drove
today
through
the
absolute
obliteration
of
neighborhood
after
neighborhood,
I
pondered
how to
express
the
devastation
to
others.
There
are
sections
along
the
coast
that
have a
similar
density
to
Shoreline.
Well if
you
picture
8th Ave
NW as
the
coastline,
there is
a little
elevation
gain as
you head
to 15
Ave NE
(exactly
2.5
miles).
Katrina
landed
with
150+mph
winds
and in
some
areas
30ft of
sea
water.
Wipe
every
structure
off the
map from
8th Ave
NW to
Aurora,
reduce
them to
rubble.
From
Aurora
to
Meridian
there
are more
structures
visible,
but most
are not
in the
place
they
were
built.
These
structures
have
moved
with the
wall of
water to
a
neighbor’s
yard,
stand of
trees,
middle
of the
road,
etc.
From
Meridian
to 15
Ave NE
more
houses
are
standing
and some
even on
their
own
foundation.
Those
are the
lucky
ones
that
were not
hit by
another
house,
car,
truck,
barge,
boat,
tractor
trailer,
etc.
Do you
have the
picture?
Ed and I
basically
drove
Hwy 90
(8th Ave
NW) for
1hr
30min
from
Pass
Christian
to
Biloxi,
I could
measure
exactly
how many
miles,
but that
doesn’t
seem
very
important.
The
scene
was the
same for
our
drive.
Well I
shouldn’t
say
that, in
Biloxi,
Katrina
picked
up
countless
containers
(from
the ship
yard)
and used
them as
battering
rams.
Biloxi
also has
Barges
situated
downtown
now.
Pictures
alone
are not
going to
be
enough.
I was
able to
purchase
the
second
to last
digital
camcorder
left in
the
area. Ed
and I
have
been
recording
clips
when
possible.
I look
forward
to
showing
everyone
when we
get
Today I
was
inspecting
a site
outside
of town,
I knew
we were
quite a
ways
from the
ocean.
The
mental
picture
prior to
arrival
was of
wind
damage,
tree
into the
house,
roof
missing,
etc. We
arrived
to find
a house
that
looked
to be in
great
condition
from the
exterior.
The
owner
decided
to ride
out the
storm
that
day,
being so
far
inland
(exactly
3.5 via
GPS).
The wall
of water
hit
their
house
around
10am.
They
fled
across
the
street,
dodging
an
abundance
of
snakes
in the
water,
to the
neighbor’s
second
story.
The
water
finally
measured
6’
inside
their
home.
For
those of
you who
are not
really
familiar
with the
City of
Shoreline,
I am
sorry. I
will try
over
time to
put
things
into
Restart
on
Tuesday,
I
started
the
first
part of
this
e-mail a
few days
ago and
never
had a
chance
to
finish
it until
today.
It is
Tuesday
night
and we
are
still in
Camp
Gautier.
The
Firemen
are the
only
ones
left
here
since
the Camp
Van
Cleve is
not yet
ready to
receive
everyone
that was
housed
here. By
the
sounds
of
things
we have
the
better
deal
despite
the lack
of
showers
and food
here.
There
are
countless
stories
of
survival
and
hardship.
My heart
is
heavy…
All of
us are
saddened
by the
totality
of
destruction.
My heart
gets
lifts
through
the day
as
Firemen
organize
groups
to help
people
in need.
Some
went to
a local
FF’s
house
today to
help his
wife
secure
their
house
and
belongings.
There
was just
a couple
of
things
she
needed
help
with
today
since
some of
the
local
services
were
coming
back
online
and her
husband
was on
shift.
At one
of the
inspections
a couple
of Tulsa
guys
encountered
an
elderly
woman
who is
expecting
a
trailer.
The roof
of her
house
was
blocking
the
driveway
and
preventing
the
trailer
delivery.
The guys
went to
the
local
city
work
crew
that had
a back
hoe down
the
street.
The
workers
dispatched
the roof
in
minutes
and
cleared
the way
for her
temporary
home to
be
delivered.
Groups
of
Firemen
have
been
getting
together
to help
local FF
and
police
tear out
bad,
protect
the
good, or
just
provide
moral
support.
So
despite
the
complaints
about
items in
their
FREE
trailer
with
A/C, TV,
Microwave,
sink,
shower,
heat,
and a
more
comfortable
bed than
the tent
and
sleeping
bag, I
get my
spirits
lifted
by the
out
pouring
of
support
from
others.
A common
Question,
“ Do you
think
this
experience
has
changed
you?”
Short
term I
have
seen
changes
already.
A
collapsed
house
doesn’t
get a
second
look.
Tree
into a
house
doesn’t
catch my
eye. 14
people
riding
in the
back of
pick-up
towing
another
car, a
little
curiosity…
Tilted
over
boats
with
their
hulls on
dry
land,
don’t
need
anymore
pictures.
40’
container
bent
around a
tree??
When you
think of
the
physics…..
Impressive
to
ponder
the
forces
required
to do
that.
Those
thought
move on
to some
of the
stories
of
survivors
surviving
on top
of a
roof or
in a
tree.
Every
object
in the
air is
potentially
lethal.
Long
term, it
will
take
some
time to
sort out
how this
has
changed
my
views. I
have
been
pleasantly
surprised
and then
an hour
later
been so
disappointed
I wonder
what I
am doing
down
here…..
Pictures
tonight
are a
couple
of
destruction
pics.
The
other
one is
our team
working
at the
trailer
dispatch
center.
You can
see one
going
out
behind
us, and
another
parked
in the
distance.
These
trailers
are the
type you
can pull
behind a
normal
pick-up
and
would
spend a
weekend
in.
Camp
Van
Cleave,
Yeeeee
Haaaaaw
!!!!!
Well
it
is
the
first
night
in
Camp
Van
Cleave
our
new
home,
so
they
say.
They
really
rolled
out
the
Wood
chips
in
the
Horse
arena
we
now
call
home.
A
medium
size
horse
arena
with
the
appropriate
smell
and
a
large
80’
X
250’
tent
inside,
they
did
manage
a
hard
surface
floor.
There
are
over
390
people
inside
with
our
8
man
team.
The
same
amenities
available
at
Camp
Gautier
have
been
moved
up
here
plus
a
couple
of
bonus
things.
The
condensation
from
inside
the
mess
hall
tent
drips
onto
your
food.
My
boots
have
weighed
about
20lbs
apiece
with
a
little
rain
and
the
dirt
around
the
arena.
Oh,
and
you
can’t
forget
the
bugs….
It
is
like
back
to
primitive
days,
man
against
beast/bugs
for
dinner.
We
are
at a
new
level
for
living
conditions.
The
new
digs
are
about
10
minutes
north
of
our
old
home.
I
will
skip
the
hardship
stories
for
the
night,
they
keep
coming
in
but
I am
not
really
in
the
mood.
Tomorrow
is
training
day.
I am
headed
to
another
county
to
train
their
people
on
the
GPS
and
computer
integration
into
the
Temporary
Housing
project.
There
were
big
bosses
in
our
work
area
all
day
it
seemed.
I
got
volunteered
for
the
training
mission,
that
gets
another
Yeee
Haaaw
!
There
is
pressure
from
up
top
coming
down
for
us
to
streamline
the
program.
I
guess
that
could
come
from
over
283,000
requests
for
housing
in
Mississippi
alone.
In
Harrison
County
alone,
the
line
is
long
everyday
and
the
number
of
application
tip
the
scale
at
over
8,000.
This
is
all
by
word
of
mouth
only,
there
has
been
no
advertisement
on
the
program
as
of
yet.
The
majority
of
Harrison
county
teams
will
be
getting
training
on
the
post
inspections.
There
has
been
much
controversy
over
this
fact,
it
has
been
resolved
to
the
crews
will
be
going
out
to
insure
the
people
have
water,
power,
and
sewer
connected
to
the
trailer.
The
crews
will
also
be
assisting
people
with
trailer
operation
questions
if
they
have
any.
Today
our
crew
finished
pulling
sheetrock
from
the
house
of a
local
Fireman’s
house.
The
guys
worked
through
lunch
and
into
dinner
to
finalize
the
project.
To
add
insult
to
injury
the
water
main
broke
up
the
street
and
has
been
flowing
through
their
yard
and
around
all
their
belongings
piled
up.
At
some
point
it
has
to
get
better….
No
pictures
tonight.
I
have
really
been
working
on a
video
clip,
but
he
Piece
of
*&$%
Panasonic
camcorder
did
not
come
with
a
disk.
Should
be
no
problem,
log
onto
the
website
as
the
book
instructed
and
download
the
driver…..
Yeah.
The
driver
doesn’t
work
with
windows
XP,
that
figures.
I
have
sent
them
an
e-mail
to
try
and
get
the
necessary
program
to
download
video
clips.
Until
then,
it
is
pictures
only.
I
have
not
downloaded
any
today.
Someone
asked
me
about
one
of
the
pictures
on
my
last
e-mail…
The
one
that
I
took
while
driving
is
of
billboards
along
the
road.
The
thing
you
cannot
see
is
the
one
that
is
broke
in
two.
Signing
out
for
the
night…
Ok,
I
couldn’t
help
it.
The
picture…
Did
I
mention
there
were
some
bugs
down
here?
Still more emails to come......
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