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Old 10-06-2005, 12:35 PM
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Default USAF Humanitarian Relief

AETCNS 100505214

Commentary: Keesler AFB, 97th AEG team up to support Katrina humanitarian relief
By Capt. Greg Justice
97th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AETCNS) -- It was late August and a lot of us wearing the uniform were marching along with our Air Force careers serving our nation.

Weather reports showed a hurricane that appeared stronger than most.

Initial reports of Katrina's aftermath indicated the levees in New Orleans held - and the city was OK.

However, those messages changed. The levees in New Orleans had breached, leaving most of the city flooded. The news coverage became broader, spanning past the damage in New Orleans to cover other affected coastal areas. Many of us watched disaster unfold at our home base and were awestruck at the power of Hurricane Katrina and the misfortune of those affected.

Hurricanes had always been associated with organizations like the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and in some cases the National Guard. But now the Air Force was going to put an Air Expeditionary Group response package together for hurricane assistance. I realized: this response would be different than any package we had ever assembled before.

New Orleans is a major American city with a population of more than half a million people. The region is home to a large portion of American energy production. The area's ports play a significant role in our nation's trade and commerce.

But most importantly, at that moment, thousands of Americans were suffering from Hurricane Katrina, from western Alabama through Mississippi and into Louisiana.

At Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., there was no loss of life, but initial reports showed drastic damage to the industrial and housing areas. Fifty percent of the base was under water. The base was without electrical power and using generator power at mission critical facilities. The base hospital was without electrical power due to flooding in the basement, said Maj. Ray Mottley, 81st Civil Engineer Squadron commander.

Today, the cost to rebuild the base stands at roughly $1 billion.

Even while reeling from the effects of the hurricane, within days, Keesler began providing food, water and bed-down shelter to members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and FBI personnel operating in the heavily affected gulf coast region.

Keesler AFB was able to divert one of its water towers to the heavily damaged city of Biloxi and its surrounding communities just two days after the hurricane made landfall, providing the only safe drinking water in Harrison County.

Base personnel quickly assembled two medical and humanitarian teams to visit local shelters in the surrounding communities and started providing relief in the form of meals-ready-to-eat, water, battle dress uniform clothing, fuel and medical aid.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it caused, FEMA requested the Department of Defense designate Keesler AFB as an operational staging area for Mississippi relief efforts. To enable this new mission, the Air Force mobilized 250 Airmen and established the 97th AEG, operating under the Northern Command and Joint Task Force-Katrina. Commanded by Col. Linda Medler (97th Mission Support Group commander, Altus AFB, Okla.), the advance team arrived at Keesler Sept. 6.

When most of us arrived at Keesler, the devastation was unbelievable. There wasn't an established practice or an Air Force Instruction that covered something like this. We didn't have time to hold lengthy meetings to draw up plans or to train our personnel on these missions. The situation was bad, and it was only going to get worse.

"The scene of tragedy and human anguish propelled us into action. We had a skilled and adaptable force with an eagerness to serve," said Colonel Medler. "I just told my people go forth and do great things. They took it from there."

The base became the temporary home to the FEMA Medical Support Team and approximately 70 medical teams from numerous states. The primary logistics support for other FEMA relief relied on Gulfport and Jackson, Miss., as primary distribution hubs. Along with the FEMA MST personnel, 1,300 other relief workers -- national, state, local and non-government -- lived on the base during the height of the relief efforts immediately after the hurricane.

The 97th AEG managed billeting accommodations on a day-to-day basis, and ensured all personnel supporting Joint Task Force - Katrina and FEMA had adequate quarters. The group also developed and implemented a plan to bed down personnel that would free up student dormitory space. The base's core mission provides training for some of the most in-demand technical specialties, some of which can not be trained at another other locations due to the specialized equipment at Keesler. The group's creativity and responsiveness significantly contributed to the 81st TRW's ability to reconstitute training six months ahead of schedule, and bring back students to the base just three weeks after the hurricane.

The humanitarian duties and mission locations varied for members of the 97th AEG and Keesler's permanent party personnel. Some members organized a regional FEMA medical supply warehouse while others worked with the Army Corps of Engineers covering roofs with protective sheathing. Fuels personnel refueled hundreds of generators in the community, allowing municipal public works and emergency vehicles to continue to operate in the densely populated Biloxi-Gulfport area; they also fueled commercial airliners flying evacuation missions. Other members worked long hours keeping medical aid stations along the gulf coast stocked with supplies to treat hurricane survivors.

Even in the wake of losing their own homes, Keesler members selflessly put aside their personal concerns and played a key role in providing humanitarian relief until the 97th AEG could assume the majority of those duties. Several Keesler AFB members helped rescue eight dolphins trapped in Gulfport Harbor, and others worked tirelessly to restore power to numerous facilities and repair a boiler to return hot water to billeting.

Over time, independent and nationally known relief aid stations began to appear in communities, but it was apparent to members of the 97th AEG, success was dependent upon manpower, relief supplies, logistics and know-how.

The newly acquired Salvation Army Division Street relief warehouse was in disarray; just days before it had been a fully functioning shrimp packaging factory. No one could predict when or where aid shipments would come and when they would go out. In one day, 38 members of the 97th AEG reconfigured the warehouse into a functioning redistribution center. The warehouse soon became one of the central logistics hubs for aid flowing into the gulf coast region.

Three 81st TRW flat bed rental trucks and four large Air Force trucks, delivered 2,740 bags of ice, 1,000 canned goods, 1,500 cleaning kits, 500 blankets, 2,000 bottles of water and an additional 540 gallons of fresh water to local churches and distribution points in the neediest areas.

The initial delivery to the First Tabernacle Baptist Church in D'lberville was 20 pallets of nonperishable food. Members of the 97th AEG went to work in setting up a market-like operation, where people could come in, grab a basket and load up with food items, cleaning supplies or baby care products. They would come to the counter, and aid workers would package the items into bags for easy transportation back to where they were living.

With no electricity or natural gas to cook with, MRE's were critical to nutrition. Between Keesler and 97th AEG personnel, almost 200,000 MRE's were delivered throughout the hardest hit areas of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The communities' force protection organizations and other similar agencies were also in need. One day a 97th AEG crew took eight pallets of MRE's to the Harrison County Sheriff's Department, while another crew constructed tents in Gulfport to be used by FEMA. Yet another crew delivered 16 aid pallets to the Salvation Army in Long Beach. Also, a 13-member crew delivered 40 pallets of clothing and bedding to Goodwill in Gulfport.

This type of activity would be repeated several times a day -- day after day.

Ten members of the 97th AEG, reservists from the 914th Services Squadron at Niagara Falls, New York, spent three weeks working side by side with the Army Corps of Engineers to enable their "Blue Roof" project. These Airmen registered 12,800 home owners into the program and inspected, approved and completed 5,800 homes. They increased the capacity of the Corps from completing just three roofs a day to more than 500 a day.

The efforts of 38 members of the 97th AEG quadrupled FEMA's support to their 15 forward medical sites. The Airmen inventoried and organized the FEMA medical logistics staging area, located on Keesler, sorting more than 22 tons of much needed medical supplies.

From the Army Corps of Engineers, to the Red Cross, from Florida Fish and Game to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, all personnel praised the outstanding support provided by Airmen from the 97th AEG and Keesler. Many organizations called back after completing their mission just to say "thanks" and pass along their appreciation.

As Keesler and the gulf coast region is stabilizing and the scare of Hurricane Rita is past, the 97th AEG is redeploying its members to their home stations and transitioning relief operations to the 81 TRW.

Most of us who came to Keesler and served as part of the 97th AEG have described it as being a life-changing event. Master Sgt. Kurt Schroeder, also of Altus AFB, described the drive back to Keesler after delivering aid to Waveland, Miss., as "humbling."

"Witnessing all of these people in despair with their homes gone and what broken possessions that were left piled up at the edge of their property for debris removal really makes you think about your priorities in life," Sergeant Schroeder said.

Many of us get caught up in our personal concerns, but when disaster strikes, we are reminded of our true feelings and loyalties. Those who wear the Air Force uniform are also reminded of our allegiances and the pride we take in seeing so many selflessly serve others. JTF-Katrina may be a first for our nation's joint services and total force team, but an abundance of spirit existed toward the idea of Americans helping Americans.

The members of the 97th AEG made a difference in the lives of thousands of Americans along the Gulf Coast. The 250 proud members of the 97th AEG went home with a sense of accomplishment, a feeling that they played just a small role in helping their fellow man, and were part of history. For all, it was an honor to be called to serve on this historic mission and reach out with a helping hand. It was truly what "service before self" is all about.

AETCNS 100505215

Wilford Hall team members provide care and assistance to evacuees
By Dewey Mitchell
Wilford Hall Medical Center Public Affairs

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AETCNS) -- The staff of Wilford Hall Medical Center here quickly stepped up to provide care and assistance to Gulf Coast residents and patients evacuating before Hurricane Rita struck the Texas and Louisiana coastline Sept. 24.

Among the first getting help were five infants in incubators, who were flown by civilian helicopter out of harm's way Sept. 22 from Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas.

It was to be a day of firsts for one evacuee family. Alethea Jackson's first child, Samarey Jackson, was born at 12:48 p.m. and was transported 20 minutes later by helicopter to Wilford Hall Medical Center.

Several hours later, Ms. Jackson departed on an Air Force C-130 Hercules to Kelly Field at Lackland, and the new mother and her newborn daughter were reunited at Wilford Hall's Birthing Center that night. "It was also my first time to fly in an airplane," said Ms. Jackson from her post-partum room.

The Jackson's and two other infants have been released to their families, but a pair of twins remain in the care of the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, while their mother recuperates as an outpatient in Dallas. They are expected to rejoin their mother next week in Houston.

Also around noon Sept. 22, a 15-member team of nurses and technicians departed in two ambulance buses for Victoria, Texas, where they met up with eight civilian ambulances from other cities for a joint mission to evacuate patients from the hospital there. The two Air Force teams transported litter and ambulatory patients to Texas hospitals in Floresville, Fredericksburg and San Antonio. The mission took more than 12 hours and covered more than 250 miles.

Meanwhile, four Critical Care Air Transport Teams were activated and sent to the Regional Airport at Port Arthur, Texas, where they would stand ready to transport critical patients to hospitals in four different states. A three-person CCATT team consists of a critical care physician, critical care nurse and a respiratory therapist.

Altogether, the teams safely transported 43 critical patients to hospitals in Dallas; Little Rock, Ark.; Lexington, Ky.; and Oklahoma City. The missions were flown on Sept. 22 and 23 as part of Air Force operations that transported about 23,000 evacuees, including 1,950 patients from the Port Arthur airport.

Other Wilford Hall staff members screened the 990 evacuees who processed in at Arnold Hall at Lackland. Of those, 32 required medical assistance. Nine more were treated for illness at the hospital dispensary.

AETCNS 100505216

Commentary:
Being a commander during a hurricane
By Lt. Col. Randy Coats
333rd Training Squadron commander

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AETCNS) -- Command. There's no better job in the world. After seven years in jobs with command authority and two squadron commands, I figured I had a good idea what command was all about. I was wrong. What changed my mind? Four words--"Shelter Commander" and "Hurricane Katrina."

From Aug. 28 - Sept. 2, I lived with 730 of my "closest friends" in 50-year-old Bryan Hall at Keesler AFB, Miss. It was my third stint as a shelter commander, but it was unlike anything I had experienced before. As life slowly returns to normal on the Gulf Coast and I reflect on the experience, I've come to appreciate the unpredictability of command and how much an event like Katrina can change people and communities.

First, you have to understand some basics. My shelter is a unique animal on Keesler. Most shelters here are dedicated primarily to one unit. Mine is not. I have all the active duty and family members from a wide variety of units -- two training squadrons, CE and Security Forces (and prisoners), 100-plus Marines, communications students (NCOs and roughly 60 lieutenants), 150 NCO Academy students and their faculty, and 50 international officers and their families. The building is an old nuclear fallout shelter, with no windows and no shower facilities. With that setting in mind, I offer the following memories and thoughts on Hurricane Katrina.

Aug. 25 (Thursday): One of my sharpest young master sergeants points out Katrina "may grow into something over the weekend" and suggests we update our shelter/evacuation data sheets. I admire his enthusiasm, tell him "that's not a bad idea," then promptly forget to do anything because Katrina's not headed our way at all and I've got other things to do besides worry about a piddly Category 1 storm.

Aug. 27 (Saturday): Two CAT (Crisis Action Team) meetings. Katrina has strengthened and is headed our way, due to arrive Monday afternoon. Tentatively plan to open shelters Monday morning. I remember the master sergeant's words and begin repeating every officer's golden rule - "Never ignore a senior NCO, never ignore a senior NCO."

Aug. 28 (Sunday): Turn on CNN before heading to 0800 CAT. Radar picture shows Katrina is Category 5, covering the whole Gulf of Mexico and headed straight for us, due to arrive before dawn Monday. "Never ignore a senior NCO, never ignore a senior NCO."

- 1000: Initiate full recall and order all personnel to evacuate or shelter no later than 2100. Many people out of town for the weekend. Accountability is a nightmare.

- 1700: Open the shelter. People/families begin arriving. Have to stop two refrigerators, one 21-inch TV set and three mattresses at the door. Students (of all ranks) drafted to help carry bags into the shelter. People told to bring food and water for three days. Most bring food for two days; smokers bring cigarettes for 20 days. Have to break the news -- no smoking inside the shelter and once you're checked in you can't go outside (Hotel California rules).

- 2200: Doors locked and boarded up from the outside by CE (one door in an alcove left uncovered).

Aug. 29 (Monday):

- 0500: Winds howling; can hear them best through vents in bathrooms at the end of the hallway (It didn't sound like this during Hurricane Ivan)

- 0800: Shelterees (hereafter referred to as "the Natives") start moving around 0800. Smokers looking for nicotine fix, but remain calm.

- 1000: Local news reports indicate rising waters, violent winds. Plywood ripped from external doorways (I start getting uneasy; plywood has never moved in previous storms, much less flown away).

1200: News reports 20-plus feet of water in local mall. Natives getting anxious. Smokers getting jittery.

Afternoon:

- Power goes out; generators kick in. Not good. CE told us power can only go out if high-tension cables that survived 200-mph winds during Hurricane Camille go down. A/C stops working; ventilation fans stop working. No windows, no open doors, 731 nervous people in Mississippi in August. Ask for generator fuel status and burn rate. Have enough fuel for two days.

- Natives who smoke starting to visibly shake; many look physically ill.

- Cable TV goes out. Natives get creative with antennas. Spotted the bottom half of an NCO sticking out from ceiling tiles. Apparently reception is better if you connect a stripped copper comm cable from the TV to pipes in the ceiling. I appoint a safety observer and hope for the best.

- CE reports primary generator has flames coming out of it, so shut it off. Lost internet connectivity. Down to one generator; power only in hallways and a few rooms.

- Water stops running. Toilets overflowing. With medical advice, I brief the Natives on how to use plastic bags for toilet facilities (someone used this method within 10 minutes). Disposal of plastic bags in a sealed building is a concern. Adventurous major goes into the basement and finds 1961-vintage Civil Defense Survival Sanitation Kits. Basically, a 3-foot tall cardboard porta-potty with a hole cut in the top. This does not look fun. However, 44-year old toilet paper (it was dated) is surprisingly soft.

- One hour later: Water comes back thanks to CE heroes going out in the storm to repair pumping station. I hug the first CE troop I can find. Sanitation kits thankfully not used, but kept on standby.

- CE troops coming off shift report half of flightline underwater; base exchange and commissary 6 feet deep and rising; trees down all over base; CE building collapsed. Natives begin to get the picture -- this is worse than Hurricanes Ivan or Dennis.

Evening:

1800: Winds still dangerous so cannot open doors. It's hot; it's humid. Natives are getting cranky. Smokers showing signs of extreme duress. One is carrying two unlit cigarettes around. I suggest he tear one open and put it behind his lip for a nicotine fix. He informs me he's already eaten an entire pack and it didn't help. Can't think of anything to say in response, so I pat him on the back and wish him luck.

- Babies and young kids getting grumpy; too hot to nap.

- Barely-visible news reports (on very fuzzy TV picture) report massive devastation in the area. Dead silence in hallway as Natives crowd around the lone TV with a discernible picture. Tension rising.

2000: Too hot to breathe. 731 nervous people generate a lot of sweat and a variety of smells. Command post says stay locked down, don't open doors. Natives make strange noises when I walk by. Not sure the "Shelter Commander" badge is a good thing to be wearing right now. First Sergeant reports Natives consider me the embodiment of evil.

- Cops go on shift. The best NCO in the Air Force is assigned to patrol base housing; he offers to try to check on my cat during his shift (we left her in the hallway of my house).

2100: Even hotter. Poked my head outside -- it's ugly but winds have died down. Command Post says stay buttoned up. Natives mumbling in small groups about how to eliminate a commander. Survival instincts tell me to get some air in here. Posted Marines at every exit and opened all the doors. I'm a hero; Natives love me. Haven't heard "thank you" this much since I put my shirt back on at the squadron pool party.

2200: Smokers running out of cigarettes to eat. Open a side door and rope off a 10-foot by 10-foot smoking area. No more than five people at a time; no more than five minutes. Sucking cigarettes look like blow-torches in reverse. Everyone loves me.

- Nobody sleeps much. Tough to sleep in pools of sweat.

Aug. 30 (Tuesday):

- 0145: One of my NCOs wakes me up because "Cops want to talk to you, sir." Security forces squadron NCO is direct: "The good news is your cat is fine." Next question obvious. As he hands back my house key he adds, "The bad news is I didn't need this to get into your house." Doesn't quite register, "How'd you get in?" He looked me straight in the eye and said, "I walked through your back wall." That can't be good at all. Looks like a total loss. My wife was on a cot in the hallway. I woke her up to give her the news. Her response? "I guess it'll be easy to pack when we move next year." (She's getting anything she wants for Christmas, forever.) Spend the rest of the night thinking of how to stay focused and project a positive attitude given that all my worldly possessions will probably fit in a gym bag. (Note: we were eventually able to save most things above four feet.)

- 0700: Bad news spreads like wildfire. Entire shelter knows about my house. Lots of supportive comments as I wander the halls, but I see the struggle behind the words -- they're sorry for my loss but worry about their own. Their concern for my family despite fears for their own touches me deeply. First time in 19 years I've really had to fight back tears, but I've got to do the commander thing and project a positive attitude. As I walk the hallways I truly feel "the burden of command." My family is safe; I have to push my losses aside for now. These 730 people have no access to information other than what I tell them. I am their link to the outside world. I see them watching me, watching how I react and looking for cues as they try to figure out how they should feel -- is the commander scared? Depressed? Worried? Confident? I realize that their mood over the next few days will be a direct reflection of what they perceive as my mood. I've been tested in command before, but never like this.

- 0800: Drive to CAT meeting across base. Devastation is shocking. Trees down everywhere. Cars trashed everywhere. Windows out. Walls out. Buildings collapsed. Roofs ripped apart.

- 0930: Mass briefing to the Natives. Most uncomfortable briefing I've ever given. Reports indicate widespread devastation. Death toll probably in the hundreds. Power out for at least three weeks. Must begin water conservation. Minimum three months to resume base mission. Will not leave shelter for at least three days. 730 stunned and scared faces focused on me. All are easy to read. (1) realization of how bad it is, (2) fear of what it did to their homes. Worst possible situation for a commander -- troops need reassurance I can't give. Struggle to keep my voice steady. Not sure how well I did.

Afternoon:

- Natives' supplies running out. Most critical shortfalls: food, diapers, baby food, and feminine hygiene products. Issue MREs for adults. Assign "Baby POC" to track baby supplies. Develop new metric for morning/evening briefings -- diaper burn rate. Seventeen infants in shelter times five diapers a day and four jars of baby food a day. Have one day supply of diapers, two days of baby food, but at least three more days in the shelter. Submit urgent supply request to command post. Luckily, sanitation kits include 44-year old feminine products.

- Still no cable TV and no internet. Information is life. I average (I counted) no more than 10 steps before someone stops me to ask what's going on outside.

- Lieutenant students offer to take over operation of the Children's Recreation Room. One has been to Clown College; several brought coloring books. First Sergeant asks me later (a) "How come the officers have coloring books?" and (b) "How come some of the pictures were colored in before the children started using them?" Honor of the officer corps is at stake; I quickly assign the Shirt to a meaningless task to distract her. Hope it worked. Best not to ask. (Note: to be perfectly honest, that actually happened during Hurricane Dennis in July, but it's 100 percent true and was too good a story not to include here.)

- Pregnant Native goes into premature labor. Ambulance evacuates her to hospital.

- Another uncomfortable night. All Natives (and myself) report profuse sweating in lieu of sleep. Set up special room with lots of fans for children to sleep in. Authorized chaplain to take a small raiding party to chapel next door to get rocking chairs for parents with small children.

Aug. 31 (Wednesday):

- 731 people, 36-plus hours with no A/C and no showers. Natives stink. Shelter stinks. Natives convinced everyone stinks but themselves. Shirt reports Natives blame it all on me. Wife asks if I can boost SGLI from here. Tasked my most creative NCO to come up with some way to hose people off. Result: water hose connected to sink in bathroom supply closet, with sandbag walls leading to drain in center of bathroom. No hot water, but showers are a success. Still rationing water -- three minute shower every other day. Nonetheless, Natives can wash away the stink for at least 10 minutes till they start sweating again. I'm a hero.

- Still hot. Two cases of dehydration evacuated to hospital. I'm dehydrated, nauseous and weak despite drinking constantly. Can't believe I let this happen. Check with medics, but saline solution is in short supply and if I'm still walking I don't need it bad enough. They give me some good drugs to control symptoms. Eight hours, 240 ounces of water (I had to keep track), and 9,000 bathroom breaks later I feel much better.

- Lots of debris around the building. Still dangerous for people to go outside, but Natives are getting stir-crazy. Assigned a team to clear and rope off an area near the building. Post guards to ensure nobody wanders off and then allow small groups outside for fresh air for short periods of time. They love me again.

- Wing commander reads off list of inbound aid at CAT meeting. Not the same as hearing it on TV. I never imagined that it would mean so much to know that so many people are focused on helping you.

- Baby supplies critical. Wing commander orders a raid on what's left of commissary and BX. Deliveries to shelters save the day.

- Another bad briefing to the Natives. Only one way to explain why they can't leave the shelter -- tell them the truth as I know it. Looting rampant off-base. Looters in base housing. Air Force member carjacked right outside the gate. No gas in local area; $5 per gallon three hours away. Chaos in New Orleans is moving our way. Extra security forces with .50-cals on HMMWVs en route to help secure the base.

- Natives frantic about their homes. They fear anything that survived the storm won't survive the looters. Try to focus them on aid headed our way. Emotions running high. One woman goes into shock; evacuated to hospital.

- Another sweaty, sleepless night. Natives apparently locate world's largest stock of extension cords. Conservative estimates indicate we're running 500 fans off five power outlets and 2,000 extension cords. Confiscated the most impressive daisy chains as a safety hazard. Briefed shelter management team to increase fire checks of the building.

Sept. 1 (Thursday):

- Cannot release people to return to homes overnight due to security concerns. However, must let Natives assess their homes or risk bodily harm trying to keep them here. Strict guidelines for home assessments -- provide written route of travel; must have a wingman; no dependents can go; maximum of one hour to save what you can and return to shelter; must be decontaminated before reentering shelter because many houses (mine included) have sludge/sewage inches deep. Lieutenants do great job controlling departure and decon lines.

- Natives return to shelter. Many are homeless. Commander School never taught me how to respond to "I have nothing left," or how to comfort women and men crying uncontrollably in my arms. Some cried for what they lost, some for what they saw. News reports didn't prepare them for seeing not just their home but their entire neighborhood destroyed, or for the cops telling them the bad smell they noticed was probably neighbors who tried to ride out the storm and were buried in the rubble. My only consolation is that I know how they feel. The stink in the house made me gag; the mud was gooey, sticky and got on everything. My wife spent years building a beautiful collection of Amish figurines. Seeing the trail of broken figures across two yards (I never found the curio cabinet) was painful to endure. Crabs running across my feet in the bedroom (which scared the bee-geezus out of me) was a comical twist to a non-comical situation.

- In an attempt to improve morale, the chow hall (excuse me, Dining Facility) next to the shelter opens for one hot meal of whatever was available. Natives happily wait in line two-plus hours for rice with spaghetti sauce and a piece of bread. After the week we've had, it's like Grandmas Thanksgiving dinner.

- Third straight day of gorgeous weather. Security still a big concern. My DO reports her neighbors shot a looter (it may not be politically correct, but I applaud their initiative). Natives don't care, they just want out. Shelter commanders compare notes at CAT. We're all seriously concerned about tempers rising in the shelters. Believe the Natives are just about at the breaking point.

- Still no A/C. Lots of sweat and little sleep.

- Sept. 2 (Friday):

- Security situation better. Natives are about worn out. Wing commander authorizes release from shelters. Six days and five nights we will never forget, and the recovery efforts have only just begun.

To say that Hurricane Katrina has been a "life event" would be an understatement. During my time running the Bryan Hall shelter I saw the best and the worst of people first hand. Some sat in their little piece of floor space and watched others work to make the situation better. Most looked for every opportunity to help others and to make our little slice of hell a little more comfortable. I was amazed at how easy it was to read their faces. I could see clearly as fear changed to shock, disbelief, then anger. I watched in amazement as the anger was replaced with a calm sense of resolve and focus to simply move forward and do what needed to be done. From the little boy I found wandering the halls at midnight (obviously looking for a bathroom) to the lieutenants who stepped up, took charge when I asked, and showed all of us what "officership" is all about, every person in that shelter taught me their own unique and valuable lesson about command.

The CE troops and the cops in my shelter taught me the meaning of dedication. I watched them tramp in and out on shift work throughout the storm and its aftermath. They were wet, muddy, sweaty and tired. But every time they came through those doors they took time to find someone whose house they checked on, and they always stopped by to give me an update on what they saw. To quote a favorite TV show of mine, "They were magnificent." My wing commander described it perfectly a few days after the storm. Some puffed-up colonel called him up in the CAT and said "general so-and-so is coming down there. I want to know who the most important person on that base is, and I want their name right now." The boss' response was classic. "Well, colonel, the most important person on this base is a staff sergeant with a chainsaw, and if you'll give me 10 minutes I'll get that name for you." CE and cops. If you're looking for the heroes of Keesler, I'll be happy to escort you to their buildings.

As for the rest of the folks in the shelter, they were just as amazing in a different way. For all but the first 16 hours of our six-day adventure they lived in a hot, poorly-ventilated building with virtually no amenities but running water. Most slept on tile floors. All slept in puddles of their own sweat. All spent five days not knowing whether or not they had a home to go home to. Yet through all of it, they kept a sense of humor and worked together to make the best of a bad situation. Even in the darkest moments I never walked down the hall without hearing a constant stream of "Morning, colonel!" "How's it going, sir?" or "Hey, sir!

v/r
//SIGNED//
JON R. HANSON, MSgt, USAF
AETC Public Affairs News Division
DSN: 487-4400, Commercial 210-652-4400
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Old 10-06-2005, 08:46 PM
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Jerry D Jerry D is offline
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Good report of Shelter Life at Keesler. I loved the part about the 44 year old TP
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