Volunteering in the Hurricane Torn Gulf Region

Hugh A.

Last night at the fire meeting, we were presented with the option of going down to Gulf Port Mississippi in June to volunteer. From what it sounded like, we would be going down to help with rebuilding homes, but at the same time, we would be provided with whatever equipment we would need to respond to fire calls, etc, just as we would here as vollies. I guess we would respond to the station just as we do here, where we meet with the minimal remains of whatever area FF's there are from that particular dept, and assist them with calls or whatever they need. They advised it would be sometime in mid june and we would leave here on a friday and be gone for a week. Is this something others have heard about? I guess we sent about 10 people down from the county a month ago or so and it was a great experience. I am thinking about doing it myself. I guess there is not much for reconstruction going on since there aren't many jobs down there now and man power is slim to none.

smokeeater

what are the specific requirements for such ventures?? would like to have more information please thanx

Myron Grombacher

for free?

in any event, there was much grumbling from people that have done this on the fire side as all they did was wade through the nasty sewage laden waters and hand out pamphlets telling people where they can get assistance. i would assume by now that activity has curtailed somewhat, but the big beef with the vollies and others was that only fdny and lafd were allowed to frontline firefight. AGAIN this was relatively soon after the initial hit, like a few months. what's amazing is some vollies were turned away. there was one ambulance service (vol) from the northeast that drove all the way there and were turned around once they got there. i think that may stem from a nationwide commercial ems provider (Another Money Run) who is still receiving $1,000 per hour, per person to be there from FEMA. that does not include the $$ for vehicles and support. even more disgusting about that is they did a \"public service\" video talking about the \"humanitarian effort\" they were providing. of course, no one would run this story because the truth about the greed involved came out... that'll happen...sad, but true. in fact, they would not send anyone there before they were done with negotiations over how much they were going to get paid.

MississippiPI

I live in Mississippi and was affected directly by Katrina--we live in the central part of the state, right at Jackson and received winds in excess of 100 mph. I had the opportunity to travel to the Coast and witness first hand the death, destruction, carnage and the overflow of compassion and concern from alot of good people who just gave a damn---the volunteers who came down and offered their assistance, knowledge, compassion, tolerance and love for their fellow man is beyond my words and I can't begin to express my gratitude to those men and women who did and continue to volunteer--the kicker is is that it's just the right thing to do and the blessings that have been and will be bestowed upon these volunteers will flourish. I am proud to be a volunteer firefighter and very much enjoy it. There is no greater payment in my opinion that to have someone say \"thank you\"--and you know they mean it. So I say to you \"THANK YOU\" to all have volunteered and donated.

Be Safe

Stan Andriski · Regular Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 240 Location: Barre MA

I was part of the big FEMA recruitment of firefighters to go down after Katrina hit. Sept 10-16 Atlanta, Sept. 17-Oct 6 Hancock County MS, Nov. 14-Dec.1 TX. Now while this ended up being a paid detail, it was an experience I will never forget and would do it again in a heart beat regaurdless on the $.

Hugh, if you get the chance to go down I would leap at the oppertunity. Even now after things have deminished, the devistation both physicly and emotionly will last a life time. And it sounds like you are set up to do some firefighting when you are there which is always great.

Myron, just a few things.

Stan Andriski · Regular Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 240 Location: Barre MA

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

Cut off!!!! Well here is the rest.

Myron Grombacher

stan,

i know the vollies did more support tasks than what i wrote, i was jus being lazy...sorry.

the funny thing about that service that was turned away is that they drove all the way down there and people warned them about checking before hand and they didn't care. they didn't want to hear they might be turned back. this same thing happened during 9/11 where not only were vollies showing up and being turned away, but many were trying and successfully getting around road blocks and freelancing. this creates so many problems...we all know you want to help, but...

wessentially you are saying i am right about what i am saying, just with a little clarification....thank you

Another Missed Response
Another Missing Ring
Another Medicare Run
Att's My Ride
American Medical Rideservice
Ambulance Might Respond

and on, and on and on....

Stan Andriski · Regular Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 240 Location: Barre MA

Haha! Yep! And they never get old thats the best part. Our local 911 likes:

Another Moron Responding

Laughing

But I do have a few friends that work there and like it. All depends which office you are out of I guess.

Anyway, getting off topic.

MississippiPI

Myron,

And how much time did you spend down there assisting people? It's easy to be critical and part of the problem and not part of the solution--it's always easier to lend a hand--not point a finger.

Be safe

Myron Grombacher

[quote:7c756da9dc=\"MississippiPI\"]Myron,

And how much time did you spend down there assisting people? It's easy to be critical and part of the problem and not part of the solution--it's always easier to lend a hand--not point a finger.

Be safe

Posted: Mon 17-Apr-2006 10:25 Post subject:

So anyway, to veer back on track, check out www.stowefire.org This site will show you a little bit about what they have done so far, as well as lead you to a news clip on what they have done. We will be making a trip down again the second or third week of june.

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