This will probably be my last update from Gulfport. My son, Steve, part of the Birmingham Fire Department Heavy Resuce Team, is enroute back to Birmingham this morning along with 12 other firemen. He has phoned me reports via cell phone when he could get through. A "fresh Group" of 13 will be going down today. A few notes from Monday's work:
* The team went to the place where two other large barges were located inland. Earlier, they had found a large barge about 25 yards wide by 100 yards long about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile inland at the end of a dead end street. It had to float over telephone poles to get there. Means a storm surge of at least 30 feet, maybe more.
* The Grand Casino is stitting in the middle of U. S. 90. The Copa is also settled inland. Between the two of those are 15 to 20 destroyed 18-wheelers with Dole Banannas on the sides.
* They found 6 automobiles buried under huge piles of lumber.
* Thousands of huge rolls of brown paper scattered around. Very large rolls. Don't know what they are used for.
* About 50 people from the GBI (Georgia Burerau of Investigation) are on scene helping search for bodies. They found a number of them yesterday and marked the spot.
* Based on order, several bodies are also likely buried under the huge piles of lumber that is piled 15 to 20 feet deep. Will take heavy equipment to reach them.
* The military brought in a tanker truck with thousands of gallons of water so they could take showers.
* Three sets of traffice lights have been restored and working.
* About 1/2 dozen business establishments in Gulfport now have power.
* Assignments have changed frequently (to be expected at a time like this) The Birmingham Fire Group have been in and around Gulfport the entire time. The Hoover Fire Department team was sent to Slidell, Louisiana. There are also other firemen from Alabaster, Trussville and others in the area.
* Steve has taken nearly 800 digital photographs while there.
* The team went to the place where two other large barges were located inland. Earlier, they had found a large barge about 25 yards wide by 100 yards long about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile inland at the end of a dead end street. It had to float over telephone poles to get there. Means a storm surge of at least 30 feet, maybe more.
* The Grand Casino is stitting in the middle of U. S. 90. The Copa is also settled inland. Between the two of those are 15 to 20 destroyed 18-wheelers with Dole Banannas on the sides.
* They found 6 automobiles buried under huge piles of lumber.
* Thousands of huge rolls of brown paper scattered around. Very large rolls. Don't know what they are used for.
* About 50 people from the GBI (Georgia Burerau of Investigation) are on scene helping search for bodies. They found a number of them yesterday and marked the spot.
* Based on order, several bodies are also likely buried under the huge piles of lumber that is piled 15 to 20 feet deep. Will take heavy equipment to reach them.
* The military brought in a tanker truck with thousands of gallons of water so they could take showers.
* Three sets of traffice lights have been restored and working.
* About 1/2 dozen business establishments in Gulfport now have power.
* Assignments have changed frequently (to be expected at a time like this) The Birmingham Fire Group have been in and around Gulfport the entire time. The Hoover Fire Department team was sent to Slidell, Louisiana. There are also other firemen from Alabaster, Trussville and others in the area.
* Steve has taken nearly 800 digital photographs while there.
on September 7, 2005, 1:52 pm
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