BY PATRICK HARPER
On Saturday, August 27, 2005, FEMA activated Indiana Task Force 1 (IN-TF1) along with Ohio Task Force 1 (OH-TF1) and the White Incident Support Team (IST). Team members were to stage in Meridian, Mississippi, on the eastern side of the hurricane’s path. Texas Task Force 1, Missouri Task Force 1, Tennessee Task Force 1, and the Blue Incident Support Team had been assigned to report to Shreveport, Louisiana, the day before.
Sunday, August 28
IN-TF1 left Indianapolis early as a type III US&R team, which included 34 personnel in two SUVs, one pickup truck, three large trucks, and a passenger bus. The convoy proceeded south to Meridian Naval Air Station and arrived early Sunday evening.
While the team was traveling south, Hurricane Katrina had exploded into a Category 5 storm and had already become one of the worst hurricanes in U.S. history.
After a brief meeting with the IST, IN-TF1 was assigned an unused barracks at the Meridian Naval Air Station. We established a makeshift command post there and prepared for the long days ahead.
Monday, August 29
As Hurricane Katrina was making the third of three landfalls near the Louisiana-Mississippi border, IN-TF1 gathered as much information as possible about the situation on the coast. All the major cable network news agencies had reporters in Louisiana and Mississippi who were providing information on the damage incurred and weather conditions. IN-TF1 recorded this information on a large map to gauge where the team would be needed and the work that would have to be done.
Based on this information, we planned operations using helicopters and boats and issued supplies such as Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) and personal flotation devices (PFDs) to each task force member.
In Meridian, Katrina’s winds and rain began slowly around 11:00 a.m. The storm grew more intense as the day wore on. Meridian lost power at around 2:00 p.m. The power outage ended most of the task force’s intelligence gathering. From that point on, the team relied on a weather radio for information. The next IST briefing was at 7:00 p.m.
At this meeting, we learned the extent of the damage caused by Katrina. Major damage had occurred along the coast. Emergency operations centers in southern counties told of widespread destruction, collapsed buildings, and a rising death toll. The IST reported that more federal teams had been activated and were mobilizing. There was much work to be done.
Our team waited until first daylight to head to a staging area closer to the coast. Part of the IST was to leave ahead of the rest of the convoy to find the best route and to select a staging site.
The team returned to the barracks. After mapping out the major and minor routes to southern Mississippi, team members tried to sleep. Outside, the wind gusts were still fairly strong, and trees continued to fall throughout the night.
Tuesday, August 30
Team members awoke at 5:00 a.m. and reloaded equipment taken off the trucks the day before. A convoy of Indiana, Ohio, and the IST prepared to head south. Cell phone coverage was spotty; there was no power for cable TV or Internet access, and only one radio station was operating on the FM/AM dials. There was little new information, and the bits of news coming through the radio only confirmed what the team had been told the night before.
The convoy left Meridian at approximately 7:00 a.m. Even 180 miles inland, just outside the Meridian Naval Air Station, the damage was extensive. Trees and power lines were down everywhere. The damage became increasingly worse as we headed south.
Originally, the Indiana team had been assigned to Camp Shelby Military Reservation, about 15 miles south of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. While en route, however, the team learned that it would be assigned to Stennis Space Center on the western side of Mississippi.
The convoy stopped in Brandon, Mississippi, to fuel vehicles. There were long lines at the very few stations with electricity. A local police officer told us that the police had taken over a gas station in the city for emergency use. By this point, the advanced team had finally made it to Gulfport.
While the vehicles were being fueled, the IST held a short briefing. Our team learned it would be going directly to Gulfport and that U.S. Highway 49 was usable and the best route. After all the vehicles were fueled, we made our way to Highway 49 and headed to the Harrison County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
We reached Gulfport at approximately 2:00 p.m. The area surrounding Gulfport’s EOC was inundated with emergency vehicles from several states, National Guard troops, and members of the media.
At 3:00 p.m., IST personnel held a briefing. The damage Katrina did to Mississippi and Louisiana was staggering; the entire 26-mile coastline of Mississippi was affected. The destruction was on the level of the 2004 tsunami that devastated much of Southeast Asia. Every structure along the coast received some form of damage, and at least one-third of all structures along the Mississippi coast were completely destroyed.
 Many people had called 911 reporting that they were trapped in their attics. Here, the attic space is all that remains. |
During the storm, local 911 operators received many calls from people trapped by the rapidly rising flood waters. After the storm, operators received numerous reports of collapsed structures, broken water and gas mains, and victims’ bodies strewn through neighborhoods. The devastation in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida eventually encompassed 90,000 square miles. Weather personnel in Gulfport recorded sustained winds of more than 100 miles per hour, with gusts of more than 150 miles per hour.
Biloxi, Mississippi, received a record 30-foot storm surge. Cities and towns along the Gulf, such as Waveland and Pascagoula, were totally destroyed. At 3:00 p.m., there was still no communication from anyone in Bay St. Louis or Pass Christian.
East Division (Biloxi) Operations. The IST divided the Mississippi coast into three divisions: East, Central, and West. Indiana was assigned to the East Division-more specifically, Biloxi. Assigned to the East Division along with Indiana were several state-level teams from Florida and “Mississippi Bravo,” a collection of the local resources that had responded south to provide assistance. Florida’s resources were already at work in Biloxi when Indiana arrived. At approximately 4:00 p.m., Indiana and Mississippi Bravo proceeded to Biloxi with a police escort.
As the Indiana team made its way to Biloxi, the level of destruction became apparent. The storm surge affected areas far inland. We arrived at the Biloxi EOC at about 6 p.m. and met with local officials.
In the first meeting, we realized that, aside from being overwhelmed, many of the Biloxi emergency personnel were in a state of shock. The Biloxi fire chief directed Indiana to coordinate rescue efforts with Florida, which was setting up a Base of Operations (BoO) at the Gulf Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, about three miles west of the EOC. There, Indiana and Mississippi Bravo could find out which areas had been searched. We obtained directions to the coliseum and headed there.
Florida’s task forces, along with Florida Fish and Wildlife and Florida’s Forestry Division, had set up an impressive BoO at the convention center. Our task force leader and plans manager met with Florida’s command staff to get a better grasp on the situation.
The team’s original intention was to get to Biloxi and immediately begin search and rescue missions that would continue into the night. However, the local security situation made night searching difficult and dangerous. With no street signs and the local infrastructure extensively damaged, we instead established a BoO in Biloxi. IN-TF1 and Mississippi Bravo command personnel returned to the Gulfport EOC for an evening briefing. Searches would have to wait until first light.
That evening at the IST briefing, it was decided that, because of extensive damage in their own communities, the majority of Mississippi Bravo’s agencies would have to return home in the morning. Of the more than 20 people originally assigned to Mississippi Bravo, only four personnel from the Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency remained. These individuals were sworn peace officers as well as members of the emergency management agency. Given the security situation, they became Indiana’s protection force.
At the evening briefing, we learned that Virginia Task Force 2 would arrive in Gulfport around 4 or 5 p.m. Wednesday and that Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Utah, and New York’s task forces were en route.
IN-TF1 completed setting up tents and unloading equipment after dark. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention Center sits on what was left of U.S. Highway 90. Even though a breeze was coming off the coast, the heat was terrible. Some members toughed it out in the sleeping tents; others slept on the air-conditioned bus. The tasks ahead of us weighed on every mind. Most had trouble sleeping, even in the air-conditioning.
Wednesday, August 31
After a joint briefing with Florida’s command, IN-TF1 began its first searches in priority areas outlined by the Biloxi Fire Department. We began working a residential area just to the west of the convention center. Much of this area was hit by the storm surge, and all of the buildings were either collapsed or completely destroyed.
 IN-TF1 meets up with a Biloxi Fire Department engine while searching the northern portion of the Point Cadet area of Biloxi. (Photos by author.) |
Nothing prepared us for what we encountered. It was as if a big hand had swatted all the buildings on the beach and pushed them inland, depositing the debris in big piles. IN-TF1 began door-to-door searches, checking each building for structural damage, broken gas and water lines, and victims. Several residents, who had ridden out the storm inside their homes, recounted terrifying stories of what they had witnessed. Members of the news media, who had followed us into the area, interviewed residents and photographed the destruction. Residents reported a gas leak they had unsuccessfully tried to fix.
The weather was hot and humid; there was little wind movement. The search crews took frequent breaks, but the conditions were nearly unbearable. A task force member was sent out on a four-wheeled, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to survey the area. At about 8:30 a.m., he found an elderly lady lying on her driveway and complaining of hip pain. The team doctor went over to the victim’s house and assessed the woman. She was packaged and moved to the BoO, from where she was transported to the local hospital. At around 9:30 a.m., IN-TF1 personnel searching a storm-damaged apartment complex found an elderly male, the first live victim the team found in a collapsed structure. The team completed its search of the area and returned to the BoO for resupply.
In the area of Biloxi where IN-TF1 had set up its BoO, there were two major east-west routes. U.S. Highway 90, which ran along the Gulf Coast, was rendered impassable in most areas. Pass Road, the only other major artery, ran only to Keesler Air Force Base, which meant longer travel times to areas to be searched by Indiana.
After resupplying, IN-TF1 moved to a search area farther west, near the Edgewater Mall, another area heavily damaged by the storm surge. All homes along the coast were destroyed. Homes farther inland that escaped the storm surge were mostly intact but had suffered structural damage from large trees or wind. As with the morning search area, the team found people who rode out the storm in their homes. These people proved invaluable in speeding up IN-TF1’s searches: They were able to tell team members who had stayed and who had left.
Search teams returned to the BoO at 6 p.m. On our way back, the teams traveled down Highway 90 to make sure they hadn’t missed anything. IN-TF1 passed several hotels in various degrees of destruction and discovered that several people were living on the upper floors of one of the hotels. After speaking to these people, the team continued on to the BoO. It discovered a small dead-end street that hadn’t been searched. After resupplying with water and ice, the team returned to the missed street and completed the search.
Our base camp was still lacking basic toilet facilities. Two portable toilets had been delivered, but they were quickly filled by the almost 200 people using them. Sanitary conditions were terrible. A member of the Florida team came down with diarrhea.
 Task force members begin search operations in a large boat storage building along Back Bay. |
That evening, Indiana found out just how bad things were going in the hurricane-ravaged areas. Search missions in New Orleans were suspended. Basic supplies such as portable toilets, water, fuel, and ice were being directed to shelters and other vital areas or were being commandeered before they could reach their destinations. One of the requirements of a task force is that it be self-sufficient for 72 hours. Though the 72-hour mark was coming, the team was not there yet. Late that night, an outhouse, “Hurricane Latrina,” was built over a lift-station at the end of the parking lot. Also that night, the BoO received its first shipment of water and ice. Security was increased after the delivery. Florida converted its decontamination trailer into a makeshift shower, and the team was able to get a television working.
 Because of a lack of sanitary facilities, members of FL-TF3 and IN-TF1 built an outhouse over a lift station near the base of operations. |
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Thursday, September 1
At that morning’s briefing, Indiana was ordered to search the hotels they had seen the night before and to check the 36-building apartment complex behind it. Indiana and most of Florida’s resources worked together to complete the search.
It was predicted that the weather would continue to be hot and humid; we took our air-conditioned tour bus along. Our ATVs were loaded with water, sports drinks, and ice, which were delivered to searchers. The TF doctor instituted “forced hydration” every 30 minutes. Indiana TF members began searching the hotels and found people, many stranded evacuees from Louisiana, in one hotel on the third, fourth, and fifth floors. This hotel was structurally sound and, except for the destroyed first and second floors, was considered “inhabitable.” The front buildings of the apartment complex had sustained some damage, but the complex was otherwise unscathed. Residents were happy to see rescuers; they asked about the rest of the city and for directions for obtaining water or ice. Finding the manager of the apartment complex was a big help: He and another individual went door to door unlocking apartments so rescuers could check them.
 The three-story floating casino, President Casino Barge, which had broken free of its moorings, floated down the coast and landed on top of a two-story convention center. |
Our final check that morning was the three-story President Casino Barge that had washed ashore and was now on top of a collapsed hotel. We found no victims in the casino, which had been looted.
From there, Indiana and Florida loaded the trucks and the bus and moved to the east end of Biloxi. By this time, the Biloxi Fire Department had established priority areas to be searched, which were numbered, listed on a map, and assigned to task force personnel. The Indiana, Florida, and New York task forces headed to “Priority 3” on the eastern end of Biloxi.
 IN-TF1 member checks a debris field and damaged structure on September 1. |
Biloxi had received the largest recorded storm surge-30 feet, which had swamped much of eastern Biloxi. Once the storm began to pass, this section received a second storm surge from “Back Bay,” the body of water that separates the mainland from the peninsula. The shearing motion caused by the two storm surges acted much like an earthquake and destroyed many of the small homes in this area.
Indiana and Florida arrived at the “Priority 3” at noon. Each of Indiana’s two squads took a side of the street and worked its way down the street. All homes were searched unless there was definitive proof that no one was home during the hurricane. Homes that had been searched or were empty were identified with US&R markings. Along the way, our hazardous materials specialist checked for natural gas leaks and shut off meters. Whenever possible, damage was kept to a minimum; homes in which entry had been forced were resecured as best as possible.
 Numerous structures broke free of their foundations. Houses landed as far as two or three blocks from their original locations. |
Surprisingly, a few residents in this area survived the hurricane. Often, search team members were the first people they had seen since the storm hit, and they had to tell us what they had experienced. Although these survivors gave task force members insight into who had stayed, who had left, and who had been killed, their stories ultimately slowed down searching. Throughout the week, we encountered about 300 such survivors. They either had ridden out the storm in their homes or were returning to inspect the damage.
After completing the search of the “Priority 3” area, the Indiana, Florida, and New York TFs moved to Priority 4 to search. It was getting late in the day. They searched a great portion of Priority 4 and returned to the BoO.
Friday, September 2
On Friday, Indiana received maps of water and ice locations and “welfare check maps,” made from reports of missing persons that had been consolidated into one large list. This map showed the person’s last known location. We made a special effort to search these locations for the victims. The areas we searched had been completely flooded by the record storm surge. Many of the residents Indiana team members talked with told them that they rode the storm out in attics. In this area, we found one deceased victim in a small home that had little structural damage. The team took global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, documented the scene, and notified command.
It was now four days post-Katrina and many people were leaving the shelters, at least to check on their homes. This situation helped the IN-TF and slowed it down. Having more people home cut down on the number of homes to search. Also, although residents were happy to see rescuers, some did not want anyone spray-painting search markings on their houses, regardless of the house’s condition. TF personnel took great care in marking the homes in a visible yet less destructive manner. Typically, Indiana marked a window in the front of the house or made a mark with a piece of wood or metal debris from the yard or street.
Traffic was another problem for searchers. As more and more people returned home or came to sightsee, the roads became congested. Limited routes were available because of the debris, and there was no power for stop lights.
There was little hostility in Biloxi, in contrast to the reports coming from New Orleans. We found caring people who, even in their darkest times, were willing to offer rescuers food, water, shade, and thanks for what we were doing. The citizens of Biloxi should be proud of the way they handled themselves.
Indiana and Florida completed searching Priority Areas 4, 5, and 6 and returned to the BoO for decontamination. To eliminate long lines, the task forces returned on a staggered schedule. This system helped; decontamination didn’t take as long.
Indiana and Florida personnel also received quite a surprise: During the day, truckloads of portable toilets had been delivered to the base, Florida Forestry’s shower units had arrived and were being installed, and a forestry canteen truck had arrived with more food.
Saturday, September 3
Indiana split the task forces between two Priorities. One squad searched Priority 10; the other returned to Priority 6 to complete one street. This squad would also re-search an area of Priority 2, where it was believed a victim might be located, and then join the other squad in Priority 10.
Priority 10 was far enough inland, so it suffered little storm surge damage. Although most homes were flooded, they weren’t subjected to the shearing forces experienced by the eastern sections of Biloxi. The city was now five days post-Katrina; it was hot and humid. Every home searched revealed large mold problems; respirators were required.
Utah Task Force 1 and an Alabama search team joined Indiana in Priority 10. Enough people were now home so that it was possible to “search” whole streets by talking with one neighbor. Since three teams were searching the Priority, the search was completed by noon.
From Priority 10, Indiana and Utah moved west, back toward the BoO. Indiana, Utah/Alabama, and Florida’s search teams canvassed the northern sections of Biloxi between Kessler Air Force Base and the city limits. This area had no storm surge, received little wind damage, and was mostly occupied by Saturday. For this area, searchers employed a technique dubbed “meet, greet, and mark on the street”: Rescuers traveled through the neighborhoods in vehicles, stopped to talk to residents at their homes, looked over residences that were damaged, and marked the intersections of the neighborhoods with search markings. This process took little time. Indiana returned to the BoO at 6 p.m.
Back at the BoO, a tanker had been set up for decontamination. This speeded the process immensely. An operation that had been taking up to an hour was now taking a few minutes.
At the briefing that night, Indiana was told it would be demobilized the next day and would be returning home.
All nonessential equipment was packed onto trucks. At 8:30 p.m., IN-TF1, Florida’s US&R teams, the Florida Division of Forestry, Florida Fish and Game, and the Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency presented $2,975 to the Biloxi Fire Department, which represented money Florida’s personnel had collected from task force members in camp over the previous days.
Sunday, September 4
Prior to leaving Biloxi, TF members turned out at 6:30 a.m. for a flag ceremony conducted by members from all agencies, now operating out of the Coliseum. The flag raised over the Coliseum had been found by an IN-TF1 search team on 8th Street near Pine Street in East Biloxi. After the ceremony, TF members loaded the remaining tents and equipment and departed Biloxi for Gulfport to complete IST paperwork. We spent the night in Nashville, Tennessee, and returned home on Monday.
PATRICK HARPER, a member of the Indianapolis (IN) Fire Department, is a planning team member of Indiana Task Force 1. He served as the technical information specialist for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Evansville, Indiana, tornadoes in November 2005.
