On our first day in Mississippi, the Ohio & Florida NOVA team took us into the Ocean Springs disaster recovery centre. would later be assigned to this DRC for the entire week. It was the largest DRC and when others close their doors in the near future, it is expected that this centre will remain open for months to come. The other DRCs were located in Biloxi, Biloxi East, Moss Point, Gulfport, Waveland and Long Beach, Mississippi.

We were forewarned that before our NOVA team members dropped us off at the DRC early in the mornings, to check and make sure the centers we were assigned to were still operational; in the event that FEMA closed the centre during the night. On the first morning, my partner Continued and I decided that we would hail a taxi cab to get to our DRC. Upon calling the taxi company, we listened to a telephone message stating that they were no longer in business due to the hurricanes. Additionally, there was no public transportation system. A kind YMCA staff member offered to drive us. As we climbed into her car, she apologized to us because her car was filled with "things". I noticed that it appeared her "things" were donated articles; clothing, a small stepstool and a few toys for her children. She had stopped by one of the parking lots to rummage through the donated goods on her way to work. It became painfully obvious to us that even the YMCA staff had lost their homes and personal belongings, yet she still went to work, didn't complain and offered to drive us. I rolled up some money for her, saying that I would have paid it to the taxi driver. She objected to my paying her for the drive, but because I was so adamant that she keep the money, she agreed and said she would donate it to the YMCA.

A disaster recovery centre is a planned coordinated response effort that includes multiple organizations. At most DRC's, representatives from the following organizations offered assistance: FEMA, American Red Cross, Hazard Mitigation, Travel Trailer Requests, Immediate Housing, Disaster Unemployment, US Development - Rural Housing, Human Services, Social Security, Medicaid, Legal Services, Aging Services, Crisis Counselling, Mental Health, and Vietnamese Interpreters Rows of chairs are set up in front of the above noted agency desks. Survivors snake their way, seat by seat, in order of arrival to a registration desk for the opportunity of speaking to the agency representative. In this way, hurricane survivors did not have to stand in line ups which could take many hours. Since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on August 29th, many survivors had previously registered prior to our arrival, which was about five weeks after the storm struck. Approximately 1,200 survivors were still coming into the Ocean Spring DRC on a daily basis. Generally, they would come in to register for assistance, check on the status of their numerous applications with each agency, apply for loans, grants and other financial relief, see where they were on lists for travel trailers, rental properties. Some came in seeking medical aid, legal assistance, employment opportunities, to obtain food from American Red Cross. FEMA was offering free transportation - a one-way ticket to anywhere in the world. They also provided 4 telephones so that victims who had no phones or phone service could contact FEMA directly. Others came in just to commiserate with others in the same predicament.

Our role was to provide one-on-one crisis counselling to the hurricane survivors at the DRC. Hurricane survivors were extremely frustrated and angry with the system, the lengthy delays and the apparent lack of response and assistance. Survivors at the DRC were exhibiting common emotional responses that included sadness, anger, depression, hyperactivity, and fatigue. As soon as it was identified that someone was crying, becoming emotional or agitated, raised their voices, seemed overly frustrated, angry or were exhibiting signs of mental health issues; we were summoned to their side immediately. We listened to them, tried to calm them and assessed their situation to establish what services in the DRC might be of assistance to them, given their predicament and situation. This could prove to be a little difficult, given that we were not well versed with the American process or American resources.

NOVA crisis teams wore white baseball caps at all times during our trip. This was to identify us as being crisis counsellors. The white hats seemed to be quite identifiable at all times in large crowds. We needed to immediately engage with people, provide them with an opportunity to vent, validate their emotions and reactions, help them work through their frustration and anger thus enabling them with an opportunity to continue dealing with the agency representatives in a more civil, controlled and less emotional and reactive manner. We often had to take young children away from their parent(s) for short intervals until their emotions were in check and they were better able to cope. We had two armed security guards watching us at all times, so we felt safe. On our first day, the security guards took us aside to identify three individuals; one man and two women, who they felt could possibly pose a serious safety threat to us and others. No safety or security issues arose during our assignment.

Unfortunately, the very people that survivors were getting upset with, were very often also victims of hurricane Katrina, only they did not realize this. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Assistance) had hired local residents on a short term contract basis to work in the DRCs. They were given FEMA tee shirts to wear at the DRC so that it appeared they were FEMA employees, rather than locals who were also Katrina survivors. Unfortunately, these people were revictimized on several levels. Most were from the Ocean Springs area so they were personally affected by the hurricane. Many had lost friends, relatives and their homes; some were living in shelters; others in tents. They accepted these positions because, at the very least, it provided them with employment, albeit for a short period of time.

Staff endured hearing the stories of trauma and personal loss relentlessly as survivors needed to explain their circumstances when applying for assistance. They listened to the survivors' stories day in and day out. This process makes them relive their own personal tragedies, repeatedly. The FEMA staff had to explain to survivors that their claims for financial aid or temporary housing were being denied, held up or that they appeared to be lost in the computer system. The staff then had to listen to the emotional outbursts and tirades until we were able to intervene. Often the staff had endured more loss than the applicant. Since staff was also members of the community, they knew many applicants which can also impact them even more.

The staff at the DRCs sought our assistance repeatedly. Each time we took a 10 minute break, outside the back door and away from the public, the staff would seek us out and ask for our assistance. They were not coping well. Long working days and no days off since the hurricane hit the coast. Their employment is considered "emergency services" so employers do not need to follow labour laws. One of the security guards had not had a day off since he was hired following hurricane Katrina, over five weeks ago. He commented that the long days and no time off were affecting his marriage and relationship with his sons.

There are no decisions about eligibility made at the DRC level. Data is only entered into laptop computers and decisions are made at another location in Mississippi. One staff member, also a Katrina survivor, accepted a temporary contract with FEMA working at a DRC for a short period of time. She received notice from FEMA that she was put to the bottom of a waiting list for assistance because she had accepted part time work. FEMA would not permit staff to carry cell phones while at work; therefore, they were not available to the FEMA inspector who was trying to set up a time to survey their own damage. Survivors needed to be at their house site when the FEMA inspector came to inspect the damage, or the claim could be further delayed; often for weeks.

There had been many casinos in Mississippi and Louisiana; a large percentage of the survivors we met had been employed at the casinos prior to the hurricanes. These casinos brought in considerable revenue for the southern states. Quite a few of the staff that I met had previously been employed by one of the many casinos and were now displaced.

The Gulf Coast seemed to be home to a very large senior population; the casinos employed a very high proportion of this aging populace. Seniors are having an especially difficult time relocating because many lived in apartment type dwellings that are no

longer there or are now condemned. Many do not have transportation and if they did have a vehicle, it was probably destroyed. Seniors often have special needs that require additional services which can no longer be offered. They don't have the time, the energy or the health to start a new life. One man claimed "I was born a poor, black man and I will now die a poor, black man".

It was increasingly evident that landlords had begun increasing rents at excessive rates. Renters are coming back to their rental units to find their personal property had been removed by the landlord. The landlords claimed that the property had mold and needed to be destroyed. Some are returning to find that their rental units have been rented out to others. Landlords are able to find new tenants, perhaps more financially stable, and will

ing to pay greatly inflated rental rates. Many survivors who were homeowners want to rent until their homes are rebuilt. Others no longer wish to own homes anymore in an area that has to deal with recurring hurricanes and are now content to rent. Landlords who were not content with past dwellers now have an opportunity to change occupants rather easily. Unfortunately, it seems to be the poorer citizens who are loosing their rental accommodations to more affluent individuals. Accommodations are at a premium in the Gulf Coast region and landlords are aware that this situation is advantageous to them.

The people that we encountered exuded their characteristic southern charm. They were very welcoming, warm, appreciative, respectful and polite. "Yes'em"was a common reply to our queries or comments. They refused to take more than their share of food, water etc. because "someone else may need it more than I do". They tried so hard to concentrate on what little they did have, instead of what they had lost. They appeared to be very spiritual with strong faith, belief and values.

The first woman that I assisted was approximately 80 years old. She was tiny but spry and had been wearing the same clothes for quite some time. Her apartment was condemned, she drove a rental van, that was ready to be repossessed and she was staying in a local motel room. She tried to tell me her situation through her tears and we had to stop several times for her to try to compose herself. Her son's new wife didn't want her. Her daughter who resided in Texas said she didn't have room for her and certainly would not permit her mother's pet dog, a Chihuahua in her home. The woman did not want to give up the only thing she had left, her dog, Goldie. On my last day in Mississippi, one apartment had been found in the state of Texas who would accommodate this woman and her dog. Finally, a happy ending.

Many of the seniors we dealt with had adult children who resided in other states; adult children who were not willing to let their parents reside with them after the storm. Some said they had no room for their parents. It seemed quite common that an abundant

number of seniors had endured fractured family relationships prior to the storms. It was also apparent that they very much wished to remain independent, as they had prior to the hurricanes. Their worst fear was not a hurricane, but rather being a burden to their children. Another senior told me, with a guilty smile, that her beloved shiny, red car ended up in her next door neighbour's new swimming pool. She lost everything and was staying with her son. She said she could live without her house, but she is having difficulty living without her red car, because the car represented her independence. I told her I knew exactly what she meant, because I too had just lost my shiny red car and had been relying on rides and rental cars for a month, exactly like her. We both laughed and agreed that perhaps our next cars should not be red. She then confided in me that her daughter had died at the age of 16 and that she had lost the one thing that she had left of her daughter, her photographs. We talked about how she still had the special memories and that perhaps her sister, who resided in another state, may have a few photographs.

Countless Mississippi and Louisiana residents are leaving the area for good. They have had enough. Others are quite content to stay simply stating that "it is best to know the devil they know than the devil they don't know". I often heard people justify their wish for staying. "If we leave, we will probably have to deal with tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, mudslides, snow storms, ice storms and more". At least we know about hurricanes. And they certainly do. They explained the hurricane phenomena to us in great detail, eluding that the worst place to be in a hurricane is in the north eastern quadrant of the storm. Apparently this is the area where the water surges inland. There are many ships in the Gulf of Mexico at all times and they frequently take the ships out into the Gulf and get behind the hurricane where they will be safe. We met a couple of men who routinely fly airplanes into the eye of the storms. They do this to leave data equipment that has the ability to monitor the hurricane's progression, strength and path. The southern people seem quite knowledgeable about hurricanes and equate these weather disturbances to our snow and ice storms.

The food served by the American Red Cross trucks and the snacks in the DRCs are very high in carbohydrates and calories. I am told that they purposely do this because they try to keep the weight on the survivors. Free snacks at the disaster relief centers were prepackaged cookies, rice krispie squares, potato chips, and crackers. Fruit juice and bottled water were abundantly available to survivors and staff.

Our evenings consisted of our crisis team going out to a restaurant to eat, debrief and laugh. It was important to do this every evening. Breakfast and lunches were not available and if we did want food, it came from the American Red Cross trucks.

We were warned that most restaurants in the Gulf Coast area were still not open. Those that were operating were only open for a few hours a day and food would be very limited. Restaurants closed by 6:00 p.m. because they had no staff. This was problematic for us since we didn't get back to the YMCA until after 7:00 p.m. There were long line ups at eating establishments, sometimes a two hour wait to get in and be served "Now Hiring" signs were everywhere. We were cautioned not to order fish. Since food was quite restrictive, dinners usually included Southern Fried Chicken, sweet potatoes and cabbage salad.

Our dinners were somehow full of laughter when our "group of seven" got together. We tried to keep this time together lighthearted, as we desperately needed that. We debriefed with each other often to make sure that we were all coping well. You can't help others if you don't take care of yourself. And we certainly tried to do this.

During the latter part of our trip, we were informed that there may be another hurricane heading our way. We heard comments that the land was just too saturated to take on more water, especially a tropical storm that would result from a hurricane nearby. Gasoline stations were starting to ration the gas, limiting the fuel people were allowed to purchase. We were advised that if there was an evacuation order; most evacuees would be heading north on I75; the same route we would be taking home. We were all tired; our families were getting concerned, so we made a decision to leave the area one day early. This would get us out of the Gulf Coast area should the storm turn north instead of heading toward Florida. It was a decision that we struggled with and it even came down to a vote. We also needed to consider that we had seven adults in a small van with luggage, sleeping bags and bedrolls. It was not expected to be a comfortable ride home but we could not leave the seventh member in a state with an impending hurricane.

We tried to keep statistics on the number of crisis interventions we performed. I estimated that my NOVA partner and I provided crisis interventions to no fewer than 215 individuals. We were summoned continuously during the course of the day. As soon as a hand went up signaling for us to attend immediately, we rushed to the individual who was experiencing difficulty. On a few occasions, several hands went up at the same time and we had to solicit assistance from a volunteer mental health care worker.

Quite a few people presented with mental health issues at the DRC because they either lost their medications during the storm, the doctor is not yet back to work or the drug store is no longer there. Some admitted that they had taken medication years ago, but feel that given what they have been through recently, they need to start a medication treatment program again.

Many survivors came into the DRC in poor health. We were notified that many would present with cold like symptoms; eyes that appear to be running and burning, chest congestion; asthma like symptoms. We were cautioned not to get too close or to touch survivors. We were encouraged to wash and disinfect thoroughly and often. The maladies that most presented with were caused by mold and mildew.

Carpeting, furniture, appliances and personal articles, once they become wet in the south, need to be disposed of. Due to the high humidity, black mold, mildew and fungus spores grow rapidly.

People do not want to discard their personal property, but they need to do so to alleviate the health problems.

We heard many hurricane survivors claim that their insurance companies had declined their claims because they did not have a separate flood insurance policy.

We met many wonderful people. A staff member who claimed he had 5 children and was living in a tent wrote me the most wonderful letter of thanks that I will always cherish. They were intrigued and thankful that Canadians would drive so far to volunteer their help. During the course of our stay, we received a telephone call from the U.S. Attorney General's office in Washington, expressing their gratitude for the Canadian involvement. It was difficult saying goodbye to the staff at the Ocean Springs disaster recovery centre. There will be opportunities for us to serve again throughout the months of November and December. It would be an amazing experience to visit this area in approximately 10 years time to see the rebirth and revitalization of this area.

Was it a difficult experience? Yes. Was it a positive experience? Yes. Would I go again? In a heartbeat. Shortly upon my return, I was asked to fly to Florida to once again provide crisis counselling following the hurricane that struck the Key West, Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas.

Doreen Young is Executive Director of Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services