MEMA, Red Cross Better Prepared Since Hurricane Katrina

Governor Barbour and First Lady Marsha Barbour will mark the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. They will honor the victims Sunday on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The memorial ceremony will be in Gulfport. Along with the first couple, Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano plan to attend.

After the storm hit, the Red Cross did a lot to help people across the state. The organization has thousands of volunteers trained and ready should another disaster like Katrina hit.

The recreation center at Broadmoor Baptist Church serves as a Red Cross shelter. Five years ago, when Hurricane Katrina made landfall, more than 140 people stayed here for a month.

"That amount of time and that many people, there were some things that didn't work well. But, you make the best of what you can at that particular time," explains a Red Cross Volunteer.

Lance Allen says for the first couple of nights, they didn't have enough bedding available for all of those people.

"Showers were another weak area. We had to bus our guests down to a local school to get them a shower," recalls Allen.

A few years ago, when the church decided to remodel, members took some of their Katrina-based suggestions into consideration. This Red Cross shelter now has the capacity to house about 300 guests and it has showers.

"We are much better prepared now, no question. They provide a need and you never know when you're going to need that," adds Allen.

Five years later, and MEMA officials are also trying to better prepare themselves in case there is another disaster like Katrina. The state has used the majority of the more than three-billion dollars from the federal government earmarked for Katrina victims. The governor says fewer than 200 temporary cottages remain on the Gulf Coast. He says that means the number of housing units will return to pre-Katrina levels by next year.

"We house countless amounts of water, meals, cots; everything we would need is here on hand," tells a MEMA spokesperson.

Greg Flynn says the 2005 storm also made them re-evaluate their communication lines throughout the state.

"We’re in the process of finishing out the Mississippi wireless network, which will allow emergency responders to communicate via handheld radio from Tupelo all the way to the Mississippi Gulf Coast," comments Flynn.

They also constantly update their training for all of their emergency crews.

"It was easy for people to prepare right after. It’s not as fresh on people's minds, but it still needs to be," expresses Flynn.

And, he says you can never be too prepared.

"Everyone should have a supply kit. At minimum, they should keep water and food enough for three days. And, don't forget about your medications. Those three essentials will get you through until you can get help," adds Flynn.

MEMA officials say they believe they are much better prepared should another Katrina-like disaster hit.