It’s official: I’m being deployed by the Red Cross. I got the call today that I’m being sent to Biloxi, Mississippi. As soon as I got the word, I called the R.C.’s travel agency to arrange my trip. Turns out they don’t have any flights to the region until Wednesday, so at 9 a.m. on October 12, I’ll be flying into Gulfport, which is close by.
I’ve been assigned to work in sheltering. I’m still hoping to work in (or drive) an ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle), but we’ll see what happens when I get there. I’ll be in Biloxi for three weeks, which means I’ll miss the rest of the baseball playoffs, the World Series, and worst of all, Sari’s birthday. The sacrifices one makes, eh?
This evening I went back to R.C. HQ to finish the paperwork. They gave me an official ID badge and a debit card with $900 on it ($150 to outfit myself before I go, and $250 per week for incidental expenses). I also got a really cool CamelBak drinkable backpack. You know, one of those things that’s filled with water and has a drinking tube. So in the next couple days I’ve gotta get the rest of the things I’ll need down there: a bedroll, lots of sunscreen, and all the other stuff thamesrhodes recommended.
So there you go, it’s really happening. I hope I’ll be able to post frequent updates, but I have doubts about the reliability of Internet service down there.
Outstanding.
Please make sure to keep rigorous notes, journals, and take many pictures. This journey will surely make an incredible comic book story.
What Dino said, and keep a sketchbook. A dry one. Hurricane season ain’t over. Be well.
That’s amazing. Good luck, stay well, and what Dino said!
Good luck Josh. This adventure will not only do your soul well, but most possibly give you your greatest tales yet. Especially experiencing it all alone.
Don’t take no shit from no Hurricanes!
I’ll be thinking of you! for what that’s worth. Awesome
Do your thing!
Godspeed and good luck! Thank you for doing this.
thanks
for all your good wishes, folks!
You fucking go, boy.
Tripping
no need to worry about the baseball playoffs….sniff….
avoid cholera! godspeed!!
Re: Tripping
sorry about the sox, hulkie! there’ll always be 2004…
Congrats. I admire your committment and, literally, your moral caliber. As Dino said, take copious notes. Your experience will be different than many, because you’ll be oberving as you help others, paying more attention to the experience.
I’ll be thinking of you.
lp
Best of luck to you, brave heart.
as they say, godspeed, my dear.