Initially, we received a request from the Florida Department of Health to provide crisis responders to provide group/individual defusings to first responders, including DOH medical personnel in Stennis, MS. We sent in an Advanced team of 7 to begin this work but also to assess the needs of first responders. As a result, a team of 12 was sent in after this team and continued work at both the "base camp" in Stennis, but also did great outreach to law enforcement and firefighters in places like Biloxi, Diamond Back, Ocean Springs, Waveland, Perlington, etc. One great story out of this is that the Team Manager on the second team, who in her regular job is a Lieutenant with one of the Sheriff's Offices in FL, was able to secure two firetrucks and 9 patrol cars for the "locals" who had lost these vehicles during Katrina!

The other assignment was a request from Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) who was tasked with staffing the "decontamination" site in Pascagoula, MS. A team of 6 arrived for opening day and provided group/individual debriefings to all first responders (including the medical personnel under ESF8) as they ended their missions and were preparing to return home. We then sent in a team of 7 to replace that team (team included 3 responders from Missouri). We currently have two Florida responders and 4 Ohio responders on the 3rd team at that location. The third team has diversified a bit, as things have really slowed down at the site. Hence, a few went to help at DRC and a few went to Stennis to help the team there---which I will discuss next in next paragraph! This team has also made contact with the FEMA firefighters positioned in Jackson County and it is likely that they will want same "companioning" as noted below.

Team 2 of Stennis made contact with Mark Ackerman - in charge of FEMA firefighters. As a result, a team was sent to "companion" firefighters as they went into communities to do their assignments. Also, this team provided group/individual debriefings to Lockheed Martin employees returning to work. That was a team of 4 Florida and we pulled two Missouri responders from other site. A new team arrived yesterday - 6 from Florida and 1 from Ohio.

Hope that helps! Have a great day!

Cheryl

Our project is moving along quickly now and it feels quite exciting. We feel we have to let you know about some of the "behind the scene" key players (or should I say workers!) that are doing so much to assist us in this mission. First of all Bonnie Tolerico our agency director has been our biggest supporter and we thank her for this. When Mary & I got a close up look at our RV (soon to be Mobile Command Unit) we realized we could use some help with the driving. Our co-worker Ron Battista heard about this and offered to help us. Ron has a CDL and is an EMT so we knew he was the guy for the job. Ron will be our main driver on the way down and will fly back home. Now, another positive factor in having Ron along on this mission is his wife Arlene's wonderful cookies! We are anticipating a bag full of treats from our main baker, and no, that is not the reason we accepted Ron's offer of help.

Next and just as valuable is our very own Tom Frisk. We realized the donation organization needed someone who knew what they were doing so Tom stepped up to the plate. Tom has been officially designated as Donation Coordinator. Gotta run at this time. Stay tuned and come along with us to the gulf area.

Our estimated date of departure: September 18th or 19th

Our destination: Biloxi, MS

(Both are subject to change)

9/20/05

Hello Everyone! Just a note to let you know the RV NOVA Team from Wayne County has not departed yet. Yes, we are still heading south but not quite yet! Ashley Chevrolet continues to work diligently on our RV; they have found a few problems that they are working on, and hope to have everything completed by tomorrow. We really appreciate how hard they are working to make sure we have a safe vehicle.

Our tentative departure date is for Thursday morning, 9/22/05. Initially we were disappointed that we could not get going sooner but realized everything happens for a reason, even though we don't know what that reason is. Perhaps we are being kept out of harm's way with Hurricane Rita gaining strength in the gulf area. We're sitting ready and willing and will leave as soon as we're able!

Thank you again for all the donations that continue to come in. We appreciate everything and know they will be put to good use. The response from all the different school districts was tremendous. Thanks to every student who painted a cool picture or made a card or even signed a poster. We can't wait to deliver them to the hurricane victims. We were so touched by these heartfelt messages and we know that the people that receive them will really appreciate them.

Hopefully our next message will be from the road!

9/21/2005

As we start our Journey to the Gulf Coast we would like to provide you with a brief history of how this mission got started. As a result of the September 11th terrorist attack, the Department of Health began training community agency professionals around the country to respond to crises that might occur in their own communities. Several people from Wayne County were trained by NOVA.

It was a very intense weeklong training that most participants hoped they would never use. Unfortunately, the need for trained responders has never been as great as it is with the current situation in Louisiana and Mississippi. The two of us, Mary Paladino and Jeanette Greig, from the Wayne County Drug and Alcohol Commission, were contacted by NOVA recently. We had successfully completed the NOVA training several years ago and now have been asked and have agreed to make the trip to Biloxi, Mississippi. We will be providing emotional support for survivors, medical professionals, first responders, and Salvation Army workers. Our Commissioners have given their full support of this assignment to help our fellow Americans and we sincerely appreciate that.

As soon as the request was made, our Crises Response Team (CRT) began to set the wheels in motion – literally and figuratively. An inquiry was made about an RV sitting idle for some time. When the owner, Mr. Lou Esposito, was told why we were interested in his RV, he generously donated it to NOVA, who will be using it as a mobile command center. Getting this vehicle ready for this long journey has taken the ingenuity and generosity of many people. Northeast Towing donated their services and towed the RV to Ashley Chevrolet who volunteered to service it. The Wayne County Prisoners did an excellent job cleaning the inside.

As we await the final obstacles being cleared such as insurance, transfer of title, and other minor details, the donations continue to pour in. This community never ceases to amaze us in terms of their generosity and support. Please go to "Donations Needed Update" to see the tremendous generosity of our community. You will also find a list of items that are still needed should you be interested in making a donation.

We hope you will follow us on this important mission by checking this website since we will be keeping you posted.

Mary & Jeanette

9/21/2005 Good-Bye Wayne County and friends!! We are scheduled to pull out of Ashley Chevrolet tomorrow morning - Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8 am. At this time our destination is Biloxi, MS but we were told that at some point the RV (soon to be Mobile Command Unit) will be going to the Baton Rouge mortuary. We are loaded down with office supplies, food, beverages and personal items; all thanks to this great community. We send a special thank you to everyone for your donations, well wishes and prayers. A special thank you goes to our co-workers and families who are so very supportive of this mission while having to carry our burden in our absence.

If you would like to see us off, come to Ashley tomorrow morning! Again, come along! Hopefully we will be posting some pictures soon!!!

Signing off . . . Mary, Ron & Jeanette