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MRC Responder: David A. Grossman, D.D.S.

MRC volunteers deployed to Gulfport, Mississippi.

I work with the NYC and Nassau County MRCs, and on September 2, 2005, I was deployed to Gulfport, MS, as a Forensic Odontologist member of DMORT. I flew into Atlanta, met up with five other team members, and we drove a few hours to "check in" at a FEMA training center in Anniston, AL. Within hours, we were again on the road, this time as a part of a 14-SUV convoy to Gulfport. This final leg of the trip took about 10 hours, and we arrived at the gates of the Gulfport Biloxi airport after midnight.

Our "camp" was set up in an isolated area inside the airport perimeter, and with no electricity in southern Mississippi, it was pitch black. We were escorted to several large 18-wheel refrigerator ("reefer") trucks parked alongside one another—the same trucks that delivered perishables to supermarkets in a previous life that also would contain the deceased victims until the bodies could be released.

Each refrigerator compartment contained 24 plywood platforms approximately 30 inches wide; these were our "beds." Most of us had no sheets, pillows, blankets or sleeping bags, so with the refrigeration running 24/7, the choice was to sleep in the truck or in a car. You could tell the few that opted for the cars—they were the ones with all the mosquito bites.

There were no bathrooms or running water, but we did have bushes and trees. Our only sustenance the first few days was bottled water and Military "Meals Ready to Eat." Group meetings/briefings were held at 7:00 a.m., when our workday started, and 7:00 p.m., when it ended. We generally rose around 6:00 a.m.—looking back, it was funny to watch everyone walk out in the dark in a different direction to brush their teeth (using bottled water) and to use the "facilities." My breakfast at 6:30 a.m. that first morning was a military version of cheese tortellini in tomato sauce, and as I ate I could not help but think that thousands of southern Mississippi residents would have given almost anything to have the food that I was eating. The destruction in the region was incredible, and most people were without food, water, and a solid roof over their heads.

As time went by, supplies started trickling in to our compound, and a couple of the local stores began re-opening for a few hours each day. We started receiving (or purchasing) blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, canned goods, and snacks. During the second week of my deployment, there was mild excitement when the President's plane landed at our airport, maybe 100 yards from us, but all of the team members went crazy when we received a shipment of ten Port-o-Potties! The support team also converted one of the reefer trucks into a shower truck—four shower stalls complete with running water (once a water truck was brought in)—so we felt like we were at the Four Seasons!

The Logistics and Management Support people were incredible. Within 48 hours, they converted a dilapidated airport hanger building into a fully functional, air-conditioned morgue. Generators were hooked up and used until electric power was restored. I was honored and privileged to work under such adverse conditions alongside forensic experts in numerous fields, including dentistry, pathology, anthropology, and criminology. There were also extremely dedicated funeral directors and support people on the mission. The names of all these individuals will likely never be publicized, but everyone pulled together with one goal—that of a successful mission. At the conclusion of my 2-week deployment, I was proud to note that our goal was accomplished, and it was a great feeling to have been a part of this operation.

Last Updated on 5/26/2006