News - Weather - Hurricane

Monday, Nov. 09, 2009

Police ready; tanks positioned for rescues

Deputies moved tanks into low-lying areas of Jackson County on Monday and several of the Coast’s first-responder agencies brought in additional personnel in advance of Tropical Storm Ida’s landfall.

The tanks are armored personnel carriers, designed to carry soldiers safely to a battlefield.

“We’ve got three of them and that’s the only way we got around after Hurricane Katrina,” said Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd. “We’ve moved them into position in case the water rises and we need to get people out of low-lying areas.”

With Jackson County the most likely Coast region closest to landfall, Fire Services Coordinator Ray Watson brought in an additional shift overnight for each of the county’s volunteer fire stations.

“We’re looking primarily at coastal flooding and maybe some freshwater flooding,” Watson said.

The Mississippi Army National Guard has deployed about 50 soldiers to the Gulf Coast to help during and after Ida’s landfall. Rescue teams and vehicles are stationed in all three counties to provide evacuation and search-and-rescue operations. Those missions will be assigned by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

About 7,500 soldiers and airmen are available if more support is needed.

“Our forces are fully trained and prepared to deal with hurricanes and other natural or manmade disasters,” said Maj. Gen. William L. Freeman Jr., adjutant general of Mississippi.

Pascagoula Police Chief Kenny Johnson said rising water is the main concern.

“We anticipate we’ll have some street flooding and flooding around harbors, rivers and drainage canals, Johnson said. “We’ve deployed barricades for use as needed, but we won’t be blocking any streets until it becomes unsafe to pass. We’re asking that anyone who sees a barricade in place take an alternate route.”

“We’ve brought in some extra folks and we are hoping everyone hunkers down and rides it out at the house,” Johnson said. “If people are out milling around, they will probably have a chat with police.”

Hancock County Sheriff Steve Garber surveyed flood-prone areas Monday and then called in night-shift personnel to double up with his day shift.

“We’re beefing up our patrols in low-lying areas and paying attention to tides and how the weather turns out,” Garber said. “I don’t think it will be bad, but we don’t want to take any chances.”

In Harrison County, Sheriff Melvin Brisolara said he had plans ready if needed, including putting more patrol cars on the road.

“If we need to move inmates out of temporary buildings into the jail facility, we can make the move within an hour,” Brisolara said.

Gulfport Fire Chief Pat Sullivan advised that fallen power lines could be a safety issue. Anyone who sees a downed power line is urged to stay away and to contact their power company or local law enforcement agency.

Harrison County Fire Service moved its fire trucks from the flood-prone Henderson Point on Sunday and took them to DeLisle, said Coordinator George Mixon.