As they traveled to their destination, the VIP team shared some supplies with more than 4,000 evacuees living in the Birmingham (Alabama) Civic Center. The Governor of Alabama, Bob Riley, was at the Civic Center when they arrived, and thanked them for their assistance.
After speaking with FEMA and the American Red Cross to determine their next destination, the team entered Mississippi. The group dropped some supplies to a relief center in Ocean Springs, Miss., but most of the city’s needs were being met. They decided to keep moving west until they found a community that was in greater need. The Red Cross relayed that the community of Waveland, Miss., (50 miles away) had not been reached yet and was in dire need.
An hour later, the team arrived at their destination. Although the New Orleans area was hit the hardest, the city of Waveland took the direct hit of the Hurricane. The team dropped off water to a retail parking lot where a makeshift command center was being organized. After unloading the goods in the extreme heat and humidity and spending some time with the hurricane victims, the team headed back home completely exhausted, but knowing their efforts had helped those who needed it.
