Since the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Raytheon employees have been rushing to support relief efforts, through financial contributions and volunteer efforts. The following first hand account was written by Raytheon Network Centric Systems (NCS) employee Tim Morton, who recently accompanied his neighbor on a mission of mercy to bring supplies to those suffering from the effects of one of the United States’ worst natural disasters.

Our plan was to take a trailer load of hurricane relief supplies from Orlando, Fla. to Ocean Springs, Miss. We had been in contact with a Rotary Club chapter that was working with local volunteers to distribute aid. They rerouted us to Gulfport, [Miss.], where the items we were bringing were more sorely needed.

On the way across the Panhandle, we met a Florida Highway Patrol trooper who gave us a tip to avoid an 11-mile backup on Interstate Highway 10 North of Pascagoula, [Miss.], by jumping off the interstate and taking U.S. Highway 90. The trooper also warned us twice "to be careful."

Just east of Tallahassee, [Fla.], there were signs warning that there was a fuel shortage west of the capital. There was practically no diesel in between Tallahassee and Pensacola, [Fla.], but Pensacola had plenty and it appeared that Mobile, [Ala.], was well stocked.

We stopped in Pensacola for a bathroom break and to clean the bugs off the windshield. It's September and the bugs are heavy in the Panhandle right now. At that stop we met a guy heading back into Gulfport with a car in tow and a large moving van filled with supplies. He made a terse comment. "Some people say [Hurricane] Camille was worse. During Camille, I had water 4-feet deep at my place. Katrina brought in 19 feet of water. You do the math. I have been through a lot of storms and told my wife, ‘just pile everything on the tables; it will be fine until we get back.’ Nobody could have foreseen this storm hitting so hard."

We started seeing storm damage in Mobile: the scenes we all know in Florida of trees down and some sheet metal wrapped around poles. It was especially sad to see the USS Alabama listing to her side.

When we crossed into Pascagoula, to the north, we saw a shrimp boat that had been washed on top of a building. That's a fairly large vessel of the same type made famous in the movie Forrest Gump. As we hit land on the west side, the smell of rotting sea life was overpowering. We started to see more and more damage and realized this was the beginning of "Ground Zero." There were 60-foot sailboats in the woods far from water. The asphalt on the side roads was broken and the classic hurricane tree debris was piled on the streets. Churches were hit hard. Most were either missing their roofs and steeples or they were blown over. Many had all of their pews in the parking lots. I don't know if this was to allow them to dry out or if they were holding services in the lots … probably both.

The closer we got to Gulfport, the more intense the damage. However, it was different from what we encountered with [Hurricanes] Charley, Frances and Jeanne. There were not so many trees down, but for some reason the leaves were all brown. I believe that was from the influx of salt water; it killed the leaves. Instead of every street having tree debris lining the curbs, they were piled 6-feet high with personal belongings. Everything you could imagine that would be in someone's home was on the street … all ruined by flood waters.

The [National] Guard was out in force and planes were landing at Keesler [Air Force Base].

Power was restored sporadically. But south of U.S. 90, it's still utter destruction. There is a curfew in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

We delivered our supplies of clothing, bedding, food, diapers, over-the-counter medicines, hygiene products, etc., to a command center at Harrison County High School on state Route 49. As we went through the security checkpoint manned by the Georgia National Guard, the soldier asked if we had any weapons. Harrison High was being managed by the Guard and supported by volunteers.

We were a bit disappointed in our initial reception. After 11 hours on the road, folks were just not happy to see us. We quickly realized that they had been working out in the sun loading and unloading supplies for days. They were just worn out.

It took us nearly three hours to get the stuff unloaded and sorted by type of clothing, bedding, food, etc.

While we were unloading a big moving van, a couple of school buses, and a small pickup truck pulling a trailer from Tennessee showed up. These folks brought a couple dozen people along with medical supplies, building materials, and a big, old generator. They were super organized, unloaded their vehicle faster than ours, and started giving tetanus shots out right away.

A neighbor had given us special supplies and some money to give to her cousin in Gulfport. Laurie was supposed to meet us, but we kept getting her voice mail. I am afraid that her batteries are probably dead on her cell [phone]. Unfortunately, we could not find her to give her the money and items. She really needs the stuff; her home is gone.

We took some pictures of the delivery and the command center, but I just didn't want to take pictures of the destruction. It just didn't feel right. It was different with Charley and the others. So many people lost everything, I just couldn't see a good reason to keep the pictures.

We met several folks on the way out who had gone to Florida, Georgia and other places to get supplies to rebuild. They were resolute on going back and rebuilding their lives.

I guess I sort of expected a lot of the same type of damage we experienced [in Florida]. I was not prepared for the utter devastation across such a wide area. There are just so many folks who lost everything. We talked to three home owners who showed us pictures of the foundations of their former homes. It will be tough, but they will rebuild. They consider themselves lucky. They got out with their lives and the lives of their families. Many did not.

Charley and the other two storms knocked us down when they hit. Katrina put the Gulf Coast in the hospital on life support. I feel pretty sure that they will rebuild, but it will take years and years and it will never be the same.

These folks are going to need help for a long time. Anything you can do to relieve just a bit of the suffering is sorely needed. It doesn't matter who you give to. Anything will be helpful.

[Tim is a systems engineering lead at Raytheon Network Centric Systems in Orlando, Fla.]

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