“We are here to help,” said Bill Carrington of the American Red Cross.

Carrington is a member of one of the many National Red Cross teams

deployed to service Southwest Mississippi and Southeast Louisiana

following Hurricane Gustav.

Carrington, of Kentucky, said he is traveling with two other team

members, Shirley Patterson, also from Kentucky, and local volunteer

Earline Parker. Carrington said Parker received her training through

the Red Cross to handle disasters and provide assistance following the

incident.

The group arrived the first day following Hurricane Gustav and they hit

the ground running. The three-person team will service Pearl River

County. Yesterday they were spotted riding around in “ERV” — The

Emergency Response Vehicle — handing out snacks and water.

Carrington said part of the initial mission is damage assessment. The

group will take an inventory of the local damage and inform

headquarters of the needs of the area. Carrington’s group is reporting

to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter located in Biloxi.

Carrington said he hoped to get the word out about the shelter for

Pearl River County located at Pearl River Resources, 140 Street A, in

Picayune. He said Biloxi also has a shelter available at 2520 Pass

Road.

For more information on shelters or services, call 866-472-8265, or

228-896-4511.