A New Perspective from Biloxi

Mark Banks is a Vermont doctor who is in Biloxi Mississippi working as a American Red Cross mental health worker

Transmitted by telephone on 9/6

The scene here is one of absolute devastation and is totally unbelievable. At any given time there are over 100 tractor trailers and 50 police cruises in sight and a number of helicopters overhead providing a constant sound track to the scene.

I have had a chance to spend time with survivors and their stories were unimaginable....I met one man who bobbed in the water for over eight hours...I worked with another woman who spent hours trapped in her house with a 4 inch air pocket to support her, with a friend who did not survive at her side. In the midst of all that a bright spot; a woman came into the shelter with an unusual last name and I recognized it and remembered that a man had come in with that same name earlier worried that he could not find his wife....I ran to get the man and the reunion was made!

No one is complaining about the government or anything else at this point, they are just trying to survive.

I left just 48 hours ago and I know a lot of people were wondering about whether to donate money or supplies. DONATE MONEY...donated supplies are often being left behind in a very fluid shelter environment and sometimes there is not even enough room for the supplies at the next shelter.

The Red Cross is everywhere and and great things are getting lost in the chaos, people are very appreciative of our efforts.

Mark