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NMCB 1 Seabees Assist with Hurricane Recovery in Pass Christian

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050912-06
Release Date: 9/12/2005 4:20:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class (SW) Dennis J. Herring, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1 Public Affairs

GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1, based in Gulfport, Miss., launched Seabees from Construction Battalion Center (CBC) Gulfport Sept. 9 to neighboring communities throughout Harrison and Stone counties in Mississippi to assist its citizens with disaster recovery in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

When CBC Gulfport officials offered Seabee assistance to the community at large, Malcolm Jones, acting mayor of Pass Christian, stepped forward with his town’s need for improvements to an aid distribution station including a large tent to store donated food and supplies. Also with no water and sewer service, the citizens needed a field laundry and shower unit, as well as assistance clearing nearby railroad tracks where a temporary sewer line will be set up.

Many structures in Pass Christian sustained some type of damage, so the fire station was the most suitable facility to store and distribute donated food and supplies. However, the fire department remains extremely busy with recovery efforts, so the Seabees erected a 40-by-80-foot “galley tent” nearby to store and protect donations for people in need.

“The only suitable structure left to distribute everything coming in was the firehouse,” said Builder 1st Class (SCW) Andrew D. Day, the team’s crew leader. “Now they can use this tent as another location to store the donations.”

In addition, five Seabees set up a tent and installed a nine-head shower unit for the firefighters and volunteers. In a similar measure to improve health, sanitation and morale, they also set up a laundry unit designed for field use by the military.

“We had no showers here because our water system is completely down, but now we do,” Jones said. “The sewer line damage will take about two weeks to complete, so the showers and laundry unit will be a temporary facility to serve this part of town.”

Along with the construction of temporary facilities, the Seabees are clearing approximately three miles of railroad track for a temporary sewer line. With an operational sewer system, residents will be allowed to return home sooner.

“The Seabees have done a great job,” Jones said. “They’ve been very helpful here. I’m very pleased with this.”