Mississippi Sends More Help To Superstorm Ravaged East Coast

PEARL, Miss. -- Six more Mississippians left MEMA’s headquarters in Pearl today headed to the Northeast to help with storm recovery.

I got a chance to talk with Todd DeMurth right before he loaded up to head out. “We are honored to go help the citizens of Maryland as a return favor,” he proudly told me.

Maryland was among those who sent workers to Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. DeMurth says right now they are not sure exactly what they will do in Maryland when they arrive Wednesday. “ We’ll do what every they ask us to do. We are very capable; and we will take a dose of hard work.”

So far more than 40 Mississippians have been sent to help with recovery efforts. And more are on standby. “We are preparing to send an additional 12 individuals, I believe, as part of a (PA) Public Assistance, (IA) Individual Assistance to assist the state in accessing the damage,” said MEMA Executive Director Robert Latham.

According to MEMA, all cost associated with the deployment will be reimbursed by the state requesting their help.