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From press reports:  
     13 Deputies from the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department headed south on Friday to help with the relief work down south. They initially landed in Gulfport and Bay St. Louis Mississippi, but later moved on to Denham Springs, Louisiana. The report indicates that it was very much a grass roots effort within the Sheriff's office. The deputies were determined to contribute. In other words, it is not something they were required to do. They wanted to do it.

From press reports:
     Fort McClellan, a former army base, was removed from the active roles in years past, but much infrastructure remains. Housing has been made available to FEMA for the next two years. Two former barracks and a boiler plant are being spruced up by city personnel. Monday, Labor Day, area volunteers will be on hand to continue the cleanup process including removing brush, cleaning, and sweeping. 140 had signed up by Saturday.
     Preparations to restore water, power, and light is underway. The local Emergency Management Agency expects hundreds to participate. 
Update September 5, 2005: Expectations were still high that more than 1000 volunteers would show up to donate part of their Labor Day vacation time to help make the Fort housing shipshape. Area churches, who are so very important, were expected to kick in refreshments.

From press reports:
      More news regarding Fort McClellan and plans to house upwards of 1000 evacuees... Work to improve the electrical, light and plumbing proceed. Two army barracks are being brought out of mothballs to serve as housing for hurricane Katrina survivors. Each building is 16,400 square feet. The "Joint Powers Authority" who administrates the Fort these days figures 1000 is a good fit, but they could stretch it to 1,500 if necessary. Other buildings on the Fort property could possibly be pressed into service if necessary. The only thing up in the air is drinking water, since the pipes haven't been used for a long time. Water tests will resolve this issue.

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