[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 152 (Wednesday, November 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S12943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PROFILES IN COMPASSION: IOWANS PITCH IN TO HELP VICTIMS OF KATRINA

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, Iowans are a big hearted, generous people, 
especially toward people in need. And citizens of my State proved this, 
once again, by extending a helping hand to the victims of Hurricane 
Katrina. Some Iowans as individuals or in organized groups--traveled 
directly to the region to give assistance in their areas of expertise. 
Other collected funds and supplies to send to the gulf coast region. 
Still others helped to welcome more than 1,400 evacuees who made their 
way to Iowa. And, of course, countless Iowans reached into their bank 
accounts to contribute to the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and other 
organizations participating in the relief effort.
  I would like to mention at least a few of the individuals and groups 
that went far beyond the call of duty in the aftermath of Katrina.
  Even before Katrina made landfall--within 2 hours of receiving an 
emergency call--the Iowa-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team based in 
Kirkwood, IA, began making its way to the gulf. Commanded by Dave 
Wilson, this team of rapid-response medical professionals set up 
headquarters in Bay St. Louis and Waveland, MS. In the first 14 days 
after the Hurricane hit, they took care of more than 2,700 patients. 
Their facilities were equipped to care for only 125 patients a day, 
but, on some days, the team cared for as many as 450 people.
  Another Disaster Medical Assistance Team from Iowa, this one 
consisting of 30 members, helped to turn an abandoned hospital in Baton 
Rouge, LA into a full-fledged emergency room hospital. Key members of 
this team were Beth Boyd of Nevada, IA; Melissa Groet of Oskaloosa; and 
Kevin Long of Des Moines. A smaller crew from this DMAT team, all of 
them environmental health experts, deployed to rural Louisiana where 
they played a critical role in getting public water systems back 
online.
  Some 140 members of the Iowa Army and Air National Guard deployed 
from Camp Dodge to the gulf region in a convoy of fuel tankers, water 
tankers, food and water trucks, and other much-needed equipment. Dubbed 
``Joint Task Force Iowa,'' their mission was to provide medical, 
logistics, and water-purification support in Mississippi. In addition, 
the 185th Air Refueling Wing of the Iowa National Guard provided 
evacuation, transport, security, and fuel-handling missions from its 
base in Sioux City.
  Meanwhile, back in Iowa, thousands of Iowans went into action in 
those initial days and weeks after Katrina hit the gulf. For example, 
the Iowa Jaycees collected enough supplies to fill 20 semi tractor 
trailers bound for Louisiana. Half of the semis carried clean drinking 
water, and the others carried diapers, baby wipes, batteries, hygiene 
products, canned food, and much more, all bound for Louisiana. Jaycee 
chapters all across Iowa contributed to this magnificent effort.
  So many individual Iowans stood out as profiles in compassion during 
this difficult time. For example, Pastor Rod Bradley of the True Bible 
Baptist Church personally made three trips by car to pick up evacuees 
in Gonzales, LA. Wesley Jones traveled from Iowa to the gulf to help 
clear away debris. And school children in LeClaire, IA, helped evacuee 
children to adjust to their new school, and sold homemade bracelets to 
raise money for the evacuee families.
  Mr. President, obviously, these are just snapshots. I cannot possibly 
name all the people from my State who gave generously of their time, 
talents, and energy to assist the victims of Katrina. Thousands of 
Iowans opened their hearts, their homes, and their pocketbooks. I 
simply want to take this time to thank them--the named and the unnamed 
for their amazing response to this tragedy. They have done Iowa proud, 
and I am deeply grateful to them for their service and sacrifice.

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