Oxford resident Mark Harries has a first-hand account of the devastating effect Hurricane Katrina had on the Gulf Coast and that picture will stay in his mind forever.
‘The only way I can describe it is like a war zone,? he said. ‘Destroyed buildings. The smell was unreal.?
Just last Tuesday, Harries and about 10 officers from different police stations in Oakland County, traveled down to New Orleans to drop off some much needed supplies to local law enforcement officials already down there.
Michigan-based police agencies, like the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department and the Michigan State Police, headed down south a couple of weeks ago to aid in rescuing residents and called back up to Michigan for more supplies, like batteries, clothing, water and surgical gloves.
Harries, a security officer at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, was asked on Monday to join the caravan by an officer from the Franklin Police Department, who also works at Beaumont.
‘I can’t say enough about the support I got from my wife because this came up on such short notice,? he said.
Twenty hours later, Harries and police from Southfield, Royal Oak and Birmingham were standing in the eye of the storm.
After dropping off the supplies, he and the other officers got to help local law enforcement patrol District 6, looking for looters and survivors in the heart of New Orleans.
‘It was the experience of a lifetime,? he said. ‘It’s an opportunity most people never think they’d have.?
Armed with a bullet-proof vest and gun, Harries said he didn’t feel any danger, but had a sort of adrenaline rush.
Harries said the local police departments have been lodging at the State Police barricks in Baton Rouge and using a Wal-Mart as their headquarters.
Their original headquarters was completely destroyed by the flooding.
The city looked like a ghost town with abandoned cars and homes, according to Harries.
‘It was like a movie where people just disappeared off the face of the earth,? he said.
He said some residents were still refusing to leave their homes.
‘These people were saying ‘This is all I have. I’ve got nowhere to go,?? he said.
Harries said his group even came across abandoned pets and worked in cooperation with the ASPCA (Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to rescue them.
There were many different volunteer groups seen helping relief efforts in New Orleans, but Harries said not just anyone could show up to help.
‘They’ve got roads closed like military check points that you have to go through,? he said.
He advises anyone wanting to just drive down and help out to call ahead and be prepared in finding a place to stay.
‘They won’t just let anybody in,? he said.
With all of the devastation Harries saw, he said it made him realize how good he’s got it here in Oxford.
‘We live in such a beautiful area here. This house isn’t a mansion by any means, but it really let me see what I have here and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,? he said. ‘I’m glad I did it and if I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t hesitate.?