20 years later: Post-Katrina mission sticks with Marion Fire official

AI-assisted summary

Robert W. Graff, current Marion County Fire Rescue deputy chief of operations, recounts his experience as a first responder after Hurricane Katrina.

Deployed with Florida USAR Task Force 8 to Biloxi and Bay Saint Louis, Graff describes the widespread devastation, including destroyed homes and debris-filled streets.

Working in oppressive heat and humidity, the team conducted search and rescue operations, witnessing the human suffering and resilience of the survivors.

Graff recalls the eerie silence of the neighborhoods, the faces of those they helped, and the small reminders of the lives disrupted by the storm.

It was 20 years ago when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans with devastating winds and massive flood waters. The storm destroyed a region and killed many