Publication:Navy Annual 2005/Hurricane Katrina Relief
BY LIEUTENANT COMMANDER MAX MULLER, RAN
Hurricane Katrina cut a swathe of destruction through the southern United States of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama in September 2005. in the midst of the activity was Lieutenant Commander Max Muller, a Royal Australian Navy Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer, currently serving on exchange with the united states Navy Mine Warfare Command in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Given three hours notice to pack his sea bag, he deployed to the disaster area onboard the Australian built high speed catamaran, HSV2 Swift. Transiting at 40 knots, the Swift has proven true to her name, providing rapid logistic support and troop transport to the hurricane-affected areas. LCDR Muller, RAN and LEUT John Porter, USN disembarked Swift in Pensacola, Florida, with a mission to locate a suitable Forward Operating Base (FOB) for Naval Special Clearance Team (NSCT) One, along with us, Canadian and French dive salvage and harbour survey teams along the Mississippi river.
Amongst vast piles of debris, smashed bridges, freeways and flooded urban areas, the reconnaissance team set about their task, spending five days in some of the worst affected areas conducting aerial and ground surveillance. After numerous watery dead-ends, the pair's efforts eventually paid significant dividends. With the support of a local county sheriff, they established the first eastern route into New Orleans suitable for logistic transport vehicles.
A convoy of NSCT One 20-tonne trucks and trailers was the first to use the route, escorted by Lieutenant Commander Muller, RAN, and Lieutenant Porter, USN, and they supported bulldozers to clear away debris and members of a Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT) provided force protection.
It is an overwhelming experience to witness the scale of devastation but also rewarding to provide some assistance towards what will be a very long-term recovery program.
