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Wasp Sailors Provide Disaster Relief From Hurricane Isabel

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS031001-06

Release Date: 10/1/2003 12:49:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Mark Schultz, USS Wasp Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- In the aftermath of hurricane Isabel in September, Sailors aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) volunteered their time to help their shipmates recover from the damage.

In the Hampton Roads area, thousands of people were left without power, without water and a big mess. Trees were uprooted, branches littered yards, and homes were left with wind and water damage.

Volunteers were divided into working parties and sent out each morning. Master-at-Arms 1st Class (SW/AW) Marvin McDonald and Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) (AW) Mark Nelson were just two of the many people who were helped by this service.

A crew of seven volunteers headed to Portsmouth recently to help McDonald remove a 75-foot pecan tree that was uprooted during the hurricane.

"The help was greatly appreciated," said McDonald. "I would have had to wait several weeks for a company to come out and remove the tree."

Assistance isn't random. Heading up volunteer efforts, Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Leeroy Ybarra, of Groesbeck, Texas, coordinated volunteer crews and work requests. He made sure there were enough volunteers to complete a job and that the necessary tools were available.

"I am making this as organized as possible," said Ybarra. "Volunteers are using their own personal gear and vehicles."

"Wasp is organizing this so the whole ship has the opportunity to help out," said Airman Jaclyn Russell, a volunteer. "This makes it really easy for people to get the help they need."

"I have eight teams totaling about 40 volunteers," said Ybarra. "Everyone needs a chainsaw, and we only have two, so I put them where they are needed most."

Many volunteers have been through major storms before. Of the seven volunteers at McDonald's house, three have gone through natural disasters.

"My house flooded three years ago, and we lost a lot," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Tamara Hirschfield of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, another volunteer. "It was heart wrenching."

"I grew up in Florida with hurricanes and tornadoes," said Russell. "I've seen what these storms can do."

For Wasp volunteers, "it's about more than experience, it's about philanthropy," said Hirschfield.

"I've got the tools to help," said Engineman 1st Class (SW) Eugene Kleinfelter. "I've been cutting trees since we pulled back into port. The shock is over, now I just attack them."

"Why not," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class (SW/AW) Stephanie Russell of Orlando, Fla. "This morning when I volunteered, I didn't know what we would be doing, but it helps build rapport with other Sailors."

That same day, a team of five volunteers headed to Yorktown, Va., to help Nelson, clean up his yard.

"There are 16 trees down in my backyard, each between four and 35 inches in diameter," said Nelson. "We worked for about five hours nonstop and cleared about half the debris, cutting it up with a chainsaw and dragging it to the street."

With the assistance of volunteers, Sailors and their families were able to get back to their normal routines sooner and save money. The devastation brought by hurricane Isabel ruined houses and yards, left thousands without power, and shut down businesses and schools. But even the force of this storm wasn't enough to dampen the spirits of Sailors aboard Wasp.