They came from all over the state to spend their day off work, toiling in the humidity, organizing sacks and boxes of medical supplies.
They dealt with lots and lots of sacks and boxes.
You'll be grateful, though, if you're on the receiving end of a tornado or hurricane or some other natural disaster.
They are the Mississippi Medical Reserve Corps, a non-profit organization of trained responders who are pre-trained health-care professionals.
"Simply put, we are the first group to come in and help while waiting on the state and federal response units to be activated and deployed," said Dr. Anita Batman, commander of the 50-member group.
On Saturday the group met to inventory medical supplies and pack trailers to prepare for the 2006 hurricane season, which begins June 1.
The supplies come from a variety of sources. For example, Pearlington Clinic closed down recently and donated its medical supplies to the group.
Once the group receives the supplies, they bring them to Batman's mother's house in Greenwood. The group has yet to find a warehouse where they can store the goods.
They had asked the city for use of the old fire station on Claiborne but were told no.
Knowing the hurricane season is about a month away, Batman and the other 49 or so emergency responders gathered for a training and work day Saturday to take inventory, organize and pack the supplies.
The Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University studies hurricanes and makes predictions for upcoming seasons.
Led by William Gray and Phil Klotzbach, the department has issued its report for the 2006 hurricane season.
In the study, the scientists predict that the Gulf Coast, including the panhandle of Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana have a 47 percent chance of being hit by a category 3, 4 or 5 storm during the upcoming season.
Hurricane Katrina swept onto land as a category 3.
The response corps reported to the Mississippi Gulf Coast as first responders last summer. This year, they know more and are better equipped, thanks to several corporate sponsors, including Viking Range Corp., the American Legion, Staplcotn and J&W Trucking.
But the group needs more help. Lanny Prichard, a retired physician from Inverness, listed tents, a generator and any other medical supplies that can be spared.
"It's a best-kept secret," Prichard said of the corps.
Volunteers don't get paid for their time or mileage. They work under extreme conditions and they receive very little glory.
Yet, they do it.
