Helping: Utahns find survivors as hope wanes

Another challenge to adapt to is the heat and humidity.

"(It's) not what Utah boys are used to. It's not the best conditions to work under," he said.

Search and rescue

The Urban Search and Rescue Team is a self-sustaining unit, meaning it provides its own food and water, and sleeps in tents when necessary to avoid using up resources in the areas the team is helping. In some cases, Sandstrom said, logistics personnel are forced to drive 120 miles each day just to find food and water for the search team.

"It's been a long trip," Sandstrom said. "It's been a very emotional thing for rescuers."

But Sandstrom said it has also been very rewarding, especially when the residents they are trying to help are the ones who try to offer them water for their hard work. Unlike reports about some areas of New Orleans, rescuers in Mississippi do not worry about being shot at by residents.

"The people are happy to see us. They have treated us wonderfully," he said.

Sandstrom said his team expects to be home by the weekend.

"We're glad we're here, but we wish we hadn't had to come here," he said.

Guard in action

Utah National Guard soldiers are saving lives every day in the storm-ravaged New Orleans area, Maj. Hank McIntire said.

Together, 16 soldiers from Utah's 19th Special Forces Group 1st Battalion joined with Alabama's 20th Special Forces Group to rescue over 3,000 people.

"They are fully engaged in rescuing people off of rooftops, getting people out of buildings, and doing anything else that is needed," McIntire said.

The soldiers arrived in New Orleans Saturday and are specially trained in water rescues and are assisting in the massive search-and-rescue effort throughout New Orleans. The group brought with them Zodiac boats, kayaks and scuba gear. They were expected to be in the city for at least two weeks.

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