 The city established a Department of Homeland Security ( <unk> ) shortly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 , becoming the only local <unk> in the state . The team <unk> an area of nine counties . Upon receiving $ 2 @.@ 5 million in grants from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and other organizations , the department began training law enforcement offices from other Southern states in passenger rail rescue as well as offering civilian classes in basic <unk> , Boy Scout first aid and hunting , and firearms training . The <unk> helps during times of crisis such as Hurricane Ivan in September 2005 , when the department helped establish and support shelters for 700 <unk> . The city now serves as the leader of one of the task forces in the Mississippi <unk> , a combination of three nine @-@ county teams . 
