> I never met them...know very little about them...but today I rummage through the huge ruble pile that was their home. That they survived is simply amazing. Their trailer was ripped off the twisted frame, then rolled 3 times before landing in a heap of shattered pieces. Adrenaline must have helped her lift the tub she was under about 5 ft from the pile. Neighbors found him sitting in a stuffed chair nearby...white as a ghost & in tremendous pain. x-rays found several broken vertebrae. Their dog was missing for 2 days but finally wandered back. That dog was our constant companion as we sifted through the pile salvaging whatever we could. It's so strange what survived: coffee cup, a goblet, plastic toothpick container, 2 fishing poles & half the tackle box, rolls of TP, random forks & spoons, various tools and 4 four ceramic dinner plates...each found in a different area. We found one dresser drawer with folded clothes in it...and lots of wet, mud covered clothes strewed all over...some caught in fences & others in trees. Deciding what food to keep was trickle. Cans with dents?? Smashed dirty boxed food with sealed insides?? Jars with lids on but 1/2 gone?? Mostly the stench made the decision easy.
> With each find, I felt I got a glimpse of their lives and a great sense of satisfaction knowing I'd rescued a piece of their life for them. Three other trailers laid in heaps nearby. One had been rented by a handicap man who they found caught in a fence. An older home in the back had lost it's roof. The gray haired owner of that was the owner of all the demolished trailers...rental income he relied on.
> We were at one site. There were many others. And have been--as Dexter knows--and will be many more. Random, sporadic, devastating. I can't help them all...but it's the starfish story that brings me peace.
>
> Sent from my iPad
Sunday, February 12, 2017
#11 FEMA Trailers. #12 Great Break Fun #13 Tornado Hits
> #11 FEMA Trailers
> Did I tell ya'll about FEMA trailers?? They are not much to talk about in size but man does the government pay lots for them! Between $120,000 and $170,000 for a 3 bedroom! Then there's the hauling and set up cost...and in less than 18 months....there's the take down and hauling cost. It'll be hauled to usually a farm field where they pay the farmer for storage. We've been told hundreds of these are stored not too far from here in fields & the farmer is making lots more money than they ever made on crops...so at least they are happy! No one knows why the stored ones aren't being used--certainly lots of people around here are in need--guess the qualifying & paper work is just too tough. How ridiculous is that???
>
> #12. Great Break Fun
> After putting up drywall all week, we were ready for a fun break. Sunday eight of us headed down to New Orleans to watch AHV David cross the finish line in the Fun Mardi Gras Half Marathon. He wore a crazy purple/green/gold crown & tie the whole race which earned him the name "Mardi Gras Guy." After enjoying the after party for a bit, we found a Mexican restaurant & then headed back in time to watch the Super Bowl. Next day, Rog & I hit the grocery store to buy picnic food to treat the kids. When they tried to pitch in some $$, Rog said, "Hey we do this for our kids & kids --so we can do it for you too!" We threw the cooler & grill in the van & headed to a beautiful park. Rog & others played some disc golf and then we all gorged on hamburgers & hotdogs, fruit, chips & brownies. Got home around 7. We vegged out in our room while others watch The Lion King...they may be big & strong...but they are kids at heart!
>
> #13. Tornado Hits
> Ten miles away today, more homes were devastated by a tornado and three more hit down between here and New Orleans. Some of the same ones already trying to crawl back from the August, 2016 flood & even some from Katrina. Can they not get a break?? Locals are saying tornadoes are extremely rare here till recently. Fortunately no deaths & few injuries reported. This morning we were on our way to our worksite when we got the call to hunker down somewhere--so pulled into closest place, McD. I was happy till they told me they were out of D.Coke! We hung out there about an hour & half till we got a call to return to base. So spent the afternoon watching the local channel covering the weather & reports of damages & doing odd cleaning jobs. Everyone was feeling the pain of knowing how much hurting was going on
> Did I tell ya'll about FEMA trailers?? They are not much to talk about in size but man does the government pay lots for them! Between $120,000 and $170,000 for a 3 bedroom! Then there's the hauling and set up cost...and in less than 18 months....there's the take down and hauling cost. It'll be hauled to usually a farm field where they pay the farmer for storage. We've been told hundreds of these are stored not too far from here in fields & the farmer is making lots more money than they ever made on crops...so at least they are happy! No one knows why the stored ones aren't being used--certainly lots of people around here are in need--guess the qualifying & paper work is just too tough. How ridiculous is that???
>
> #12. Great Break Fun
> After putting up drywall all week, we were ready for a fun break. Sunday eight of us headed down to New Orleans to watch AHV David cross the finish line in the Fun Mardi Gras Half Marathon. He wore a crazy purple/green/gold crown & tie the whole race which earned him the name "Mardi Gras Guy." After enjoying the after party for a bit, we found a Mexican restaurant & then headed back in time to watch the Super Bowl. Next day, Rog & I hit the grocery store to buy picnic food to treat the kids. When they tried to pitch in some $$, Rog said, "Hey we do this for our kids & kids --so we can do it for you too!" We threw the cooler & grill in the van & headed to a beautiful park. Rog & others played some disc golf and then we all gorged on hamburgers & hotdogs, fruit, chips & brownies. Got home around 7. We vegged out in our room while others watch The Lion King...they may be big & strong...but they are kids at heart!
>
> #13. Tornado Hits
> Ten miles away today, more homes were devastated by a tornado and three more hit down between here and New Orleans. Some of the same ones already trying to crawl back from the August, 2016 flood & even some from Katrina. Can they not get a break?? Locals are saying tornadoes are extremely rare here till recently. Fortunately no deaths & few injuries reported. This morning we were on our way to our worksite when we got the call to hunker down somewhere--so pulled into closest place, McD. I was happy till they told me they were out of D.Coke! We hung out there about an hour & half till we got a call to return to base. So spent the afternoon watching the local channel covering the weather & reports of damages & doing odd cleaning jobs. Everyone was feeling the pain of knowing how much hurting was going on
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