What I did on my summer vacation

So this disaster wasn't the earth shattering ordeal that Katrina and Rita were. Each person down here who lost their home went through pure hell. Many here are still going through that. Don't for one minute think that I would ever diminish that. I haven't lived through it, but I've walked through the aftermath and stood there while the people told me what they lost.

This was different. We were on the end of this disaster where there were a few people whose homes were destroyed, but most had flooded basements. For most people I worked with, this disaster was a nuisance, not a nightmare. It's hard to feel much gratification for helping people when you really didn't.

But hey...I learned a lot about local/state/federal politics and the dynamics of a declared disaster. I can see this scenario in my neighborhood where the jurisdiction next door is more urban and is more affected. My jurisdiction next door might be analagous to Washington county. They're declared because all their neighbors are, so they declare the whole lower half of the state.

I will say that I'm proud to work for this organization. FEMA may be f-ed up in many ways, but they bring thousands of people, material, and piles of money into an area and stand up a fortune-500 sized organization in a matter of days and get good work done. These people that I work with are amazing. They're so dedicated to helping and making a positive difference...in spite of what many people think of the organization...and just keep plugging 12 hours a day for months on end. God bless them. Our nation owes them a debt of gratitude. I'm very proud to be part of it.

I'm going home on Tuesday. I miss my wife and kids terribly. I can't wait to get home. I have nothing wanting to keep me here in wisconsin like I did in Texas. I did what I came here to do...I think I did it honorably and I hope I advanced the art in some small way. I'm ready to go.

Tomorrow I will be closing the work out in Washington county. I will turn my maps and notes and reports and contacts over to the team lead and shove off to some other county to help out for a couple of days until I leave.

I'll be visiting Jen, my partner from Hurricane Rita, on Saturday and her husband and friends. We'll camp and drink some beer and party and generally have a great time. I can't wait. I have made another good friend this trip. Ron, my partner this time is a fantastic guy. Sixty-something, retired, hard working dude. You my boy, Ron!!

I'll try to make a couple more entries before I get, but we're pretty close to done.

Thanks, Wisconsin...I enjoyed your state. You're all very familiar, good people.

Michigan still makes better beer, though.