DISASTER PREPARATION

So what have I learned from working on all these disasters? First and foremost, your life can change in an instant from peace and tranquility to disaster and devastation. Secondly, the 72 Hour kit is probably the smartest thing ever devised. http://www.nationalterroralert.com/readyguide/72hourkit.htm We all saw that for the first 3 or 4 days you are probably going to be on your own no matter how near you are to help. Third, is your insurance adequate and for the right kind of damage? Is your insurance company credible and with adequate reserves for disasters? Will they be there when you need them? Fourth, how is your inner strength? Do you have the faith and determination it takes to carry you through the bad times? We are told "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear. " That is a promise. "Bad breaks will not break the man who has spiritual strength" according to one of our spiritual leaders. I talked to many people for six months. Some were total survivors, doing what had to be done, serving others and moving forward. Others were waiting for someone to tell them what to do, where to go and unable to function at any level. If everything you own were taken from you today, including some of your loved ones, how would you fare? I, personally, cannot imagine surviving without all my "stuff" and family surrounding me. But I saw them, those who were just grateful to be alive and thanking the Lord, rather than cursing him. I will never forget one marine who had his own construction company. He was the essence of what we should all be in a time of disaster. But I heard countless stories of those who were not... Something to think about and to prepare for--as we have been told to do...for so many years.

NOW KARLA LEAVES US!

Our Beaumont group dwindles. Karla was called yesterday to go to Napa in California where approximately 1000 homes were damaged in the flooding and landslides of last month. We will miss Karla. She was our Excel expert who created forms for us to use to make our closings and such go a little smoother. Besides that she sings like Janis Joplin! And she is from Ohio! It seems the "out of staters" were called to California and four of us Northern Californians are left in the Beaumont office with our lone Texan Barb, "the closer"! Go figure!

Goodbye, Mary and Deloris

We know we are getting to the end of Disaster Assistance when some of our favorite people are sent home. Mary (on the left) will be going home tomorrow and we will miss her "merry" smile and upbeat spirit. Our social life will probably dwindle as well, she was the one who saw that everyone was included and that we celebrated regularly together. Here our Beaumont group is downstairs at the Hampton Inn with the Orange group saying our farewells to Mary of Beaumont and Deloris (second on left) of Orange. Seen in the forefront of the pix is Dave, Barb, Dean, Mary, Suzanne, Sirdon and Karla and in the rear of the picture is Deloris, Amy, Marlene, and FEMA reps from the Orange office. Supposedly we are still waiting for 4 states to be declared for flooding but evidently there are still too many of us out here. It won't be long and I will be going home, too.

Trip to Galveston and Kemah

So what do you do on a sunny day off from the Beaumont DRC? You drive to Galveston! Mary, Suzanne, Barb and Janet drove to Winnie and then down 73 headed for the ferry and--Lo and behold after driving through a yucky part of Texas you come upon a beach area called Crystal Beach and there are some very lovely streets just a few steps from the beach. Riding on the Ferry from Crystal Beach to Galveston--Children try to be brave enough to hold the bread while the birds swoop down for it. Shopping on the Strand in Galveston is always fun--Mary, Barb and Janet bought bracelets, charms and earrings in a new favorite store The Front Parlor. Posing in front of the warm Gulf across from where Gwenda and Janet lived in Galveston. I was trying to get a picture of the unusual blue and pink Gulf skyline as well as the ladies of SBA on the Boardwalk at Kemah. Beautiful, right? One final thing to end the day--dessert at The Flying Dutchman--only Suzanee resisted--we had Italian Cream Cake and Pecan Pie with Bourbon Sauce. Yum, yum--a fun day.

Happy Birthday! 73 Years Young!

Another birthday on the road. Mary, Suzanne, Sirdon, Dave, and Dean, the other SBA reps from the Disaster Recovery Center, shared my birthday with me at the Country Italian restaurant of Johnny Carino's. I had the grilled salmon which has pecan and sauce on the salad. Really yummy and enough for lunch. My favorite cake is the Red Velvet and it says "Over the Hill" on top of the cake.

 

All of these SBA reps are from the Sacramento area and have been left to serve in the Beaumont, Tx office. The Texans who served with us were called to the fires in north and central Texas.

A Good Change!

Who works for SBA in the Beaumont DRC? Sirdon and Mary from Sacramento.Karla from Ohio and me, of course.

Last week we had some good changes made in the office--Dave was made the Team Lead and we are all enjoying the new peaceful, calm environment we are working in. Dave is from Sacramento.

Suzanne is also from Sacramento.

Here is Mary again with Dean from Sacramento.

Our closer, Barb, is from Fort Worth.

Gwenda went to work in the Austin office and Evanne was sent to the fires in Texas and we will miss them. However, we are all happy with the leadership change. Saturday morning I saw my coworkers walking in with the biggest smiles I have seen in a long time. It was a pleasant, peaceful morning and we all celebrated at Olive Garden!!!

Christmas 2005

 Where I was in 2005!

San Diego

Galveston

Moody Gardens 

Last Weekend in Galveston

This will be the last weekend in Galveston for me. Wednesday I am flying to San Diego, Ca to spend a few days with Linda's family and then over to Jimmy's for Christmas. To celebrate our last weekend Gwenda, my SBA co-worker, and Peggy, our FEMA friend started off to see one of the historic homes in Galveston. Prior to the 1900 hurricane Galveston was the busiest port and many wealthy people resided there. The Greshams built this huge home in 1886 at a cost of

 

$250,000. It has been designated one of the 100 outstanding buildings in America. The interior was carved by German immigrants. The woodwork is rosewood, satinwood, white mahogany, oak, maple and pine. Some of it is that priceless burl unattainable now. The outside was built by Italian immigrants. In 1920 it was sold to the Sacred Heart Church and the Bishop lived there until the Church headquarters were moved to Houston and it was turned into a tourist attraction--and it is something to see. 

We also went to the Gingerbread House to do some fun shopping for Santa Claus rings, Listerine decanters, gorgeous jewelry, unusual umbrellas and many gorgeous things to look at. Then it was time to go to Moody Gardens and see the fish in the aquarium, the birds in the rainforest, a fun Winter musical, and to view the beautiful lights all along the bay and on the grounds. Of course, we had to eat kettle corn, chocolates and such. It was a fun day.

We decided we would have to come back to Galveston from Beaumont where we will be working after Christmas until that DRC closes also--we have just not been able to see it all. Peggy is going home to Louisiana though and who knows when we will see her again. She is a sweetheart.

Year 2005 in Review

As I sit here and view the sunrise in Galveston, Texas I am thinking of my life in 2005. 2004ended with a major snowfall in Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah. All of my living children and grandchildren had gathered for the traditional ski and snowboard Christmas. In total there were about 100 of us gathered there this year as my husband Richard's brother and his family also make their Christmas at Park City. This began in 1976 when Richard had the wonderful idea of a simple, close knit way to spend Christmas. It has been good and rich and we miss Richard and my son John as we open our presents and play our games and remember the past. We are in to the grandchildren skiing now and soon it will be great-grandchildren with all these handsome grandsons and beautiful granddaughters soon to get married. After processing loans in Sacramento for 7 months I came home in April to Lake Almanor and beautiful new wood floors in my home and Bandido waiting for me. Meagan, John's daughter, dressed here as a Thailand princess, had invited me to Hong Kong and Singapore and in May it was a memorable trip. Unfortunately all my pictures are in another place but we have extensive beautiful pictures of Meagan and Matt and I seeing the sights and eating the marvelous foods. Meagan was a terrific host and guide and I will treasure that trip forever. My daughter Linda came up and spent time alone with me in early June--not often a Mom and her daughter who has six children can do that. It was memorable as well. In July, Meagan came to visit for the 4th and then Meagan, Linda and her two children Tanner and Sarah, and Maria's son Mitch all went to my Dad's cabin in Silvergate, Montana, to Yellowstone, and to Jackson Hole, Wy. Unfortunately pictures of all these things are in another place but we had a wonderful time and I am so lucky my grandchildren will travel with me. During the summer new carpet was laid in the bedrooms and significant leveling for a flagstone patio in front of the back deck and then Hurricane Katrina hit and I was off to Sacramento and then Houston and then Baton Rouge where we had an office across the street from Hurricane Katrina victims housed in a huge stadium--and we slept in a gym miles away and then off to ... Port Arthur, Texas where we ran from Hurricane Rita and drove to Tyler in north Texas and then stayed in Fort Worth until we could come back to Houston and then off I went to Spurger, Texas where I braved the heat and humidity and cold and rain to take applications from the victims of Hurricane Rita. On October 29th I was able to be in San Diego, Ca for the wedding of my granddaughter Kristi Pulsipher and her fiance Mike Stewart. The reception in El Cajon was outstanding with lush settings, wonderful food, and fun dancing. Then it was on to Beaumont, Texas where we were meeting with victims from both Hurricane Katrina and Rita. After being the only SBA rep in Spurger it was fun to have other SBA personnel to eat with, talk to, laundry and work with. From there it was on to beautiful Galveston, Texas and a walk on the beach. The year will end with Christmas in Carlsbad with the Jimmy Hardy family and who knows where the New Year will take me. I've already chosen a goal for the year. "Being an Up person in a Down World!" Can I do it?--not sure, will need lots of help. Onward and upwards as they say. 2004 with the death of my son John, and Hurricane Charley, Francis, Jeanne and Ivan was a very tough year and 2005 had its ups and downs so what now...