We left MI after several weeks of nothing but clouds and rain and cold. Actually saw snow several times and we were ready to head South. It didn’t get warm until Tennessee. The corn and soybeans in Indiana were being harvested and also the cotton and peanuts in Alabama . The cotton fields were stunning, miles of white. In Southern AL the hurricane had almostly stripped the fields.
Our intermediate destination was Port St. Joe, on the FL panhandle. We try to stop here every year for a time out from MI and FL. The State park we like is (was) at the end of a peninsula. Now it’s an island. This year instead of a time out, we came to help with the hurricane recovery. I have to say that the difference between the tv footage and press write ups, even driving through a disaster area, are nothing until you get one- on- one with the victims. I was unable to set up any sort of pre arranged work assignments, so we just showed up at the Gulf County Courthouse. We had job assignments within minutes. Food was our first job, receiving, sorting and distribution. (apparently disaster victims have dental issues. We received enough toothpaste and toothbrushes to supply the county for the next 15 to 20 years)
The volume and variety of foodstuffs coming in was fascinating. Mixed loads from churches and schools, to specific items from corporate donors. Even individuals bringing van and truck loads.
I had issues with my new chainsaw the first day, but with some excellent help from the Forest Service I was up and running on day two. I was given a list of elderly homeowners with trees down. One of my biggest problems was that many of the streets signs were blown away as well as house numbers on mail boxes (if the box was still there). Thank God for gps.
The tree work is interesting. The southern pines are huge, several times the downed trees involved three backyards. I’m going to smell of pine sap for the foreseeable future. My start time at Disney was pushed back a bit so we’re going to stay here for a few more days.
Our housing in the RV worked out well. The first night was the courthouse parking lot, we then learned of a RV Park/Resort that the recovery workers had “adopted” The resort part is gone, but the water and power are up and running for the RV parking. Basically we’re squatters. And it’s beachfront. A huge thank you to the owner for allowing us to squat.
The recovery effort is massive. In the two weeks since Michael hit, the power companies, just in Gulf County, have put up hundreds of miles of line, if not thousands. Debris removal is a world of its own. Tandem truck trailer combinations with a grapelling arm are everywhere. All day and into the night. In the surge zone, every house has ALL of the contents, (everything) sitting at the curb. Trees, carpet, all appliances, mattresses, sheetrock, siding, furniture, and of course personal possessions line every street.
Day 7
This has been the most educational experience for me, on several levels. The people that live here are so amazingly resilient and upbeat. They have lost everything or suffered major damage to their homes and are immediately on the path to rebuilding and recovering. The recovery volunteers and organizations were on site immediately and the numbers swelled by the day. They were all so giving, efficient, and thoughtful. They’ve come here from all over the country, bringing all sorts of talents and in many cases, equipment. The rebuilding process started almost as some as the skies cleared. The most important thing that I noticed was how vital the information distribution infrastructure is. Where are the different agencies are located, where the shelters, food, supplies, tarps are sited .(there was even a plane towing a banner with an assistance phone number) It is going to take years to get things back to the way they were a month ago.
Random observations; Some of the downed trees were the result of a West or North wind, the majority were downed by an East wind. A friend went into a ravaged home for the homeowner. In the three weeks since the hurricane, the mold was 3 inches thick in some areas. He was in hazmat gear. Some of the downed timber is being harvested and trucked to the mills. I was glad to see it happening as there are millions of usable trees down. The little donations of a church or school really add up. There are so many of them, that the end result is massive. On a bright note, I saw numerous monarchs foraging for flowers.
The road North of Port St. Joe
these are the trash trucks. There is a grappling arm so it can load itself
This is the distribution building where Anne worked. Am amazing amount and variety of things coming in daily
These are Southern Yellow Pine
I learned to know them well.
Handicap parking enforcement was suspended
Leading into main street, Port ST Joe
