Where’s FEMA?

At a time like this, we know even more clearly why we live where we do.  The whole community is together working and sharing every asset anyone has to go forward a day at a time.  We are also overwhelmed by the support and care that has poured on to the island once Dorian departed.

We are so fortunate: we have our camper to live in while work goes on.  We didn’t know our camping trip would continue at home.

Next-door Dare County, with damage of their own, has sent sheriff’s department personnel to handle traffic and support issues here.  We have seen fire department people from as far away as Charlotte and EMS vehicles from multiple counties as well as the state itself.

Faith Based organizations are overwhelming.  In one day after the storm, the Salvation Army was here offering three meals a day.  The Baptist Men in Mission have a huge presence with no limits on what they are doing from food to dirty labor. The United Methodist Disaster Relief teams are here; they came to our house yesterday with plans to cut trees and pull down wet insulation from under the house where it is nasty and soggy.  Samaritan’s Purse is here as well as a Billy Graham Reiief presence. These are just the start.  National Guard units are helping with lots of heavy work.

This is what our yard looks like.

Yesterday we were at the Fire House recovery headquarters getting some totes to pack possessions in; we have to move everything we want to save out of the first floor by Tuesday so it can be torn out by ServePro.  While we were there: a whole truck load of dehumidifiers arrives, a truck load of generators arrived. A truck loaded with fans and tarps arrived, more plastic totes arrived, more food arrived...it doesn’t stop.

Flood Insurance adjusters began arriving yesterday.  We have met with one adjuster and the other will be here Tuesday.

We keep finding unbelievable things: this good sized giraffe washed into our yard from somewhere.

The local question is: where is FEMA?  There is no FEMA presence on the island. Without acknowledging the rumors (there are many) we know that Governor Roy Cooper has met with the President and requested that we be named as a Disaster Area...a requirement in getting fund and physical help.  That is all we know. About half our residents have lost their homes and all possessions. I don’t know where those people are sleeping or how they are making it.

What do we do now:  work and wait and hope.  It is a wonderful place to live!

A rainbow yesterday afternoon frames the Baptist Men’s potable water truck.