I have been home for 3 weeks now.  The situation in the hurricane affected areas does not get much attention in the national news.  The long term rebuilding is just beginning with thousands still affected.  How quickly this leaves the news cycle.

I found an interesting NOAA site that provides detailed aerial photography for Katrina, Rita and Wilma storm damage.  The picture above is from that site.  It is a bit tedious so I put some links below.  Some damage is beyond imagination.   After the photo loads you will be able to use the zoom feature in IE for greater detail.  It will take a few moments depending on your connection speed and you will see a menu in the upper left and an Expand button on the lower right.  Click the expand button and use the scroll bars.

Katrina Base Map Page

Bay St Louis, Mississipppi

Bastion Bay Louisana

Wilma   Rita

Hurricane Hunter photos of Katrina

I have been contacted by the National Red Cross regarding registration for RTT support in the future.  I will update the Blog with information on the training as it happens.

I arrived back home on Saturday.  Each volunteer is required to talk with a mental health councilor before out processing.  After being so involved, working 10 or more hours a day, maintaining a very fast pace, some people experience a let down returning home.  I can identify to some extent.  I am glad to get home after being away for so long but feel like there is still so much work to do there.  I left just as a new group of volunteers arrived. 

Here are some of the folks I worked with in Covington.   

Special thanks to Nortel, my manager Mike and my fellow engineers for covering for me while I was away.  This was an experience I will never forget.  I have been asked to attend follow up training and will become active in the local Raleigh Red Cross chapter.  Hats off to the THOUSANDS of volunteers from the organizations working in the gulf region and Florida. These people are from all walks of life, young and old.  This is what America is all about. 

For more information on Red Cross Disaster services go here.

The Red Cross has distributed over 1 Billion dollars in aid for Katrina and Rita relief but donations have not kept up with the distributions.  To fill the gap, the Red Cross has borrowed hundreds of millions of dollars.  If you are able,  please make a contribution.

http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html

Red Cross shelter living has to be approached with a open mind.  It can vary from a hotel room (unlikely) to an air mattress under the stars in a supermarket parking lot (as reported to me by a Katrina first responder).  My first 5 days were luxury in a Montgomery hotel.  My Covington experience was very different and at first glance not as good.  But there were a few amazing folks that took our Camp Abbey situation and made it better than a hotel, it was like being home.  Several of us were long term residents of Camp Abbey and had it not been for Phil and Leslie from California, we would have been just another shelter experience.  They went out of their way to make us feel at home with great continental breakfasts and home cooked dinners with tables decorated with candles each night.  Even one night guests were made to feel at home.  Thanks Phil and Leslie, you made the stay fun and enjoyable!