In a few hours, I'll be getting on a plane to fly to Houston. I have NO idea of what I'm getting myself into, but my company has a catastrophe on it's hands and as part of our National Catastrophe Response Team, it's time for me to go. In all honesty, I haven't a clue as to what the next three weeks hold for me. I'll at least be in a position where I'll be able to make a contribution, however small, and help people put at least part of their lives back together. Plus, after having lived in Houston for 10 years prior to moving to Portland, I have a sizable emotional investment in helping out in whatever way I can.
I have little doubt that the city I left a year ago is not close to being that now. You just don't endure a catastrophic event like Hurricane Ike and bounce back to normal immediately. I suppose that's what contributing to my apprehension, just not knowing what I'll find when I'm on the ground. In talking to my ex-wife yesterday, she told me that she had just finished waiting in line for four hours to get gas and was about to wait in another line for ice and water. Hopefully, FEMA will be providing her with a hotel room until her neighborhood in Seabrook is habitable again. I'd imagine it's going to take awhile to get the sewage and dead fish out of the houses in her neighborhood. And you thought your life sucks....
Something tells me this isn't going to be a anything close to a relaxing vacation trip.
I've got a lot on my mind this morning...you know who you are...but I have yet to start packing. Since I'll be gone for three weeks, it might be good to get started on that, don'chathink? Having enough clean underwear is ALWAYS a good thing, no?
Stay tuned...and in the interim, try checking out one of my new favorite blogs. It's what John McCain and Sarah Palin would do...if they weren't so damn busy trying to keep track of their lies and distortions.
