Katrina & Sandy

[bgirldeb]

We had power companies from the south in our area even before the storm hit. We also had a shelter set up by our county and staffed by red cross in advance of the storm.

We were traveling east on Saturday on I-40 in Tennessee and saw a large caravan of Utility trucks from Alabama headed in the same direction.

 

[bas71873]

Not quite sure what you are asking. And we were fortunate to not need to "deal" with them after Katrina.

From what I have heard, there was lots of fraud. Sad, but there were people claiming need, who in fact lied about where they had lived, damages, etc.

There were lots of stories of disappointment and fights with insurance companies with the argument being was the damage caused by wind or water. And now even those of us with minimal damage in the area are paying triple and quadruple home owners insurance premiums because we live in a high risk area (I am 11 miles from the beach and water).

The good that I can tell you is that within 3 or 4 days of the storm, there were PODs (Points of Distribution) staffed by the military-National Guard, etc. where people were able to pick up bottled water, ice and MREs. I can still hear the helicopters that were overhead all day delivering supplies to drop off points. Soon after K, there was the Red Cross and church groups offering other supplies and items maybe a hot meal, hamburger, hot dog, fresh fruit and vegetables--that was amazing to have after days of canned food.

There were trucks and trucks from groups that sent household goods and clothes. Now one lesson from that is that it would have been much better to have had gift cards and $ as many of the clothes sat in open parking lots for weeks and ruined. That was sad. The local Walmart in my area was able to open within a week. Shelves were not stocked, but there were things people could buy and use. And after a week or so, people would have been able to drive out of town to get what they needed if they had an automobile, gas and $.

They are slooooowwwww.

My BILs town was hit by last year by the April tornados. By the time FEMA arrived, they turned down their assistance. Already had more than enough volunteers and donations.

We had to deal with FEMA and our insurance (Allstate) after Katrina and we did not have a bad experience with either. Granted, our home was still habitable once we got power back and the gas was turned back on (4 weeks later), so if you had dire needs, I don't know how that worked. BUT, I ended up in VA after Katrina because I had a 2 year old and wasn't going to tough it out with no power with her. I did spend HOURS on the phone and online getting paperwork in order. For us after Katrina, I applied for everything I was eligible for with FEMA online. If I remember correctly, we got reimbursed for things and I was able to have the money we qualified for directly deposited into our account. I did have to do my application online in the middle of night when the servers were less busy, but I did it. I do recall eventually getting a letter from FEMA and I had to provide proof & receipts for things we had been compensated for. I still have all that paperwork somewhere because there were reports that FEMA had up to 5 or so years later to ask for their money back, so I saved everything and deposited the money into DD's savings account where it still sits today.

With Allstate, DH (who returned to LA to work and just lived on a boat) visited an Allstate "tent office" with our paperwork and out of pocket/evacuation expenses, pictures of our house, etc. and they cut him a check on the spot for some cash and made an appointment for a few weeks out for an adjuster to come to the house to survey the damage (we had some minor roof damage that we patched temporarily ourselves), we lost our fence, our shed...stuff like that outside. We were fairly lucky because my across the street neighbors had their front windows blown out and lots of water damage. All in the way the wind blows. We did eventually get dropped by Allstate, but they just completely pullled out of our area.

I then spent HOURS on the phone with the bank, mortgage holder, utility companies, credit companies...whoever we paid bills to every month and every single one of them allowed us to skip a month or two payment (to be tacked on to the end of course) since we weren't sure when we'd get home and start getting paid again. DH's company stayed on top of it, but my employer allowed me to take all the time off I needed and so I didn't get a check for a good while.

It took a lot of time and a lot of patience, but we got it handled.

Yes, there was a LOT of fraud FEMA. For example, I got called TWICE to be advised that my FEMA trailer was ready for us to pick up. I NEVER applied for one, didn't need it, yet I had two co-workers who lost their homes completely, applied for trailers and I got called twice before they ever did. Things were definately screwy so I'm sure thinkg have changed since then.

I wish you the best of luck!

 

[NotUrsula]

As my other thread keeps sinking, I'm going to link into this thread with some info I posted yesterday.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune did a series of articles on household cleanup and recovery information after Katrina. They have now re-posted and updated that information on their website for interested folks who have been affected by Sandy. This is good practical information about what to expect in the aftermath and how to start cleaning up. Some of the information re: the effects of heat may not be too relevant, but just about everything else is:

http://www.nola.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2012/10/for_hurricane_sandy_flood_vict.html

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Well first off, the preparation and response from Fema and state and local agencies has been far superior in the case of Sandy than it was for Katrina. You don't see stories about crews coming to help 3 days after the storm because crews from all over the country were in place and staged before the storm this time and they were out working before the storm was even over. In the immediate aftermath of Katrina, New Orleans was left for dead. And keep in mind they're still transitioning from rescue mode to getting water pumped out, getting power and emergency services and transportation back up mode. Full clean up and rebuild mode is when you'll see a lot of volunteers from all over the place.

 

[NotUrsula]

Apparently one of the most immediately needed expertise areas in coastal NJ is natural-gas plumbing: there are hazardous gas leaks all over the place that need attention. If electrical power is restored in buildings where gas has accumulated, there is great potential for explosion.

According to the news reports I have seen, there are not enough utility workers on the ground now who have the tools and expertise to find and cap the gas line breaks.

PS: I know and understand that having natural gas available is a Godsend when your electricity is out, but maintaining uninterrupted gas service is extremely dangerous in a surge zone if you don't have the manpower to quickly find and cap leaks. Gas is heavier than air and can even collect outdoors in low-lying areas: driving a car through that can set off an explosion.

PPS: I agree that FEMA is now much improved over what it was in 2005; there was a time there when the importance of the agency was neglected and the staffing and funding showed it. The red tape can still be tedious, but the agency is now much better managed than it was at that time.

 

[hereyago]

I have been where you are: you are wanting a sense of normalcy again,it will come but not as soon as you would like. 2003,hurricanse Isabel damaged my home with me in it. 2 rooms were damaged and I still very blessed because I know people who lost everything. When power was back on(thank you to the linemen from Lousiana) my house still could not have power from a pole because damage to the house. We had a generator that we got our moneys worth then we were able to get an industrial pole. Then the house was was finally fixed on dec 19th. Insurance company please don't get me started. Fema did reimburse for the generator I think,but it was a long process. Red cross was actually stationed across the street a few days after and there was a tractor trailer that had hot showers funny how the simplest things can bring comfort. I know the upper staes aren't used to hurricanes,but this is why the news says to prepare:non perishables,etc. Because you are really on your own until things can be fixed. Hurricanes suck! I wouldn't wish anyone have to expierence one and its aftermath of damage. I know its like a bad nightmare that you can't wake up from,but you will get back to normal it will just take time.

 

[Terry36]

Where are the trucks coming from the south?

Where are the volunteers?

Well, the electric company I work for has sent over 800 employees and support personnel to restore electrical services to the impacted areas. This includes scouts, who assess damage, and tool workers, who rebuild the electrical system. Additionally, Call Center Customer Service Reps have been mobilized to assist with responding to calls.

Be patient...as others have mentioned, just because you may not see them yet doesn't mean they're not there or are enroute.

 

[Southernmiss]

I have been where you are: you are wanting a sense of normalcy again,it will come but not as soon as you would like. 2003,hurricanse Isabel damaged my home with me in it. 2 rooms were damaged and I still very blessed because I know people who lost everything. When power was back on(thank you to the linemen from Lousiana) my house still could not have power from a pole because damage to the house. We had a generator that we got our moneys worth then we were able to get an industrial pole. Then the house was was finally fixed on dec 19th. Insurance company please don't get me started. Fema did reimburse for the generator I think,but it was a long process. Red cross was actually stationed across the street a few days after and there was a tractor trailer that had hot showers funny how the simplest things can bring comfort. I know the upper staes aren't used to hurricanes,but this is why the news says to prepare:non perishables,etc. Because you are really on your own until things can be fixed. Hurricanes suck! I wouldn't wish anyone have to expierence one and its aftermath of damage. I know its like a bad nightmare that you can't wake up from,but you will get back to normal it will just take time.[/QUOTE]

Good post, but I would caution on the bolded. The Miss Gulf Coast and the entire Gulf Coast region affected by Katrina is not the same as before Katrina. We have learned a "new normal".

Right now people in the area affected by Sandy are probably in shock and "normal" will be a very long time coming. I will not forget the look of shock that people wore for weeks after Katrina.

On the MS Gulf Coast gracious, 150 year old stately homes and businesses are no longer where they once were, there are vast areas of vacant land in once populated areas with slabs still visible.

Friends we once had, things we once did have moved on and are no more.

Even though our home had minimal roof damage and a tree down, my normal will never be the same as before Katrina. The place I grew up and where my family has lived for generations is very different today. It has affected us all.

 

[dismichelle]

Can you tell us what to expect & not to expect from FEMA?????

I think it depends on your needs. Katrina hit my town as a Cat. 2 and we were without power for 2 weeks. I didn't get anything from FEMA, but I don't think I needed anything either. I was just thankful to have the power back on.

I went through the northern Alabama tornadoes last April and lost power for about 6 days. After Katrina, we have a gameplan of how to care for our families for a few days until things starting getting back to normal. Our plan now includes enough gas in the vehicles, a generator, and canned goods to eat. Although last April, there were so many churches and organizations cooking hot meals, that we opted to take the kids there to get a hot meal instead.

A lot of people in our town just decided to take a road trip vacation during the outages. Drive a few hours away and get a room and come back when the power is on, or visit out of state relatives.

Do you still have a home after this. If not, I'd start with your insurance company.

Relief will come, but even after going through this numerous times, it never seems as fast as you would like it to be.

 

[dismichelle]

I have been where you are: you are wanting a sense of normalcy again,it will come but not as soon as you would like. 2003,hurricanse Isabel damaged my home with me in it. 2 rooms were damaged and I still very blessed because I know people who lost everything. When power was back on(thank you to the linemen from Lousiana) my house still could not have power from a pole because damage to the house. We had a generator that we got our moneys worth then we were able to get an industrial pole. Then the house was was finally fixed on dec 19th. Insurance company please don't get me started. Fema did reimburse for the generator I think,but it was a long process. Red cross was actually stationed across the street a few days after and there was a tractor trailer that had hot showers funny how the simplest things can bring comfort. I know the upper staes aren't used to hurricanes,but this is why the news says to prepare:non perishables,etc. Because you are really on your own until things can be fixed. Hurricanes suck! I wouldn't wish anyone have to expierence one and its aftermath of damage. I know its like a bad nightmare that you can't wake up from,but you will get back to normal it will just take time.

"Because you are really on your own until things are fixed" is the absolute biggest lesson I learned from Katrina. And even though we still try to keep prepared now, our favorite thing to do is just to get out of town. We have family in a couple of places within driving distance and I was able to go there with the kids last April when I realized it was going to take more than a couple of days to get power back on.

I was talking to a friend last week with family in NYC and asked how they were preparing. She said they really weren't preparing because its just a Cat 1, and that the government in NYC is always prepared for anything. She said if anything goes down, she's sure the city will have everything up and running within a day or two.

 

[PeanutButterMom]

We were traveling east on Saturday on I-40 in Tennessee and saw a large caravan of Utility trucks from Alabama headed in the same direction.

My mother was on her way from Mississippi to Tennessee on Monday evening on I40 and was listing all the power company trucks she was seeing as she drove. From Arkansas to Oklahoma, etc etc. She also likened it to a caravan.

 

[eduk8r26]

Southern California Edison has trucks, men and tree-trimming crews on their way east, also. Also the California National Guard is on its way out there.

 

[Disney Doll]

It takes people time to get here after a storm, especially if they are driving. It's a 16-24 hour drive from pretty much anywhere in the South to the Northeast.

I have already seen a few out of stae utility trucks in my area. It takes time & patience......

 

[minkydog]

We drove from. Atlanta to Mobile yesterday and saw several mile long convoys utility tricks and tree tricks headed north

 

[HelenePA]

PP&L is replacing all wires in my town even though we never lost power, I'm sure there was a lot of line damage with branches. The trucks out here doing it are not local. Thank you to who ever you are!

 

[Buckalew11]

And let's not forget snow was DUMPED between here and there during this hurricane!

 

[JaneBanks]

FEMA will be in my town this weekend or Monday.

 

[hereyago]

SouthernMiss: you know,you are absolutely correct.many people will have to adapt to a new normal Gov. Christie was on the news the other day talking about. How things can be rebuilt,but for some people ,it won't be the same and unfortunately he was correct. I have a very different life then pre Isabel a lot of it is better, but it was truly a new normal.

 

[lucas]

Where are the trucks coming from the south?

Where are the volunteers?

From South Florida news:

http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region...light-workers-head-north-to-assist-with-sandy

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/FPL-Sending-Hundreds-of-Workers-Trucks-Northeast-176283321.html

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20121029/article/121029572

http://browardnetonline.com/2012/10/watch-as-fpl-crews-head-to-northeast-u-s-hit-by-sandy/

 

[DarthKTrava]

There's a lot of trucks from Georgia Power headed north. And trucks from Duke Energy going as well. A group of Baptist Men who help a lot of disasters are going as well with tools and food.