Katrina Relief Monday Activities

Monday,

We got up pretty early, thanks to Adam and his annoying wake up routine. The other guys from the California team arrived, and we planned our next moves. We were busy preparing, and loading the trailer. Paul left with the California guys to Bay St. Louis MS, and the rest prepared to head for Alexandria LA. I got about 10 guys together and I gave a class on how to be ground support for the tower climbers, and showed them some tricks on handling ropes, and securing loads and making our life easier on the tower. The guys absorbed it real well, and understood why it should be the way I showed them. They walked away with an understanding of how to make the job easier for the climber. They will secure the radios, in a way that will help the guy on top, so it makes it an easy process. Steve was shaking his head and apologizing profusely, since he was Patricks Ground man on Friday, and he didn't understand why the ropes and gear were set the way they were, and he disconnected most of it. He knew he made it harder for Patrick without realizing it.

(following paragraph by Patrick)
After the class was over and a quick run through for each person to try on the climbing harness the semi trailer was loaded with tower sections by Jimmy(on the forklift), Doug, Adam, Mike K. and Patrick. Next to be loaded into the trailer was the palatized equipment with help of Jimmy(driving forklift), Doug, and Patrick. Then the tent was completely packed up and loaded into the trailer along with all of the poles, stakes, and chains needed to re-erect the tent later. After all of this was done Mike had finished ordering guy wire for WisperISP and the two of us were able to get seen off by Sharon, Jimmy, Doug, and Adam. Everybody else being incredibly busy with getting everything ready for the base camp move.

We packed up our gear and headed out around 1300. We promised to return in a couple of weeks, and jump back in to the whole project.

It is a hard to describe the emotions I went through preparing to leave. Just looking back on the selflessness of all of the volunteers, and the looks on the people displaced from their homes when they can make contact to the outside world. Nobody was doing this because they wanted recognition, or personal gain, it was more of a matter that the tragedy of hurricane katrina was something that they couldn't just sit back and watch, they had to do something. Providing a basic service to these people with the technology we have available is our way of doing something. Internet access is more important than anyone realizes. Just imagine filling out the FEMA registration forms without it. Most of these people already know how to use the Internet, and it was just unbeleivable how important the work we did was. The sheer volume of calls made from the shelters in the past few days speaks volumes. Over 10,000 outbound calls over our equipment. The majority were made to the FEMA numbers.

I am confident that we made the lives of these displaced people more comfortable by providing our unique service, and I am very thankful I was able to be there. Thanks Nathan and Jason for encouraging and supporting Team WISPER and our work at Camp ShagNasty.