F5...F Yeah

Howdy, howdy. I returned to STL from Greensburg Kansas, where I've been since the 6th, this last friday, the 25th. At first our operations consisted of tying in with the Salvation Army, and helping them at various point of distribution (POD) sites and working on their canteens, since we had not yet received a mission assignment from the State (which then works through FEMA to assign us). We also staffed the two check points into the city which was a complete waste of everyone's time. The concept was to keep track of everyone who was entering the city and also turn away sight-seers - but few people actually got deterred. People would drive up, fill out paper work and the official "tag" they received from me which signaled they'd been through the check point was a handsomely ripped piece of caution tape duct-taped to the inside of the windshield - not our idea. This measure would have had some salvageable integrity accept on Tuesday, the day we were implementing this broader check point, Pres. Bush was visiting and secret service shut down our operation mid-morning because the checkpoint was too close to the helipad- where henceforth, paradoxically, anyone could get in since they didn't implement their own checkpoint. We were about 250 ft. from the 6 blackhawks, including Marine One with the prez in it, when they landed near our check point.

Soon after the check-point debacle we were given our mission assignment to run the volunteer reception center (VRC) - which is a lot of work. Our tasks include: keeping track of what residents want done on their properties with continuous updates, scouting properties, keeping track of all the legal paperwork volunteers and residents must fill out, making sure volunteers sign-in and out so that the city can be reimbursed for volunteer hours from FEMA, operating a call center, leading teams out into the field, coordinating with the Samaritan's Purse, Mennonite Disaster Team, NCCC teams, Christian Disaster Team, etc...

I also encouraged a semi-successful recycling program in Greensburg after witnessing how much waste was accruing from donated plastic bottles of water, cans, cardboard boxes filled with food, etc...It wasn't too hard to do since the surrounding cities were so very eager to help Greensburg in anyway they could. I got donated recycling bins, a recycling trailer, a construction site sized waste bin for used cardboard and drivers to pick the stuff up and bring it to a recycling center in Dodge City. The support for this recycling iniative has been very positive and I hope continues long after Americorps has left the city. My very competent friend Sabrina has taken over this program in my stead.

It is hard to say how long some of our Americorps team will be down (or over) in Greensburg - as long as FEMA/Kansas wants us there, we'll be there. I forgot to mention that FEMA has a food tent set-up which we're permitted to enjoy (along with the other gov. agencies and a few volunteer ones) and let me tell you - the cheese cake and steak roll out in abundance. This feature served as a pleasant beginning and end to the day (also they had a laundry staff to do our dirty work).

I will post pictures as soon as I can - my friends who are still in Greensburg have many pictures on their digital cameras.

My warmest.