Found out the US Post office in Big Pine Key was obliterated. Deemed unfit for operations as the entire structure was condemned.
So the USPS continuity plan? Setup a field post office.
It is critical for disaster survivors to get mail.
Again, helping a community return to normalcy is incredibly important.
Changing basecamp locations today. Whahooo!!!! Not.
I have received many questions on living conditions so let me share with you the new living quarters. We are now in Big Pine Key at a former road patrol prison.
Need to use the bathroom?
Definitely not a hotel. No real toilets in sight.
Male and female tents separate the people staying here.
Inside our sleeping quarters.
Good thing I stopped by early so I can claim top bunk.
But upon closer inspection, I found that something has already claimed my space.
So I figured it was a good time to take a picture with my new bunk mate.
I shall name him Iggy.
If there isn’t enough housing for disaster survivors, don’t think you are going to have a nice hotel to stay in or to lounge around. Plain and simple – disaster Survivors are the priority.
So to summarize, those that THINK they are going to be pampered with lush amenities, stay in a hotel, and gain points – this ain’t it. Don’t expect anyone to pamper you or get turn down service. And yes, it’s loud at night.
I’d also recommend that if you can’t stand camping, you are not cut out for disaster response.
I would best associate this disaster’s lodging to extreme camping.
For the first time in my career, I got a chance to work with Univision for a FEMA interview on the disaster recovery process.
Great to have Patty down with our crews at the Big Pine Key Disaster Recovery Center.
Like any good PIO, before the news crews arrived, we briefly went over questions and talked about the important points of disaster response/recovery as well as possible questions that could be brought up.
The Univision crews also interviewed people who were there too.
And since we have several people who speak Spanish, I figured that it would be great to have them get some camera time too.
Well done Carmen!
And of course, since this was the first time I worked with Univision, I had to get a selfie.
Glad to be a small part in helping getting the word out to the Spanish speaking community.
Where is @rusnivek? 