....The Raven.

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil-- prophet still, if bird or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us-- by that God we both adore--

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore--

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting--

"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken!-- quit the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted-- nevermore!

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

Oct 31st - Happy Halloween!!

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 Unavailable - On Stand-By for Texas
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas





We are always trying to keep the mental health of the camp up...so we have decorated the trailer for halloween, and this evening local children will be coming to our camp to trick or treat. We will be hosting a pumpkin carving contest, and tomorrow we will post some pictures of the entrants. There is still a long way to go down here...but spirits are high!

Camp Facilities

Big Screen TV Room




Internet Cafe



Gym

When a camp is in place for this long, special measures need to be taken to maintain a sense of normalcy. A special big screen TV room gives workers a place to go catch up on the news, watch a movie, or just hang out. An internet cafe allows workers to access email accounts, shop, or just surf the World Wide Web. A gym facility allows workers to exercise. A projector allows us to project the World Series onto the back door of the Medical Unit. "ClubMed" needs to step up to the plate.

Raven Pic

Oct 30 - More Raven

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 Unavailable - On Stand-By for Texas
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

...The Raven Continues.....

But the Raven still beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;

Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore--

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore

Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;

This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining

On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,

But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er,

She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

Swung by seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.

"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee-- by these angels he hath sent thee

Respite-- respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore;

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!-- prophet still, if bird or devil!--

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted--

On this home by Horror haunted-- tell me truly, I implore--

Is there-- is there balm in Gilead?-- tell me-- tell me, I implore!"

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Oct 29

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 Unavailable - On Stand-By for Texas
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

.....The Raven continues......

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,

"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore--

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning-- little relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door--

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,

With such name as "Nevermore."

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.

Nothing further then he uttered-- not a feather then he fluttered--

Till I scarcely more than muttered, "Other friends have flown before--

On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before."

Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,

Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster

Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore--

Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore

Of 'Never-- nevermore'."

Oct 28 - The Raven continues

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 Unavailable - On Stand-By for Texas
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

....continued....

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you"-- here I opened wide the door;--

Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore!"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"--

Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:

Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore--

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;--

'Tis the wind and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door--

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door--

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

...to be continued....

Halloween Reading....

The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore--

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door--

Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow;-- vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow-- sorrow for the lost Lenore--

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore--

Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me-- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,

"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door--

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;--

This it is, and nothing more."

Stay tuned......more to follow.......

Oct 27

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 Unavailable - On Stand-By for Texas
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Oct 25

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Galveston welcomes Mike the fisher dude. He is straight in from a fishing boat in Alaska. If we can keep him off the shrimpin' boats we'll be doing good.

Oct 21

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Oct 17

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Oct 16

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Southern Cal slowed down. The winds died down, so they were able to catch up to most of the fire. It is hot and dry again today. Stay tuned.

Texas is rolling right along. Providing support to a FEMA base camp is a lot slower than supporting a fire camp. No morning briefings. No evening briefings. Airport level security. Chain link fencing around the camp. A daily routine develops...just like fire camp. The highlight of your day is meal time. Wooo Hooo !! We get to walk to the dining hall. Meals are always about the same as fire camp. Some are better... some are worse. The sack lunches are definately not as loaded with goodies. But that is really a good thing. Popcicles are still a big hit. With fire Fighters, GoldBond Powder is the "Gold". At a FEMA camp, a popcicle and a brief chat seems to be top on the list. Everybody has a story. Where they were when the hurricane hit. What they did. Where they were when Katrina hit. What has happened since then. They tell stories of boats in their yards, water in their house....boats in their house...they tell their story. Our job is to listen. The emotional support provided by the listening is the best medicine we have.

Oct 14

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Hot and Windy.

Southern California is getting quite a few new starts. Evacuations are taking place. It seems they are keeping these fires from getting too out of control. A couple of civilian fatalities have been reported.

We will see what today brings.

Oct 12

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

New fire in Southern Cal. IMT 4 has been assigned.
LACoFD stating 24 structures threathened. Requesting 6 Strike Team (probable Type 1). Fire moving towards LFD area. Fire has crossed Kagel Canyon with heavy spotting on both side of the road.

15 closest engines being requested for Kagel Canyon Structure Protection Group
Per Ops, 500 + acres, spotting ahead of its self.
Unified comand LAC/ANF/LAF... Sounds like it's moving toward Kagel Canyon, lots of structures, narrow roads, one way in/out. Massive resource orders for engines, aircraft, FMAG request in to Sacramento

Oct 11

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Oct 9

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE
FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Oct 8

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE

FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Oct 7

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE

FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Oct 6

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE

FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Not much to report. The camp on Galveston Island has settled in to a routine. This camp is looking like it will be the primary long term FEMA Base Camp. The work of restoring the island is a very slow process. Some structures will need to be completely torn down and hauled away before new ones can be built. Residents are returning to their homes.

Shrimpin' season starts soon. The locals say you can buy shrimp by the tub.... cheap. I can see a few shrimp cocktails in our future.

Oct 5

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE

FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Oct 4

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE

FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Santa Ana winds are supposed to blow next week. It is raining in Northern California. The temp in Southern Cal dropped from the low 100's to the 70's, but is supposed to warm up again. Historically, most big fires in Southern cal start in October. Everybody keep a heads up.....fire season is NOT over.

Oct 3 - Camp Pics

some shots from camp...the laundry and our setup
This camp is fully self sustained, and is capable of housing a large number of relief and aid workers. There are adequate facilities including laundry, showers, and mess hall. Not home sweet home, but allows us to maintain here.

Oct 3

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE

FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Oct 2

Ike's devastation is comprised of not just the immediate destruction, but the logistical challenges involved in getting people back in their homes. There are roughly 17,000 homes on the island, and each one must be inspected for structural integrity and habitability. Even if a home is not completely destroyed, it may be subject to black mold or other health issues, and may need to be stripped to the frame, and even then may need more in-depth repairs. This will be a very long process. We have seen a variety of injuries and conditions that although not exclusive to disasters, seem to be more prevalent in this environment.

More updates to follow, and remember that the Santa Annas are blowing in California and fires are still a real possibility. Frontline is prepared and available.

Oct 2 pics

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE
FL05 AVAILABLE
FL06 AVAILABLE

FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

ongoing cleanup of Ike's aftermath

Oct 1

AVAILABILITY

FL04 AVAILABLE

FL05 AVAILABLE

FL06 AVAILABLE

FL07 Assigned FEMA base Camp, Galveston, Texas

Just a note to everybody...It is still dry in California. Statistically speaking, fire season just started in Southern Ca.