FW: Utility repairs

September 10, 2005

We saw a caravan of power trucks from New York passing through Richmond.

Myrtle Harris

Utility repairs

September 8, 2005

Thursday - 11:53 PM

Florida trip home Wed, 7 Sep 2005 21:09:29 -0500

In a message dated 9/5/2005 10:49:09 AM Eastern Standard Time, MMARK2969 writes:

I just finished driving back from Ft. Lauderdale. Over 1100 miles in two days. I wanted to share with you what I saw. I got on the Florida Turnpike just north of Lauderdale and saw something amazing. There were power company trucks and tree trimming trucks that had been in Miami and the Keys, and all points in between, that had been restoring power to hurricane damaged Florida, in caravans heading north. I'm not talking about 10 or 20 trucks here and there, I'm talking about HUNDREDS of trucks streaming north on the turnpike. They were all heading over to New Orleans and Biloxi and so forth to repair damage from Katrina as quick as possible. These guys had the hammer down and weren't stopping for anything other than fuel and food. I talked to some of them at fuel stops, where they were clogging up the pumps for hundreds of yards, and they were all quite determined to get there ASAP.

It's Labor Day weekend and these guys have family eager to see them after their protracted stay in Florida, yet they were flying down the road to help others with no end in sight. I didn't see a single truck at a rest stop nor did they exit to stop at the Erotica Cafe (We Bare It All) or anywhere else that I saw. Fuel and food only. I saw trucks with identification logos from all over the country. North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan, Kansas, Georgia, Florida and on and on. There were also pick up trucks traveling with them, dozens of them, beds piled high with suitcases, cases of bottled water, and Gatorade. There were small caravans of police cars and trucks, from many jurisdictions, some pulling trailers with "disaster relief" printed on the sides. Church groups with the same trailers. Trucks towing boats, trucks pulling four wheelers, trucks packed high with supplies. All heading for the same place.

Once I got past I-10 I saw trucks heading south, some of which were 18 wheelers with police escorts which had to be doing 90 MPH. I'm sure the truckers were enjoying that! There were people parked on the side of the road and standing on overpasses with video cameras recording this event. I hope the video makes its way to the Internet so you all can see it because you simply can't comprehend the vastness of it unless you see it. I didn't think there were that many bucket trucks, auger trucks and reel trucks on the planet.

On the Florida turnpike I had to stop every so often to pay the tolls and I asked the people working there if the trucks had to pay and they said "no way." Everywhere I stopped the destruction and the relief effort was the sole topic of conversation.

I haven't seen these caravans on CNN, all I've seen is the destruction and a bunch of reporters talking about how pitiful the response has been. I beg to differ. These guys are heading to the site as fast as they can get there with no fooling around and no rest. I've seen a lot of things but I've never seen any thing like that.

The local TV station I was watching when I left Lauderdale on Friday was doing a fund raiser and had raised over $350,000 at that point. As I traveled, and switched radio stations along the way, I heard the various stations doing their fund raisers. One station in North Georgia / South Tennessee somewhere had a DJ who was offering to match whatever was raised by the listeners up to $1250. Out of his own pocket.

Georgia canceled the sales tax on gasoline to bring the price down, I thought that was a neat thing. I filled up! There are a lot of people out there who are busting their butts to get over there and help out. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.

There is a lot going on that CNN and others haven't reported on, and probably won't. God Bless America, please pray for those who are in need of help.

Dan McGlaun Xenia, Ohio