 THE TOOL AND EQUIPMENT TRAILER SAYS IT ALL |
 THE "UNOFFICIAL" NAME THE TEAM GAVE THIS RELIEF EFFORT! |
 THE TEAM (A.K.A., "THE GANG OF 14"), JUST BEFORE OUR EARLY MORNING DEPARTURE |
 BREAKFAST AT "MICKEY-D'S" |
 ON THE ROAD AGAIN |
 CHECKING OUT THE NEW FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GULFPORT |
 A SIGN IN THE GULPORT WAL-MART |
 FORREST HEIGHTS MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH - GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI |
 CHECKING OUT OUR SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS AT FORREST HEIGHTS |
 LATE NIGHT MEETING AT FORREST HEIGHTS |
 BREAKFAST AT THE GULFPORT CRACKER BARREL, ON THE WAY TO TEXAS |
 MEETING THE PASTOR AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GULFPORT |
 THE CHOIR SINGING DURING THE SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GULFPORT |
 LUNCH AT WENDY'S, ON THE ROAD TO TEXAS |
 AN IMPRESSIVE "LONE STAR" DISPLAY AT THE TEXAS WELCOME CENTER |
 WE STOPPED AT THE NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD NATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE TEAM HEADQUARTERS, IN VIDOR, TEXAS |
 A GORGEOUS TEXAS SUNSET, AS WE ENTERED THE BAYTOWN CITY LIMITS |
 EVEN A MUNDANE GAS STATION LOOKS GOOD IN FRONT OF A SUNSET LIKE THAT! |
 I NEVER GAINED ENTRY INTO THE LADIES' BUNK TRAILER, BUT THIS PHOTO FROM A PREVIOUS TRIP SHOWS THE LAYOUT INSIDE |
 A COMFORTABLE SEAT, WHILE CALLING HOME |
 THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BAYTOWN, THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE BAYTOWN RECOVERY EFFORT |
 THE COOKING/FEEDING TEAM MAKING AN EARLY MORNING BREAKFAST |
 A GOOD BREAKFAST, BEFORE HEADING OFF TO OUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT |
 MORE OF OUR TEAM HAVING BREAKFAST |
 RED CROSS EMERGENCY VEHICLES, LINED UP AND READY TO GO |
 SOME OF THE TRAILERS USED TO STORE FOOD |
 DOCUMENTING THE NUMBER OF MEALS SERVED |
 WAITING FOR THE DAY'S FIRST JOB ORDER ASSIGNMENT |
 HOME AWAY FROM HOME |
 CHECKING OUT TOOLS AND SUPPLIES FOR THE DAY |
 A VERY WELL STOCKED WORKING TRAILER! |
 A LITTLE EARLY MORNING HUMOR |
 WHAT A CREW! THESE GUYS ARE READY FOR ANYTHING! |
 THE TEAM ARRIVES AT OUR FIRST WORK-ORDER LOCATION |
 THE ROOF WAS LEAKING IN SEVERAL PLACES |
 A TEMPORARY ROOF TARP IS NEEDED |
 THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE FUN! |
 PART OF THE TEAM WORKED ON THE TEMPORARY ROOF TARP AND THE OTHERS CUT UP DOWNED TREES AND BRUSH |
 THE CUT UP TREES AND BRUSH HAD TO BE PILED UP FOR BURNING |
 CUTTING SMALL BRANCHES AND BRUSH WITH AN EXTENSION CHAIN SAW |
 THE BLUE TARP IS POSITIONED ON THE ROOF |
 SHARPENING THE CHAIN ON THE EXTENSION SAW |
 A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW BEST TO REPAIR THE FRONT PART OF THE ROOF |
 A REST PERIOD - IT WAS ABOUT 86 DEGREES F., WITH HIGH HUMIDITY |
 PACKING UP AFTER THE JOB IS FINISHED |
 CEDAR BAYOU, NEAR COVE, TEXAS |
 A HUNGRY CREW, BACK FOR LUNCH |
 THE FEEDING CREW LADIES FILL UP THE "CLAMSHELLS" WITH FOOD FROM THE CAMBROS |
 WASHING POTS, PANS AND CAMBROS THE OLD FASHIONED WAY ..... AND HAVING FUN DOING IT! |
 AFTER LUNCH, A NEW JOB |
 THE TEAM ASSESSES THE FLOODING DAMAGE |
 MOST OF THE RUINED FLOORING HAD ALREADY BEEN REMOVED |
 ONLY THE SUB-FLOORING REMAINED THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE HOUSE |
 THE TEAM DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER WALLBOARD AND INSULATION HAD TO BE REMOVED TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MOLD |
 CLEAN-UP WAS A TEDIOUS JOB ............ |
 ............ AND A MESSY JOB! |
 THE ENTIRE LOWER WALLS AND INSULATION WERE HARBORING MOLD AND HAD TO BE REMOVED |
 A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF TRINITY BAY, WHILE WE WORKED |
 THE GARAGE HAD BEEN COMPLETELY FLOODED AND PUSHED OFF ITS FOUNDATION |
 EVERYTHING IN THE GARAGE HAD BEEN SOAKED |
 MORE RUINED ITEMS IN THE GARAGE |
 ONE OF THE MANY TRAILER LOADS HEADED FOR THE DUMP |
 DESTROYED FENCING |
 THE BASEMENT HAD BEEN FLOODED AND WAS FILLED WITH MOLD |
 THE BASEMENT FLOORING WAS ROTTED AND COVERED WITH MOLD |
 GETTING SOME FRESH AIR, AFTER WORKING IN THE BASEMENT |
 ROTTED, MOLD-COVERED FLOORING WAS REMOVED FROM THE BASEMENT AND TAKEN TO THE DUMP |
 SOMEWHAT WORSE FOR THE WEAR, AFTER HOURS OF CLEANING UP THE BASEMENT |
 MANY TONS OF DIRT HAD TO BE HAULED IN TO REPLACE SOIL THAT HAD BEEN WASHED AWAY BY THE HURRICANE SURGE |
 GETTING A "BIRD'S EYE" VIEW |
 WORKING ON THE GARAGE DOOR |
 PRESENTING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL TO THE HOME OWNER AND HER NEIGHBOR |
 THE TEAM LISTENS TO THE PRESENTATION |
 THE HOME OWNER WAS GIVEN A BIBLE, SIGNED BY ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS |
 GETTING READY FOR A NEW DAY'S WORK |
 THEY WANT US TO DO WHAT ??? |
 OUR NEXT JOB WAS A LOCAL CHURCH THAT HAD SUSTAINED WIND AND WATER DAMAGE |
 GEARING UP FOR THE WORK AT THE CHURCH |
 SUITING UP TO USE ONE OF THE CHAINSAWS |
 "YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT ......" WAIT, NO! ..... JUST A LITTLE HELP WITH THE STRAPS ON THOSE PROTECTIVE CHAPS |
 HMMMM ..... WHERE TO BEGIN ??? |
 MANY OF THE DOWNED AND DAMAGED TREES WERE BEAUTIFUL CEDARS |
 WE CUT A FEW THIN SLABS OF CEDAR TO TAKE HOME |
 SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL WOOD |
 A BIG CUTTING JOB |
 WARNING SIGN, INSIDE THE CHURCH |
 DUMPING THE WET MATERIALS THAT HAD BEEN TORN OUT |
 PILES OF WET, MOLDY INSULATION AWAITING DISPOSAL |
 DAMAGED CARPET |
 PICKING UP THE LITTLE PIECES ..... A TEDIOUS JOB! |
 DEBRIS IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH |
 TOUGH ON YOUR BACK! |
 TAKING A WELL DESERVED BREAK |
 BACK TO WORK, WITH WOOD CHIPS FLYING |
 HAULING OFF THE BIG PIECES |
 A WHEELBARROW MAKES A NICE SEAT FOR SHARPENING THE CHAIN! |
 PICKING UP THE PIECES |
 ONE OF THE MANY TRAILER LOADS |
 DEFINITELY A TWO-MAN JOB ...... THREE, IF THESE GUYS WEREN'T SO STRONG! |
 THE CHURCH'S FRONT YARD LOOKED MUCH BETTER WHEN WE LEFT! |
 A TRICKY TREE REMOVAL BEGINS |
 ATTACHING THE STABILIZING ROPE |
 THE STABILIZING ROPE WAS ATTACHED TO A PICKUP TRUCK, TO ENSURE THE TREE FELL IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ....... WE HOPED! |
 SOME FINAL, DELICATE CUTS BEFORE FELLING THE TREE |
 THE WAITING BEGINS ...... WILL THE TREE FALL IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? |
 THE TREE IS DOWN, WITH NO COLLATERAL DAMAGE! |
 IT REALLY WAS CLOSE TO THE FENCE! |
 OUR NEXT JOB ASSIGNMENT ...... A MOBILE HOME WITH A LEAKING ROOF |
 HURRICANE IKE ALSO DAMAGED THE MOBILE HOME'S SKIRTING |
 SCOPING OUT THE PROBLEM |
 BEGINNING THE TEMPORARY ROOF REPAIRS |
 INSTALLING A FULL-ROOF COVERING WITH A TEMPORARY TARP |
 NOT NECESSARILY PRETTY, BUT IT WILL KEEP THE RAIN OUT |
 DRIVING TO OUR NEXT JOB ASSIGNMENT |
 THIS HOUSE WAS REASONABLY INTACT, BUT HAD A LOT OF DOWNED TREES IN THE FRONT YARD |
 YOU WANT ALL THAT DEBRIS CARRIED WHERE??? |
 THE BACKYARD OVERLOOKS TRINITY BAY, ACROSS FROM HOUSTON |
 TOURING THE DAMAGE |
 A DEBRIS FIELD, CREATED BY HURRICANE IKE'S SURGE UP TRINITY BAY |
 A MUCH DESERVED WATER BREAK ..... IT WAS HOT! |
 ME, ENJOYING THE NICE BREEZE OFF TRINITY BAY, DURING A RARE BREAK |
 ANCHORING STRAPS KEPT THIS MOBILE HOME FROM TURNING OVER, BUT DIDN'T DO MUCH ELSE TO PROTECT IT FROM THE FURY OF HURRICANE IKE |
 A BARBECUED CHICKEN DINNER FOR US |
 THE FEEDING TEAM PREPARES ANOTHER EARLY MORNING BREAKFAST |
 HALF-ASLEEP WORKERS, WAITING FOR BREAKFAST TO BE SERVED |
 CONTACTING THE HOMEOWNER ABOUT A WORK ORDER |
 READY FOR ANOTHER DAY OF WORK |
 WE'RE NOT SURE THESE MAPQUEST DIRECTIONS ARE QUITE RIGHT |
 THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR EYEGLASSES WHEN YOU STEP OUT OF AN AIR CONDITIONED VEHICLE INTO THE HOT, MUGGY EAST TEXAS AIR! |
 ANOTHER JOB ASSIGNMENT LOCATION |
 A LOT OF DOWNED AND DAMAGED TREES HERE |
 FORMULATING A "BATTLE PLAN" FOR THE JOB |
 SOME SERIOUS CUTTING AND DRAGGING REQUIRED HERE! |
 TREES AND LIMBS WERE DOWN EVERYWHERE |
 A HOMEOWNER DESCRIBES THE CONDITIONS DURING THE HURRICANE |
 PILES OF DEBRIS TO BE HAULED OFF TO THE ROAD |
 A FEW TEXAS RESIDENTS WE DIDN'T LIKE VERY MUCH! |
 BETTER START ANOTHER PILE |
 PULLING THE BIG PILES WITH THE TRUCK ELIMINATED HAVING TO STACK THE DEBRIS ONTO THE TRAILER |
 A GREAT TIME AND WORK SAVER - IT WAS A LONG WAY TO THE MAIN ROAD |
 STILL LOTS OF CUTTING TO DO! |
 EVEN THE MINI-BUS WAS PRESSED INTO SERVICE! |
 A BIG CUTTING JOB! |
 THE "ROAD CREW", ARRANGING THE DEBRIS PILES AND KEEPING THE MAIN ROAD CLEAR |
 CUTTING UP THE BIG PIECES AFTER THEY HAD BEEN DRAGGED TO THE ROAD BY THE TRUCK |
 SOME PRETTY EXTENSIVE PILES! |
 THE BIG PIECE HAD FINALLY BEEN CUT AND NOW PRESENTED A CHALLENGE TO THE TRUCK CREW |
 THE TEAM STOPPED BY LOWE'S TO PURCHASE NEW CHAINS FOR THE SAWS |
 WHOA! ...... YOU'RE EVEN TAKING PICTURES IN HERE??? |
 HMMMM ..... THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHAINS! |
 A METAL STORAGE BUILDING, MADE SOMEWHAT WORSE FOR THE WEAR BY HURRICANE IKE |
 A SMALL TEXAS TREE FROG, CLIMBING HIGHER TO ESCAPE THE CHAIN SAWS |
 IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ONE IMAGE TO VISUALIZE "BONE TIRED", THIS WOULD BE IT |
 COOLING DOWN AFTER A LONG, HOT DAY |
 WINDING DOWN, AFTER A LONG, HOT DAY |
 THE TEAM LEFT THE PROPERTY IN MUCH BETTER CONDITION THAN THEY FOUND IT |
 THE FEEDING OPERATION MOVED FROM THE OLD K-MART PARKING LOT TO THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BAYTOWN |
 THE FEEDING LADIES GAVE ME A "TEXAS POTATO"! - (THE PENNY ON THE PLATE HELPS SHOW ACTUAL SIZE) |
 ONE OF THE HOMEOWNERS BAKED OUR TEAM A HUGE CAKE, TO SHOW HER APPRECIATION |
 ANOTHER HOMEOWNER, OBVIOUSLY A FAN OF "THE KING", GAVE US A THANK-YOU CARD |
 RELAXING, TALKING WITH "BARBIE", AT THE END OF A LONG DAY |
 AN UNPLEASENT SURPRISE ON THURSDAY MORNING |
 SEEING THAT MORE DRASTIC MEASURES WERE NEEDED, OUR TEAM CLIMBED ON TOP TO ASSESS THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM |
 THE PROBLEM HAVING BEEN PROPERLY ASSESSED, OUT CAME THE UBIQUITOUS BLUE TARP |
 GOOD JOB GUYS ...... NOW WE HAVE THE ONLY A-FRAME BUNK TRAILER IN EXISTENCE! |
 NO RAIN CAN STOP ME, AS LONG AS I HAVE MY FRIEND, MICKEY! |
 THE TEAM PRAYS WITH THE HOMEOWNER, BEFORE STARTING THE DAY'S WORK |
 A LITTLE DRIZZLE CAN'T STOP OUR FOLKS! |
 ONE OF MANY LOADS OF DEBRIS TAKEN TO THE ROADSIDE |
 SADLY, ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL TEXAS CEDAR TREES |
 PULLING DOWN BROKEN BRANCHES AND VINES WITH A PICKUP TRUCK |
 SEARCHING FOR A LOST CELL PHONE |
 THE CHAGRINED OWNER IS FINALLY REUNITED WITH HIS CELL PHONE! |
 OUR TEAM LEADERS, REVIEWING THE NEXT JOB ASSIGNMENT WORK ORDER |
 THE MAPQUEST DIRECTIONS ALWAYS LOOKED RELATIVELY SIMPLE, BUT OUR DIRECTIONALLY-CHALLENGED TEAM USUALLY MANAGED TO GET LOST! |
 A QUICK GLANCE TOLD US OUR NEXT JOB WAS GOING TO BE A BIG ONE |
 HURRICANE IKE BROUGHT SOME SERIOUS WIND TO THIS AREA |
 WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE THAN A CHAINSAW FOR THIS TREE! |
 WHERE TO BEGIN??? |
 IN SOME PARTS OF THE PROPERTY, THERE WAS SO MUCH DEBRIS WE COULDN'T EVEN SEE THE GROUND |
 GEARING UP FOR THE JOB |
 THE GARAGE WAS A BIT WORSE FOR THE WEAR! |
 THE GARAGE LOOKED A LITTLE BETTER AFTER WE GOT THE BIG STUFF OFF OF IT, BUT IT WAS STILL PRETTY FLAT! |
 LINING UP FOR A PIECE OF LOG TO CARRY TO THE ROAD |
 MAYBE NEXT TIME WE CAN BRING A BIGGER CHAINSAW??? |
 CUTTING UP A DEAD TREE IN "SNAKE COUNTRY" |
 NOW, THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE FUN! |
 A WELL DESERVED WATER BREAK |
 DURING A WORK BREAK, THE HOMEOWNER ENTERTAINED THE TEAM WITH SOME GOOD TEXAS HUMOR |
 IF THERE WASN'T ROOM TO PULL IT DOWN WITH THE TRUCK, WE DID IT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY ...... WITH A HUMAN ROPE LINE! |
 A NICE VISIT BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP THIS HOMEOWNER |
 THE HOMEOWNER DOES ARTWORK AND CRAFTS WITH WOOD ..... SHE WILL HAVE LOTS OF MATERIAL AVAILABLE FOR A LONG TIME! |
 A PINK ROSE OF TEXAS, GROWING IN THE HOMEOWNER'S YARD - A SMALL BIT OF BEAUTY, AMID THE DESTRUCTION |
 VISITING A LOCAL CHURCH THAT HAD SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE |
 ALMOST ALL THE CHURCH'S INTERIOR SPACES HAD TO BE COMPLETELY GUTTED, INCLUDING THE SANCTUARY |
 PORTIONS OF THE CHURCH'S INTERIOR WALLS AND INSULATION HAVE BEEN REMOVED TO PREVENT FURTHER MOLD GROWTH |
 TEAM MEMBERS TALK WITH THE CHURCH PASTOR AND A CHURCH MEMBER |
 FINDING THE TRUE PERSPECTIVE |
 PACKING UP TO GO HOME ...... WITH PLANT SEEDS AND CUTTINGS! |
 BACK HOME IN NORTH CAROLINA ...... AT LAST! |