Thursday, May 29 -- morning

The first order of business today is a meeting with FEMA's public information officer.  My goal is to try and figure out the best way to get consistent message out to the citizens.  There are rumors circulating and people are getting frustrated with the lack of information.  There are press conferences, which don't really help people with little to no access to mass media.  There are town meetings; for the people who know about them and can fit into the church; but no one is talking directly to the people.  Walking through the rubble and making sure people know what they need to do; sitting at the insurance agents' offices (where nearly everyone passes through) and telling people what they need to know.  It's the people who are the most affected who are the least informed.  I'm going to try to help with that task.

Last night when our committee met with FEMA, we were informed that Parkersburg is about two weeks ahead of where any other community normally is during a disaster like this.  You can not stop these people or break their spirit.

They are growing weary, however, of the photographs and the news crews.  The shock is wearing off and the reality is setting in.  That's why it's so important to stay ahead of the curve with the services and information they need to survive the next few days, weeks and months.

As I drove through town yesterday and really surveyed the lost homes of my former classmates, it occured to me that there are really about 800+ miracles walking around this town.  Their houses didn't just get blown away.  While they were in the basement, their houses got picked up, exploded and dropped back down on top of them in slivers.  The basements are full of debris that dropped on them while they sought protection there.  The fact that so many survived is a miracle.  The fact that any perished is a tragedy.