Wednesday in Houston

As a fast reminder...and maybe news...to some, during the last few months of my unemployment status, I got my license as an insurance adjuster. And applied to several companies to be used for catastrophe adjusting. I would say that hurricane Katrina fit the defination of a catastrophe.

Lana, who is already employed by one of the best companies, Worley, got called on Sunday and told to report to Baton Rouge on Tuesday. Although I had submitted my application weeks ago, I have to get hands-on training. My best course of action was to travel to a site with her and talk directly to the on-site managers about getting me trained. So I left on Monday to meet her in Houston. Before we even got together in Houston on Monday night, she received calls telling her to stay in Houston. The situation in Louisiana is so bad that they are having to scramble to figure out just where to get their teams to meet, and where they are going to send the teams. So we are still in Houston, awaiting further marching orders. The time is being well-spent, as we are getting me tools that I will need, and stocking up on water, gasoline cans, etc. Today we are going to go get rubber boots. Also, yesterday when her manager called, Lana was asked if she knew of any adjusters that could be called. Lana told her managers about me, and I was told to call Worley and tell them that I was going to be reporting to this manager's location. So it looks like I am officially hired now.

I know that all of us have seen the reports of how bad the situtaiton is, especially in New Orleans. Yesterday, I heard the announcement telling people that if they saw dead bodies in the water, do not attempt to retreive them. That the rescue efforts were for the living right now, and they would gather up the dead bodies later. I think it will be a month or more before anyone can get into New Orleans. I think that as far as insurance adjusting, we might go first to places in Georgia or north, and start working on the tornado/wind claims. But we won't know until we get the call.

I'll try to write when I have email access. If you don't want to receive my updates, I will not take offense and will take you off the list. Just let me know. My mobile number is working, and please feel free to call anytime. If I don't answer, it just means that I'm unable to get to my phone at that time.

Love to all.

Greetings to all

I'm leaving tomorrow (8/29). I'm to report to the headquarters for one of the insurance adjusting teams that will be called into the hurricane area, probably either Louisiana or Mississippi. Although the hurricane has not hit yet, it is certain to cause such massive damage that teams are being called and asked to get as close as possible. I'm to meet with the team in Baton Rouge by 5 pm on Tuesday. But that could even be changed based on any damage in Baton Rouge.