Clean up crews after Matthew meeting their basic needs?

[Marthe48]

I have a friend posting on Facebook, that her brother is on a out of state clean-up crew in Fl. The crew is sleeping in the trucks, have no way to clean up, wash their clothes. She's indicating that they aren't getting adequate food, don't have access to money. Her brother smokes and can't buy cigarettes, for example.

Is this normal? The people they are there to help are in the same situation. If housing is full, and supply chains are broken, is this what the crews have to expect? What kind of support is their company supposed to give them? Should the crews just bite the bullet?

[marybourg]

1. Is the brother employed by a government agency?

a private contractor? Did he volunteer? Was he required by his employer to go? How long must he stay?

So much we don't know so hard to answer.

[Marthe48]

5. Employed by a company

The sister called the main office and is waiting for a call back.

I've known the family for almost 40 years, friends with the parents, watched these kids grow up. Hard working and tough.

[lpbk2713]

2. I recall the Feds brought in travel trailers after Katrina.

Of course that was during the BushCo Regime and there had to be a public outcry first. I'm sure
the hotel/motel rooms filled up quickly with displaced locals. Utilities might be out for a while.
There may be no water flowing because the pipes were contaminated.

Edit: And as I further recall, some could not be used because it was found formaldehyde was
used during their construction.

[Marthe48]

7. It is horrible after something like this

We were hit by 2 derechos, 1998 and 2012. We lost power both times and had tree damage and car damage. We felt lucky because the power was restored the next day both times and the wind damage could have been much worse. But if local people are in the local hotels and shelters, it is going to be hard to house crews from out of state.

Poster #4 DrDan says crews are staying at the Hilton near Daytona.

I hope this is worked out. No one can do good work if they are tired and hungry.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. We were mildly hit. Just debris cleaning. But the yard trash pick-up is a day late, already.

Possibly, the city dispatched the trucks out to help in other areas that were hit harder by Matthew? I expect it will take them 2 or 3 days to pick up yard trash in my area, once they get started.

[Marthe48]

6. Good to hear