Friday, August 1, 2014

WRAP-UP AND REFLECTION


We spent Friday installing drywall and applying drywall mud.   The house is now beginning to resemble what it looked like before flooring and drywall were removed for the plumbing inspection.  We felt that we had made a significant contribution towards returning the house to not only a livable condition for the owner, but also in far better condition than it was before Hurricane Sandy came through.

 


 
 
 



 

While we were there the electric utility company and electrical contractor replaced the power line from the pole to the house and installed permanent outlets for use by future teams.

We celebrated our week here with a dinner at the Anchorage Bar and Grille, where we enjoyed delicious seafood dinners on the front porch, with a view of the harbor.


 
Reflecting on our experience here this week, it could be viewed something like peeling back the skins of an onion.   At a physical level, our initial impression when we arrived was “so where was the hurricane?”    Everything looked normal.   As the week progressed and we began driving around the area, we began to realize that a significant number of new homes were under construction, and many others appear to have been recently renovated.   When we stepped into the two houses we worked on, the impact of the storm damage hit us solid in the face.
 
At an emotional level, the people we met seemed normal, but as we talked to more of them, and begin to learn of their experiences during and after the storm, we began to appreciate the stress they have, and in some cases continue to deal with because of this historical storm.   And we only have experienced the relatively minor damage, compared to areas north of us.   We’re appreciative of the opportunity that Farmington First and A Future With Hope have provided us to contribute to the recovery effort here, and hope that we can come back again.

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