Even though I did not leave Poquoson during the storm, I'm glad I wasn't in my house when the water came through. I would have been wisely devastated than I am now. Below are pictures from my home and my yards. I haven't seen any pictures yet of what the water was like around my home. I live across from a creek a little past the crab cake house and if someone has some pictures they can post here, I'd sure love to see them.

My gratitude goes out to so many folks who helped me and I am forever in their debt. I was able to get the trees out of the yard with the money FEMA sent. My neighbor Nick helped me get started by telling me how to get started and where to get a dehumidifier. My neighbor Mr. Dave and his son Mike have been the cream of the crop. They helped me here and there when they saw I didn't know what I was doing. But we always got it done. My friends Cassie, Todd, Tabita, Mark, Terry, Duane, Eric, Erika, Sami, Robert, Howard, Shanna, Brooke, Taylor, Brienna and Brooke. True friends are family. My sons Erik and Jerry. Without all these folks and kids I would have walked away a long time ago. Thank you. There was a lot of trees and they filled up my yard. Four young folks from William and Mary came and cleaned the leftover debris from the yard after the tree cutters were done. I lost the paper they wrote their names down on for me but if you know any of them, please extend my thanks. Trinity church has been so wonderful. They provided us with clothing and cleaning supplies. And whoever took the time to wrap the toothpaste, toothbrush, and soap in a washcloth, thank you!! It was a tremendous help. Parish Thrift store dropped off a bag of groceries in our trailer. And Messick Baptist church dropped us off a Christmas tree. I say dropped off all the time because I'm never home. Being a single mother I have to work through all this. It's been very difficult to do all this at a new job.

Making phone calls, dealing with mortgage companies, dealing with insurance companies, dealing with FEMA reps, and dealing with SBA has been very difficult. They all have their own rules they have to go by and that adds onto the time in which you get your claim check. The check that is already not enough to cover the damages. This has been quite a learning experience and I can not beleive this is the way our country treats folks who suffer from disasters. The storm was a disaster. But what you have to deal with after the disaster is a bigger disaster. These memories will live longer than the actual storm did. I wish I never signed on with FEMA. I'm grateful for the trailer but everything else that has been done has made the process longer and harder than it had to be. We need someone helping us get the help we deserve and need. I thought that was who FEMA was. Instead I hear any money they gave out they've asked for it back. The SBA helps you if you sign everything over to them and place their name on your claim too. The claim check gets routed all over the country before you get it. And that's if you get all of it. When does it stop? When can we start rebuilding our homes? What we need is help. We need contractors to show up when they say they will. We need contractors to stop jacking up the prices when we already don't have enough to cover all the expenses. We need someone in this town to stand up for us. Tell us what is right and what is wrong. We who are not in this business are very overwhelmed and we need assistance. Where do go and what do we do when don't have enough money to get done what we are being told has to be done?

And the icing on the cake? My nine year old son lost everything in the flood. He hasn't complained a bit. Okay, maybe he mentioned something about the VCR and play station but not for long. He's been very understanding and a great help to me. He has done a lot of growing up through this. Trinity church has sent me a letter stating they have some presents for him because he was on their angel tree. I am just beside myself with how wonderful my small town is. I wouldn't trade anything to leave Poquoson. Poquoson knows what teamwork is all about. We help our own. And we don't ask for anything in return. Thank you Poquoson!

Marie Hansler