here.”
“ Yeah, I heard that too. I also heard the President said he needed to come, but Harper refused.”
“ Well, if he keeps that up and he won’t be the Administrator very long.”
That is exactly what I am hoping for, Fitzpatrick thought. He had worked with some good Administrator’s, but Harper was not one of them.
“ Well, I guess that will be a wait and see situation.”
Stan was quiet for a moment. He reached over, poured himself a glass of cold water, and then took a long drink.
“ You know,” Stan said, “there is one thing I hate about Texas.”
“ What’s that?”
“ I hate the heat and I hate the bugs. I can never figure out why the hurricanes don’t eradicate them.”
Fitzpatrick laughed. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I think animals are smarter than we are. They know when something is coming and they bury themselves deeper or leave.
Stan nodded. “That must be what happens. Oh well, can’t have everything. So, what are you going to do now?”
“ I’m going to take the crew around to all the towns. I want to see for myself how the cleanup is going. They should get some good human interest stories out of it.”
Stan nodded. “Yes, I’m sure they will. How long are you going to be down here?”
“ I’ll be back here tomorrow morning. If you think of anything else you need or have a problem with something, let me know. My flight is just after noon. The film crew is leaving tonight. They should have enough to make a good story by then.”
“ What do you want to do tomorrow?”
“ I want to talk to the Texas Emergency Services and see if they are in need of anything further. I haven’t heard from them since I was down here, so I just want to touch base with them.”
“ I’ve been talking with them. I think they are pretty much set. But, I’m sure they would like to talk to you.”
“ What was going on with the state agency talking to Pete Morrow?”
Stan nodded. “Yes, I forgot to tell you. They are from the Governor’s office. Pete had taken them on a tour. He was just finishing off with any questions they had. From what I could hear, they were impressed.”
“ That’s good. I was hoping there wasn’t a problem. Well, I am going to take off for now. Call me if you need me.”
Stan stood up and nodded. “I will. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
They said goodbye and Fitzpatrick walked out of the conference room and walked out of the building. A semi was just coming in. He wasn’t sure what was inside, but knew things here were under control. Now, it was time for a tour. He found his two tagalongs and then located the Escalade they had ready for them. They all got in and took off. Fitzpatrick made his way around Beaumont, then got on route 347 and headed south. He would begin his tour starting at the furthest town south, which had taken the biggest hit.
As the afternoon went on, Fitzpatrick had to admit that what he was seeing now and what he had seen two weeks ago was a world of difference. The landscape had changed and it would probably take decades until nature changed it back to the way it was. But, what he was also seeing was people who were recovering. They stopped in each town, talked to people who were in the process of cleaning up, all three helping where they could. Sasha and Josh were busy getting film while all this was going on. They filmed his interviews with the townspeople and did some of their own interviews, with him and the townspeople.
The large group Stan had told him about was busy working by the time they got to the town. Family members of some of the elderly people were helping too. The ten lots, all located along one street was a beehive of activity. Every one of the one hundred college students were working hard. The most amazing part was that they looked like they wanted to be here. Wanted to help. The film crew was eating this up.
Yes, the lots will be ready for the mobile homes within the next week. He could see the relief on the
“ Yeah, I heard that too. I also heard the President said he needed to come, but Harper refused.”
“ Well, if he keeps that up and he won’t be the Administrator very long.”
That is exactly what I am hoping for, Fitzpatrick thought. He had worked with some good Administrator’s, but Harper was not one of them.
“ Well, I guess that will be a wait and see situation.”
Stan was quiet for a moment. He reached over, poured himself a glass of cold water, and then took a long drink.
“ You know,” Stan said, “there is one thing I hate about Texas.”
“ What’s that?”
“ I hate the heat and I hate the bugs. I can never figure out why the hurricanes don’t eradicate them.”
Fitzpatrick laughed. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I think animals are smarter than we are. They know when something is coming and they bury themselves deeper or leave.
Stan nodded. “That must be what happens. Oh well, can’t have everything. So, what are you going to do now?”
“ I’m going to take the crew around to all the towns. I want to see for myself how the cleanup is going. They should get some good human interest stories out of it.”
Stan nodded. “Yes, I’m sure they will. How long are you going to be down here?”
“ I’ll be back here tomorrow morning. If you think of anything else you need or have a problem with something, let me know. My flight is just after noon. The film crew is leaving tonight. They should have enough to make a good story by then.”
“ What do you want to do tomorrow?”
“ I want to talk to the Texas Emergency Services and see if they are in need of anything further. I haven’t heard from them since I was down here, so I just want to touch base with them.”
“ I’ve been talking with them. I think they are pretty much set. But, I’m sure they would like to talk to you.”
“ What was going on with the state agency talking to Pete Morrow?”
Stan nodded. “Yes, I forgot to tell you. They are from the Governor’s office. Pete had taken them on a tour. He was just finishing off with any questions they had. From what I could hear, they were impressed.”
“ That’s good. I was hoping there wasn’t a problem. Well, I am going to take off for now. Call me if you need me.”
Stan stood up and nodded. “I will. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
They said goodbye and Fitzpatrick walked out of the conference room and walked out of the building. A semi was just coming in. He wasn’t sure what was inside, but knew things here were under control. Now, it was time for a tour. He found his two tagalongs and then located the Escalade they had ready for them. They all got in and took off. Fitzpatrick made his way around Beaumont, then got on route 347 and headed south. He would begin his tour starting at the furthest town south, which had taken the biggest hit.
As the afternoon went on, Fitzpatrick had to admit that what he was seeing now and what he had seen two weeks ago was a world of difference. The landscape had changed and it would probably take decades until nature changed it back to the way it was. But, what he was also seeing was people who were recovering. They stopped in each town, talked to people who were in the process of cleaning up, all three helping where they could. Sasha and Josh were busy getting film while all this was going on. They filmed his interviews with the townspeople and did some of their own interviews, with him and the townspeople.
The large group Stan had told him about was busy working by the time they got to the town. Family members of some of the elderly people were helping too. The ten lots, all located along one street was a beehive of activity. Every one of the one hundred college students were working hard. The most amazing part was that they looked like they wanted to be here. Wanted to help. The film crew was eating this up.
Yes, the lots will be ready for the mobile homes within the next week. He could see the relief on the
Similar Books
