24 days after Hurricane Irma, FEMA has come to our street to clean up. The issue has been that the haulers have broken their existing emergency contracts to go to cities paying higher fees (2-3x higher). While I am all for capitalism, this falls in the line of being greedy and price gouging. The higher fees can bring a single truck up to $43,000 more per week!!! Our City is very responsive and I am sure they have been working overtime trying to get haulers in. It was only yesterday that I started seeing many trucks on the road. I hope the greediest contractors don't get bids next go-around. I manage a neighborhood that will have to pay $$$ to get their debris picked up rather than wait several more weeks. On a positive note, we are all happy that it is only debris giving us trouble.
I think the city should bring suit against the haulers for breech of contract. It would be terrible if they lost all that money they made in compensation. No it wouldn't!
Congratulations. I'm sure everyone was excited. Reminds me of the beer commercial set in the mountain community when the snow melts enough for the first Budweiser truck of spring to make it over the mountain, much to the delight of the citizens. Looks like a pretty street, minus the debris.
@shepherdmanswife - I agree with Chantal. All we heard on the news leading up to landfall and briefly after was about Hurricane Irma. Then just like Houston and the Caribbean Islands you hear little about the aftermath. Boo to the MSM!
@skipt07 I suppose that's why I share. The media is quick to go to the next story. And there certainly have been some terrible problems after Irma. Still, many people have lost their homes and livelihoods. Not people who can just pick up and put themselves back together. People in the Lower Keys...many have lost everything. People in Everglades City where it is so isolated...people forget about them because no one happens by on the way to somewhere else. I have friends helping out a few families they didn't even know! When you reduce it to an individual level, it is heartbreaking. So, if you know of people willing to give...there is a lot of need still.
@danette - Our church took up a special offering to give to Samaritan's Purse right after Harvey hit Houston. I have heard many people say they give to the Red Cross but, we chose to give to Samaritan's Purse as more of the money go to those in need rather then operating expenses. My wife and I have also given out side of church as Puerto Rico was as bad or even worse than the Keys.
@skipt07 Samaratins Purse partnered with a church and they are sending crews to the Keys to help. They are a good organization. A friend went and posted pics. Nice to see money in action. The good thing about them is they stay for the longer term.
At least you are seeing some 'progress' (if not in overall services, in getting debris out at last). It's appalling the short memories and the consistent tendency to leap to the next event without keeping the light shining on those in need from the earlier ones. And hurricane season is just beginning.
@danette - That is good to know. I know they had people go into the Houston and now Puerto Rico. I wasn't sure how many volunteers to go to all these areas and how long they remained.
By the way, I am glad to see this made the PP with you having a few followers which means others are seeing it for its impact.
By the way, I am glad to see this made the PP with you having a few followers which means others are seeing it for its impact.