Deployed to Virginia Beach with FEMA

Rich and Demi spent the Thanksgiving holiday with us!

Mary and I flew Rich and Demi down from Seattle to spend the Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend with us. As usual, I made sure I had a pre-approved non-availability request approved by FEMA. And we had a great time. Mary is a great cook. And she had three different kinds of pies. But as expected, the minute my PANA ran out FEMA called to deploy me to Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The president declared Virginia a major disaster on Nov. 2, to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Hurricane Matthew on Oct. 7.  Virginia suffered only a glancing blow from Hurricane Matthew, but unprecedented amounts of rain fell and officials estimated flood damage to be hundreds of millions of dollars, making it the costliest storm since Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The declaration made federal funding available to affected individuals in the independent cities of Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Three more cities were later added.

Working in FEMA's Virginia Beach Joint Field Office.

I arrived on Nov. 29 and assumed the responsibilities of Troy York, who had been the sole media relations specialist for the first 30 days and as a reservist was returning home. He left me a comprehensive binder of information and was a valuable resource during the short transition. Because he had focused almost exclusively on larger media, and a press conference held on his next-to-last day drew AP and the local daily and TV station, I decided to visit smaller media. For all of them it would be their first in-person visit from FEMA. I also, of course, worked to maintain our media relations with the larger outlets, including the major daily newspaper here, the Virginian-Pilot. and a smaller nearby daily, the Suffolk News-Herald. Here are some typical news stories:

I took this photo in the newspaper's lobby.

Recovery from Hurricane Matthew is moving along in Hampton Roads


By Mechelle Hankerson
The Virginian-Pilot It took two months and $7.5 million in federal aid, but Hampton Roads is approaching the light at the end of the Hurricane Matthew recovery tunnel.On Tuesday afternoon, the Virginia Beach City Council voted to suspend the local disaster declaration that went into place Oct. 9, the day after the storm passed by the area.
Although we have not finished all aspects of the long-term recovery process, all necessary local emergency actions have been taken as of Nov. 22, 2016,” Beach city manager Dave Hansen wrote in a memo. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also scaling back hours at its local disaster recovery centers. Centers are open in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Suffolk and Portsmouth, and all will be closed on Sunday starting this weekend.Virginia Beach’s center is open 8 a.m-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Suffolk, Portsmouth and Hampton centers are open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Disaster recovery centers in Chesapeake and Norfolk closed in late November. Newport News was included in FEMA’s initial disaster declaration Nov. 2, but never opened a temporary center and instead, FEMA representatives canvassed neighborhoods to register residents in need.So far, more than 2,400 Virginia Beach residents have applied for federal aid, according to FEMA spokesman Steven Solomon. More than $4.5 million of federal aid has been used for housing assistance, either rebuilding or relocating. About $500,000 has been used for other costs, like replacing personal belongings, medical care or fixing vehicles.Hampton has had the fewest number of federal aid applicants, at 153. About $125,000 worth of FEMA grants has been used for housing needs in the city and another $70,000 has been allocated for other needs.Hampton, along with Suffolk and Portsmouth, were included in a later federal disaster declaration, meaning FEMA aid was not available to them immediately.

I took this photo when I visited the newspaper's office.

Moore than 200 apply for help

By Tracy Agnew

Suffolk News-Herald

More than 200 people in Suffolk affected by Hurricane Matthew, which struck the state Oct. 8-9, have applied for assistance after the program was opened to Suffolk residents last month, but a deadline is coming up soon for people who haven’t yet applied to do so.

“We’re very encouraged by the number of survivors who have registered,” said Steven Solomon, a media relations specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Solomon said the deadline to register is Jan. 3.
"We hope that anyone who hasn’t yet registered will do so,” he said. Of the 204 people who have registered in Suffolk, about $350,276 in housing assistance has been tallied. About $19,034 in assistance for other needs has been applied for. The Individual Assistance programs made available through FEMA to communities through the disaster declaration provide several forms of recovery assistance for individuals and households.Assistance can include help with temporary housing, reimbursement of lodging assistance, and financial assistance for repair or replacement of their home. Damage to an essential vehicle, moving and storage expenses, clean-up items, medical and child care expenses, and damage to essential household items, clothing, tools required for your job and necessary educational materials are all covered if related to the disaster, as are funeral expenses.

Separately, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved about $7 million worth of loans throughout the eligible Virginia localities, said John Frederick with the SBA. The SBA helps homeowners and renters as well as businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations.SBA loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies.

I went on a special tour of the engine room; fantastic!

On my first Saturday off, I drove over to see the USS Wisconsin battleship, where I took a fascinating tour seven “decks” (aka floors) down in the depths where I learned what was required to power this massive City at Sea. USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is an Iowa-class battleship, the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. She was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and launched on Dec. 7 1943, sponsored by the wife of Gov. Walter Goodland of Wisconsin. During her career, Wisconsin served in the Pacific Theater of World War II, where she shelled Japanese fortifications and screened United States aircraft carriers as they conducted air raids against enemy positions. During the Korean War, Wisconsin shelled North Korean targets in support of United Nations and South Korean ground operations, after which she was decommissioned. She was reactivated on Aug. 1, 1986 and after a modernization program she participated in Operation Desert Storm in January and February 1991. Wisconsin was last decommissioned in September 1991, having earned a total of six battle stars for service in World War II and Korea, as well as a Navy Unit Commendation for service during the January/February 1991 Gulf War. She currently functions as a museum ship operated by Nauticus, The National Maritime Center in Norfolk, Virginia.

The bindery was warm and cozy.

I was delighted to be able to meet up with Tom Kell, my old FEMA lunch buddy, who now lives with his wife Penny in Williamsburg, Virginia. I drove up to his house and together we went over to Colonial Williamsburg where the 18^th century colonial capital of Virginia was teeming with visitors. Tom and I walked along Duke of Gloucester Street, affectionately known as DOG, poking our heads into various shops along the way. My favorites were the printing and the bindery shops. We also lucked out by getting two 30-minute tours, one of the Governor’s Palace and the other of the Capitol building. We had a nice lunch at the counter of the Trellis Bar & Grill and in the evening, while I dined outdoors on a hot dog, hamburger and turkey leg, listened to fife and drummers and also bagpipers. The main event was the so-called Grand Illumination, fireworks launched from three locations simultaneously. It was the best I have ever seen, and I’ve seen many!





The Old Coast Guard Station has many artifacts. 

Located near my hotel was "The old house," recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and also as a Virginia landmark, preserving the history of both the United States Life-Saving and later the Coast Guard Services. The Old Coast Guard Station was built in 1903 and has over a thousand photographs and well over a thousand photographs and well over 1,800 historical artifacts. A retired CG captain gave a very comprehensive tour of the museum's two galleries and answered all my questions. The boat room on the lower displays the 1903 Life-Saving/Coast Guard Station with actual exhibits showing rescue equipment and their functions. The upper gallery has info about Virginian shipwrecks and the adventures of The Battle for the Atlantic during World War II. The wreck of the Jennie Hall is just one of the wrecks that occurred off the coast of Virginia Beach. There are photos, stories and artifacts from various wrecks including the Diktator displayed at the museum. The Virginia Beach coastline is a part of the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

One of the tamer pieces on display.

The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art is not far from the ocean, so it was a short drive over from my hotel. The visitor services coordinator at the front desk was very nice and told me that most people take one to two hours to go through the exhibits. I was done in less than 15 minutes. Why? It was very depressing. Apparently, modern artists are gloomy types who only depict destruction and death. At least those on display at this museum were, anyway. It was just too depressing for me. MOCA claims to be one the region’s best examples of a private-public partnership. The building is owned and maintained by the City of Virginia Beach and MOCA operates within it as a private, non-profit. After maintaining a small oceanfront property for several years, local supporters in the late 1980s planned to construct a new physical space for the museum. In 1989, after nearly a decade of planning, fundraising and construction, MOCA opened in its present location. The current structure, designed by Boston architect E. Verner Johnson and Associates, is approximately 38,500 square feet and features 6,300 square feet of exhibition space.

The black-and-white lighthouse is still in use.

There are two lighthouses located at Cape Henry within Fort Story military base near north end of Virginia Beach. To visit the lighthouse, you must pass through the security gates of Fort Story. The first time I tried to get in, they told me to come back with a copy of my car rental agreement. I went back to my hotel, got my rental agreement and went back. This time they told me because all the insurance options were marked "declined" on the rental agreement I needed some other proof of insurance coverage. I wound up walking more than a mile, each way, to the lighthouse. the wind was blowing. It was cold. The original Cape Henry Lighthouse was the first lighthouse authorized by the U.S. government, dating from 1792. It was also the first federal construction project under the Constitution, for an original contract amount of $15,200 (an additional $2,500 was required to finish the lighthouse). A newer structure stands nearby, so there are actually two lighthouses at Cape Henry. The older lighthouse was acquired in 1930 by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (Now APVA Preservation Virginia). A brick lining and an iron stairway have been added to the interior. The lighthouse is open to the public and a fine view can be enjoyed from its observation platform. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. In 2002 the American Society of Civil Engineers designated the lighthouse a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

One of the largest aircraft collections in the world.

I spent several hours one Saturday at the Military Aviation Museum, home to one of the largest private collections of World War I and II era military aircraft in the world. Each of the 60+ was beautifully restored to its prior military condition, using original parts whenever possible, and most of the planes are airworthy and flown at the museum during flight demonstrations and at air shows throughout the year. There were Nieuports, Fokkers, Bleriots, a Spad and a Sopwith Camel from WWI. The WWII aircraft included Messerschmitt's, a Spitfire, a MIG and a Mustang.



I think MacArthur had every medal possible!

I saw a brochure that intrigued me, so I made the short drive over to the MacArthur Memorial, a museum and research center dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the life of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. The Memorial also pays tribute to the millions of men and women who served with MacArthur in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Situated in downtown Norfolk, the campus consists of a museum, archive and research center, education center, theater, welcome center and a gift shop. It was amazing and I was there over two hours. His famous cap, sunglasses and corncob pipe were on display, along with his Medal of Honor and many, many other mementoes. He didn't get into West Point the first two times, but made it on his third attempt and had the highest score in his group. He rose to the top cadet rank and had one of the highest GPA's ever. He later was superintendent at West Point. 

Rodin's Age of Bronze debuted at the 1877 Paris Salon.

Not far from the McArthur Museum is an art museum that started when the son of the car company founder moved his small collection from a cramped Massachusetts church to Norfolk in 1971. The city promised support, space and commitment, and 10,000 works of art later, the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences was renamed the Chrysler Museum of Art. A major collection of glass is on display, including examples from the ubiquitous Chihuly, but while some were colorful and pretty they are not really my cup of tea. The total collection numbers nearly 30,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of history. Highlights include an impressive and comprehensive survey of European and American painting and sculpture, including artwork from Gauguin, Manet, Matisse, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, etc. I focused on these and had a delightful time strolling along a my own pace.

Apollo 12 returned to Earth Nov. 24, 1969.

The NASA Langley Research Center was established in 1917 in Hampton, Virginia, as NASA's original field center. It’s a research, science, technology and development center that provides game-changing innovations that enable NASA to make significant contributions to the nation. Set up to offer the public an idea of what that means is the Virginia Air and Space Center, one of 14 NASA Visitor Centers and Orbiter locations nationwide. I was happy to spend a few hours there. Exhibits include aircraft such as an F-104C Starfighter and F-106 Delta Dart and Mercury, Gemini and Apollo spacecraft, including the actual Apollo 12 command module that carried astronauts Richard “Dick” Gordon, Alan Bean and Charles “Pete” Conrad on the second manned mission to the moon in 1969. I also enjoyed a Space Quest demo that simulated a trip to Mars aboard a futuristic transport ship. I bought a ticket for the IMAX 3D movie, which was about the National Park System.  Wow!


Having three meals a day is often a challenge when deployed, but I was fortunate that my hotel offered a breakfast buffet, so most mornings I had a nice bowl of oatmeal with raisins and craisins and skim milk. I’d often grab a banana, apple or orange to eat later too. Sometimes I'd also take a raisin bagel to eat later. 

Smoked turkey breast was my favorite!



Every meal was a feast here!

Lunchtime was limited to a half hour, so that limited us to eating at or taking out from restaurants within shouting distance of the Joint Field Office. But dinner and weekends had no such limitations. My two favorites were the Rt. 58 Deli, which reminded me of a New York City Jewish deli more than any other deli I’ve eaten in over the last 40 years. I ate there so how they greeted me by name. Ditto for Whitner’s Barbecue, where the owner also greeted me by name when I ate there. Other places I ate at were Mary's Restaurant and the Pocahontas Pancake and Waffle House, both in Virginia Beach.

When I was visiting the Military Aviation Museum I happened to meet their marketing director, and

Lee Hall Mansion a large low-hipped roof.

after chatting she invited me (and any other FEMA people alone for the holiday) to her home for dinner on Christmas Day. With a friend from our IT unit, we had an amazing gourmet dinner and tour of her home, situated on 5 acres. Her semi-retired engineer husband and her hedge fund daughter were charming and welcoming. The next day I drove about an hour up to Newport News to visit two historic homes – the Endview Plantation and the Lee Hall Mansion. Endview is a smaller old-fashioned house built in 1769 on top of a little knoll with a spring flowing at the foot of the hill and prime farmland stretching out in all directions along gentle slopes. Built between 1851 and 1859, Lee Hall Mansion was home to affluent planter Richard Decauter Lee, and is one of the last remaining antebellum homes on the Virginia Peninsula. During the Civil War, Endview was occupied by Federal troops and Lee Hall was occupied by Confederate troops. I was lucky to be given a private tour at both homes!

I really enjoyed the "Lights at the Beach" drive.

And on my last weekend in Virginia, my former FEMA colleague Tom Kell and his wife, Penny, drove down from Williamsburg and took me to dinner at McCormick & Schmick’s, the upscale seafood restaurant, where we had cocktails, appetizers, entrees and truly wonderful desserts. Afterwards we drove over to the boardwalk for the Lights at the Beach drive, where we saw festive fish, jumping dolphins, frolicking porpoises – all in bright, colored lights against the clear night-time sky. They were joined by Santa, elves and a 40-foot tall Christmas tree erected on the beach and in the beautiful parks. One of the highlights was the giant “12 Days of Christmas” display, where some fixtures stand 20 and 30 feet high. Over 30,000 families a year make the light show a part of their holiday celebration!