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Well, the orders did change again, and we wound up not in Dallas, but in Tyler on Labor Day.

Our unit wound up back-and-forthing between Tyler and Troup, assisting at three different shelters during the week. On Wednesday, we were told to expect the possibility that this could be a three-month deployment if Ma Nature decided to keep lobbing hurricanes one right after another at our Gulf Coast.

Thursday, Ike changed course just enough for HQ to decide the immediate danger was over, and many of the 39th's troops got sent home to rest. However, we are still on "active stand-by" through the end of November, and I imagine we'll get called up again at least once or twice more this season.

The damage from Gustav wasn't as bad as was expected, and that's a blessing.

Got home yesterday around 5:30 pm. I managed to stay awake long enough to unload my truck, grab a shower, make a couple phone calls, and slurp a milkshake that my darling hubby brought home for me.

Didn't wake up until after 7:00 (MT) this morning. And that's only because the Sergeant Major was calling everyone to make sure we made it home OK. After getting up at 0400 CT all week, this really was sleeping in!

What with the humidity, the constant drizzle/rain, and the sweat, this morning is the first time all week that I've felt completely dry.

Please continue to pray for calmer weather - folks on or near the coastline from Texas all the way around Florida to the Carolinas have had enough weather the last three years to last a lifetime.

Glad you're home safe, quidni.

Get some rest.

Praise the Lord! I am thankful that the damage was not as bad as they thought it would be and thankful that you are home safe and sound! I will continue to pray for the Gulf Coast and area.

God Bless You!
-geo

Interesting that they turned your unit around, but hooray for you!

We went to Shreveport and back today, and saw some huge convoys from the Nebraska ARNG, heading south.

Omaha and El Paso are the same distance from New Orleans.

KBCraig wrote:Interesting that they turned your unit around, but hooray for you!

We weren't expecting to be cut loose after just one week. We'd been told to expect a minimum 10-day deployment, with the possibility of it extending up to 3 months. Apparently the weather eased up enough (i.e. Ike shifted course enough) that HQ decided to send home those units who had traveled the farthest to get there.

Any chance you'll be going back out with the imminent arrival of Ike?
I was talking to one of our city emergency management folks today, and they anticipate opening shelters by Wednesday.

KC5AV wrote:Any chance you'll be going back out with the imminent arrival of Ike?
I was talking to one of our city emergency management folks today, and they anticipate opening shelters by Wednesday.

A rather high chance, as it turned out.

We had exactly a day and a half before getting notification to re-deploy for Ike. It would have been better if they'd just kept us in the field - this back-and-forthing from east to west Texas has put over 3000 miles on my little pickup since Labor Day.

During this month we've been billeted at Camp Bowie, three different church camps, a national guard armory, even in some unused rooms at a hospital.... finally got home from Tyler early yesterday evening. It was wonderful to sleep in my own bed again! I've got an incident report to put together, make copies of my orders to provide to my employer, and laundry to catch up on and re-pack in case of another major hurricane this season. All I've been able to rouse myself to do today is catch up on 3+ weeks worth of news and blogs that I couldn't access reliably while in the field.

I go back to work tomorrow.

Longtooth, I'm glad to know things are looking up in Lufkin. Sorry I missed you when I called yesterday!