Day Four of Work - Brandi Jones

Well, today was definitely stormy!! It’s a little weird to be back here and have a “severe storm” warning—when is hurricane season?!!!! The winds sure did come up, the lightening flashed, thunder rolled and rain poured!!!!!! Tim and I hand cut lots of fascia board with “snips” out in the rain. It was definitely a wet job and it looks a lot easier than it is!—finally, after an hour or more, Dee, one of the crew leads saw us hand cutting this stuff and said that she would go set up a saw station for us.—I will forever be grateful to her for that!!! J I spent the rest of the afternoon doing siding. Once the weather settled down and stopped storming, it actually cooled off a little bit. The closing ceremony will always be a fond memory—thanks, Tim for finding “the door” to get us inside the ceremonies! J! And thanks George, for your divine intervention so that we could get in the “door”! J! We met a young gentleman at our table that evening that was with the team from Ireland. It was great fun talking with him and learning about Ireland! I wrapped up the evening with one of my fellow volunteers, Bernadette, from upstate New York, in the lounge enjoying the really fantastic live music---lots of fellow volunteers from various sites were there along with some very interesting locals!

BRANDI JONES

Day Three of Work - George E. Coaston, Jr.

Thursday was a very frantic day for everyone. We were in a race with Mother Nature to complete our day’s assignments for most of the morning, which included roof work and installing siding. We began our various assignments in a rush to beat the storm that was already on its way. The forecast for today included severe thunderstorm warnings and a high wind advisory. Tim and I worked with the other crewmembers on the roof installing shingles, Amber and Brandi worked with other groups installing siding. At times, I felt that this race would never end. It seemed that every time we would pick up steam, the weather would force the whole group of about 20 volunteers into the house for safety. We never gave up and we completed our roofing task. Between the down pours, we would ascend the roof to install another one or two rolls of shingles. This went on for around four hours, until we got a break in the weather. Our goals were met today and we should be able to complete most of the work on the siding tomorrow. The day ended with the closing ceremony at the Beau Rivage.

GEORGE E. COASTON JR.

Day Two of Work - Brandi Jones

Oh my goodness!!—what day!!! I spent ALL morning working along side Stephanie from Nissan. Nissan was our house sponsor. Stephanie and I worked on the house wrap. We were using this VERY sticky waterproof housewrap tape.—it’s like packaging tape x 100!!! It was literally sticking to the skin of our hands. After a few hours of that, our hands and fingers were all red. Then we were given the task of putting the foam insulation around the newly installed windows. Unfortunately we were told that we should NOT get it on our hands, when we asked “How do we get this yellow goop off our hands?!!!” J It was really “yicky” stuff. It was on the palms of our hands and on our finger tips/nails. We walked to the neighborhood store to buy something that would help us…but, it was not coming off!-- poor Stephanie had a VIP event to attend early that evening! And yes, today was hot and inside the house it was getting quite warm as the roof was on, shingles were being laid, walls were up and windows were installed—not much air moving through this hot house! George and myself spent ALL afternoon installing ALL the insulation inside the house. It was definitely a hot and sweaty afternoon. It was definitely a sauna!!! I can’t remember ever sweating that much for that long!!! Especially when you were stuck in a small space like a closet that required cutting the insulation to make it fit in the spaces. Then after about 2 ½ hours of this “sweat session” the contracted dry wall team came in like a “hurricane” and the pressure to get all the insulation in before the drywall whizzes put up the dry wall was on! So, for the next hour we frantically worked to get it completed and we were barely one step ahead of the “whizzes” but we did it!!!!!!!! Then we were off to Pascagoula for the Block Party! It was fun! This was the first night that I got back to the hotel room and never left!—I was worn out!---thanks George, for bringing “the blog” to us, since we were so tired!

BRANDI JONES

Day Two of Work - Amber-Michele Douglas

Today was a very different day for me. I signed up for this build expecting to learn new things, meet new people and educate myself more on Habitat for Humanity. I believe on just day three I have accomplished this and much more. I have challenged myself on some many levels it is unbelievable. Today, I decided to join the roofing crew! Why I decided to do this on the HOTTEST day we have had so far is beyond me, but I did. I conquered my fear and climbed the ladder with the assistance of two kids from Americorp. I made sure I went potty before I went up because I was NOT in for the climbing up and down the ladder. I looked around and saw the other volunteers walking around as if we were casually walking on the beach. I initially asked other volunteers to explain my assignment to me in one spot and to also bring me my roofing supplies. As time went on, I decided it would be more efficient for me to get up and get my own supplies as I was installing shingles. To have to ask for each one would be a hassle and the other volunteers started ignoring me anyway! I started walking around and did not leave the roof until it was time to leave for the day! I was so proud of myself until it was time to get OFF THE ROOF… Today was also a great day because we were able to leave the jobsite ‘early’ and attend a Block Party in Pascagoula, MS. The block party combined all 2,000 volunteers from each site and gave us a chance to learn more about Pascagoula. The Mayor was so emotional in giving his speech I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place. He stated 95% of the city was buried and destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. The city is currently in the process of re-building.

AMBER-MICHELE DOUGLAS

Day Two of Work - Amber-Michele Douglas

Day 2 of building was a great day! The day actually started early for us because we were under the impression the last bus to the build site left at 5:50 am when in fact the first bus to the site was 6:00am! Leave it to a PG&E employee to show up before anyone else! We were welcomed to Yankee Stadium where we meet each morning for breakfast and morning devotional. After breakfast, we all walk over to our site; get a briefing and a work assignment. Today was a VERY hard labor day! Tim worked on installing the roof, Brandi, George worked on Insulation, and I worked on installing windows and attaching straps to the home to help prevent storm damage in the future. I have been working with the Waste Management Team from all over the United States and they have been VERY helpful. I have learned quite a bit about home building and how to make sure codes are met for the city inspectors… Let’s just say that it DOES matter if a nail is not hammered in straight! (wink wink). We also met the mother that is going to move into the home. She was very excited and thrilled about the work we are doing for her and her children. Many thanks to PG&E for allowing us to come and experience this event!

AMBER-MICHELE DOUGLAS

Day One of Work - Brandi Jones

What an amazing experience these past few days have been! I am so proud to be here in Mississippi, representing PG&E with my fellow co-workers, at this incredible event!

I have never been to the south, so visiting New Orleans and meeting George’s family and seeing the after effects of Hurricane Katrina was a very touching experience. To stand in the ninth Ward on the porch stoop of George’s grandma’s house, look around, and see only other porch stoops was a moment I will never forget. An entire neighborhood just gone. To see in person what I had only previously seen on television had a profound effect on me and to meet survivors of Hurricane Katrina was inspiring!

The opening ceremony on Sunday was fabulous—Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Senator Wicker and John Edwards were there! That kicked off the beginning of why we came here…TO BUILD HOUSES!!!

Monday morning came before we were quite ready—we were waiting at the bus around 6am! It was great fun to go the Yankee Stadium on the school bus to meet the other volunteers and head off to our house!—we are house #1 in Biloxi and it is just a few blocks from the stadium. We arrived on site around 7:30am and work began. By the end of the day, the walls were all standing and the trusses on!!! It was lots of hard work and George and Tim were part of the team hand laying trusses—no crane on this job site!!!! It was incredible!!—check out the pictures!

Having lots of fun in Biloxi, Mississippi!!!

Oh, and for my fellow employees back in Redding….I haven’t seen any alligators!!

BRANDI JONES

Opening Ceremony - Tim Smith

Visiting New Orleans was somewhat overwhelming. There is so much work left to do. Since Katrina was about 2 ½ years ago it is easy to put it out of consciousness. To see so many areas with little or no rehab, since the hurricane, highlights the task and opportunity before us. This has brought my greatest sense of pride in working for PG&E that we as a company would “step-up” and make a difference; and choose to send me with these incredible fellow workers. So, thank you PG&E and so many others in the community that have also expressed their gratitude for sending us!

We rushed back to Biloxi with enough time to prepare for the opening ceremony. It was encouraging to have Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, introduce Jimmy and Roselyn Carter. President Carter gave some inspiring words and anecdotes. We met many people from arrival and continuing. People from as far as India, Tokyo Vietnam as well as many states so far. Everyone has been so kind and friendly.

TIM SMITH