They say it's not bad...now. I'll be interested to hear what they have to say after living in those cramped quarters for a couple of years or when FEMA says they've had long enough to get their lives back together and takes the trailer away leaving them homeless again. That's what FEMA has done to the victims of Hurricane Isabel and other storms.

Good for Ivy & Shane. They've got their act together and will make it. I'm pleased with their atttitude and it makes my own troubles - aches and pains - of 72 years seem trivial.
Janet

Hi Tom! Well, I hope that we're not going to stay in this trailer for a couple of years. This is a boost for us to help get on our feet again. Nothing more. We will find other housing and rebuild like everyone else here. It's what we have to do to continue on with life and raise our family. I'm not saying it's not cramped. We just have to make due. I'd much rather be living in this trailer than a tent with no AC or electric. It will be trying at times, but we just take it day by day.

Ivy and Shane have taken a bad situation caused by mother nature, and are rebuilding their lives. I do not envy their situation. Their attitude is remarkable. I wish them a speedy recovery in getting back to a normal life

What an amazing family. They see the silver lining and appear not to dwell on the negatives of the past. Yes the space is small, and they have a large family (5 kids!) but they have love. Good luck to Shane & Ivy, stay strong and love your family, that will get you through everything.

These kids will be fine. My hat's off to them that they're making do with what's available to them while setting goals and moving forward with their life together, instead of sitting somewhere almost uninhabitable where they refuse to leave, while crying about how nobody is helping them. These kids are models for what can be accomplished by those who are willing to help themselves.

In our area, I see hundreds of mobile homes, not camper trailers sitting waiting to go to the costal region. It looks like a family that large could qualify for something bigger than a 30 ft trailer. God Bless these folks.

My husband Jason served with Shane in the Army at Fort Polk, LA. I became very close to Ivy while we were stationed there. We love them dearly. When we heard that they had become homeless because of the hurricane we were devistated. Ivy called me a couple of weeks ago and let me know they were ok. I was so relieved that they were ok. They are two of the strongest people we know and they will get through this hard time. They have love, and that is all that really matters. We will always be there for them!!!

Our thanks need to go to people like Shane and Ivy. People who are willing to serve their country in the military and then come home and serve as a policeman making only $9.00 an hour. I really hope your plans to make the best of your situation and be able to have a home will all come to pass.

I am proud of you Shane and Ivy, for your determination, strength and positive attitude. Wish I could have been there to help you, but you are doing fine on your own. I love you, keep your chin up, Mom, in Australia

My family and I are now in our FEMA trailer. I can relate to the Jordan's. My two girls, 4 and 6 yrs old, think its great living in this trailer because everything is just their size. We all are just taking it one day at a time and staying close to our faith and family. Hang in there, all.

Do they have to pay for this trailer they get to live in for the next 18 months or do we the taxpaying public? Were they paying for an apartment before?

Mike Stuckey, I served with Shane in Iraq we were very close. If you mention the name "Gonzo" you'll see what Im talking about. Please send me contact information to help my fallen comrade. I wont be able to sleep until I do something to help a brother I fought with in Iraq.

years later they will look back on yhis as one of the
happy times of their lives..

TO Patty: Really lady WHO Cares--- these people NOW Need ANY Help they can get-- i'm Sure in the long run the taxpayers WILL Have to help in this tragedy- BUT Think if it had been YOU- Would u then be worried if the Taxpayers had to HELP? Geeze!!
I Wish u all the BEST Ivy and Shane,,,,,,MAY GOD BLESS You all..A Mom in Arkansas!!!

Too bad you don't have access to some of those Army tents to help enlarge your territory, Shane! Ugh - $9 an hour to keep the peace - every time I hear of a low wages paid to police officers I get really, really grumpy. It just doesn't seem right to me!!! But I can tell that the Jordans will be able to pull through; they've got great determination. I, a taxpayer, don't mind paying for people like the Jordans to have temporary housing while they rebuild their lives. Now, if we could only make sure all the money spent for rebuilding was spent wisely.....

Too bad you don't have access to some of those Army tents to help enlarge your territory, Shane! Ugh - $9 an hour to keep the peace - every time I hear of a low wages paid to police officers I get really, really grumpy. It just doesn't seem right to me!!! But I can tell that the Jordans will be able to pull through; they've got great determination. I, a taxpayer, don't mind paying for people like the Jordans to have temporary housing while they rebuild their lives. Now, if we could only make sure all the money spent for rebuilding was spent wisely.....

I feel the same way, why shouldnt law abiding taxpaying citizens look to the government for help? At least the taxpayers money is going to help people who really need it.And in their own country.

To Patty: It sounds like these two are responsible, hardworking kids, just trying to get by. They're not 'living on welfare.' As a police officer, Shane pays taxes, and if Ivy's ever worked, than so has she. That's why we have a social services net in this country--for times like that. I've paid taxes all my working life, and if something as devastating as that hurricane ever happened to me and my family, you'd better believe I'd expect government help. Good luck Shane and Ivy! God Bless!

To Patty: I, for one, am proud to be able to pay my taxes so that people like Shane and Ivy can be helped in their time of need. I just returned from my first relief trip to Waveland, where I was a volunteer in a 19 man demo crew helping two families there to gut their homes for rebuilding. What the good people of Waveland have experienced in almost beyond belief, but I never heard one of the locals there complain about anything during the time I was there. I plan to return asap to do it all over again, but in the mean time I am working here at home to be able to pay more of those much needed taxes, so that our government may function to serve the needs of it's citizens. Patty, if you don't like the way things are done here in the good old USA, then perhaps you should find another country to call home.

Patty - Maybe you just don't realize what has happened here to our homes! I think you should get on a plane, fly down, see for yourself, and then you will have a TOTALLY different outlook on the situation down here. Your comments are totally INSENSITIVE to everyone affected by this horrible disaster that we are unfortunately having to live through. We are all hard working tax payers just like most of the people in the United States. I cannot believe that some people can be so cold-hearted to think that we don't deserve help.

Ivy and Shane - Best of luck!

Patty should be thinking how blessed she is. This experience could happen to anyone.It takes courage for Ivy and Shane to face the challenge they have been given.

hooah

Ivy and Shane, of course you deserve help (after all you've done for us in the Army and as a Police Officer). If you've gotten any help from the Red Cross or the Salvation Army, you've gotten my help (through my charitable donations). It is important to remember that you can't be compassionate with other people's money. This difference is as simple as the difference between me reaching into my pocket for money to help you and me reaching into your pocket to help a victim of hurricane Wilma. The former is charity - the latter is not.

I hope that you do not have to live in that trailer with your 5 children for very long. It will wear on your family and nerves!!! God will provide for you
KEEP the Faith.

My husband and I took a 33 ft trailer down to Bay St Louis for his sister and husband. Due to the fact that FEMA was giving them the run around while they sat in a shelter for 5 weeks. I dont think very many residents will be rebuilding, due to the fact that it is now required for Bay St Louis residents, to rebuild their new homes on 13 FOOT stilts! Most of the old homes were on 5 foot stilts. Also, my sister in law went to get a permit to build an out building for a washer and dryer. They were fused a permit, due to the fact that you need a home first, in order to build an out building. So there washer and dryer sit outside, uncovered, next to the trailer. More red tape... My cousin, who lost his home in Pass Christian, was living in a tent on his land for 5 weeks. He finally got a trailer from FEMA. But FEMA wouldnt put the trailer on his land, due to the fact that he didnt have water or electric yet. So my cousin requested they take it cross county line to Bay St Louis, close to his mothers trailer. They refused, saying that he would have to go to THAT county, and get on THEIR Trailer list, and start over again. My cousin has a wife and 2 children. Finally after 8 weeks, they got a FEMA trailer for 18 months..So I guess they need to have their new home on the 13 foot stilts built within 18 months? What a bunch of red tape!!! On our journey down there, we saw miles and miles of empty trailers in a field, 2 hours north of Bay St Louis!!!! I am ashamed of whoever is in charge of this absurdity!!!
What sticks in my mind the most, was seeing a refrigerator 20 feet up in a tree..and the smell was still bad after 5 weeks..The flies were real bad, swarming into the trailer every time you opened the door..Until you walk those streets, and see the total devastion..you cannot imagine...It has changed my life forever...It makes you stop and think, how quickly all your material things could be gone in an instant...how little they really mean to you...think about it...and hug your family..

Anyone who has been lucky enough to get their FEMA trailer should be thanking their lucky stars as this couple are as there are thousands of us who still have not received our trailers, yet hundreds of occupant ready trailers have been sitting empty for days due to FEMA bureaucracies.

Hang in there Shane and Ivy. Teach your kids what it takes to be strong and to survive when things go wrong. And teach them to be generous and sensitive and helpful, unlike Patty who sounds very cold and selfish!! Shame on her.

Keep up your strength and if there is anything I can do ask your mother from nsw the hamburger queen and I will do my best. All the best Cor

Patty, its people like you who are the reason this world will never get better! Ivy and Shane are BOTH very hard working people. They pay their taxes and help make life better on a global scale as well as a local one. Who are YOU to ask if they were on welfare or worry about who is now paying for the FEMA trailer? Try getting off your own butt and making life better for people other then just yourself!!! Love to ya Ivy and Shane, your step sis!!

To Patty; Did you have a bad day at work? I am GLAD to know that a FRACTION of the taxes I pay are going to help the victims of this hurricane. This is like giving them boots so THEY CAN "pull themselves up by the boot straps". Reality Check! My bedroom/closet/bath is larger than that trailer. Get a grip, not a gripe. Shane - THANK YOU for serving this country, both in the military and now in law inforcemente. (Too bad you can't arrest someone for being mean-spirited. HA!) Ivy - Back to school? Good for you! I agree with Carol - love your kids & teach them to be generous & kind to those less fortunate. Blessings, Bill

my question is what happpen to the billions of dollars that red cross got for hurrican katrina aid. what are they doing with the money?

Lynne, you have asked a very good question. We got hit here in Southeast Texas by Hurricane Rita. We were told to go to the Red Cross and sign up and they would help us. We are in a very small community. There were about 200 people when we got there, we put our name on the list (we were #251) They stopped taking names at #300. So we just got in under the wire, we thought. After sitting in the baking hot sun for nearly 2 hours (some had been there for 4 hours) the Red Cross closed all of it's doors for a "meeting". We were told that they had found extra help for all of us and were discussing how to get it to us. Well that was great news we thought! After a hour in the "meeting" a young man came out and announced that the Red Cross was shutting down for the day and that we should come back at 8 A.M. the next day. They would have computers there and other people that would give us the help we needed. Then he announced that if anyone there needed food or cleaning supplies to stay and they would see that we would get it. We stayed because we could really have used the supplies. We waited for 30 minutes and NO ONE came back out to help us. Soon all of us left. Over 300 people showed up the next day (some came as early as 4 A.M.) Red Cross NEVER SHOWED UP!!!! They lied to us the whole time! I am thankful that this young couple in the story was one of the lucky ones that got a FEMA trailer..........they deserved it 100%, but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of others out here who have been forgotten.......by, FEMA, Red Cross and most of the nation! Our young cousin could not live in her home. She her 3 very young children and her husband moved in with her mother and dad. FEMA and Red Cross both turned her down for ANY assistance! They didnt get ONE DIME of help from any services! I think that is a shame! Especially when I just read that the CEO of Red Cross makes almost $450,000.00 a year!!! I wonder if she gives anything to the Red Cross? Just a question!

Hang in there Shane and Ivy, I have seen first hand what these Hurricanes can do to peoples lives. I know good will come out of this for you both. I am glad to hear that out of this you are truely trying to better yourselves and your family, unlike those that still have their hands out and do nothing to better themselves. Keep the kids happy and smile at one another and all good will come your way.

My best friend and her family live in a FEMA trailer in Waveland. I went dowm and stayed with them a week ago. It is small and the issue of space is a big one, but it is alot better than the tent they lived in for the first six weeks. Seeing it for myself makes me thank my lucky stars for what I have. My thoughts and prayers go out to EVERYONE in Waveland and I hope people will not forget that they still need all of the help we can send.

please be compassionate toward our fellow
Americans affected by the hurricanes. We all need each other. I can't imagine losing my home,car,job and in some cases family members all in one fell swoop. There are miles of emptiness where homes once stood. Concrete slabs and sticks that are all thats left of beautiful trees. It was our luck to be coupled with a woman named Judy who lost everything,and a wonderful caring man who discovered just how much help she would need. Mike donates his time putting tarps on roofs of homes that survived enough to be protected. Judy had no roof,no home left. Just a concrete slab. She was absolutely thrilled to accept an old Travco motor home named Twinkie and we were happy to give it. When we asked her on the phone what she had, she said ,well I was sleeping on the ground,then I got a cot , thats it. A bath was a bucket of water over the head from the water truck. You had to walk to the area with the truck. No bathroom facilities,no running water,no electricity,no toothbrush,soap,towels,no place to do laundry if lucky enough to have clothes. Out in the elements with heat,bugs,the smell,rain. It's like Mike said when he asked for assisstance to tow the motor home from Florida to Mississippi and was quoted a price of $5,000.00,"some people get it and some don't" Mike drove it up to Mississippi and personally delivered it to Judy as well as staying to hook everything up, along with a friend who followed him up so he had a ride back to Florida. If any of you have a camper sitting in the yard, you may want to think of donating it to someone in need. I haven't spoken with Mike in almost two weeks , but you can be sure he is tuned in to the needs of others asking nothing in return. We all pay taxes, and there is nothing that would make these people happier than to be working and have a normal home again. They are doing their part,we must do ours.

WE had put our Aunt on a list that was lost. Someone called us and told us where she was at. Deborah Drinkard and Pam Murphy left on a Suday afternoon about 3:00. When we got there it was dark. Distruction all over the place. WE ask a few people and they told us where to go. WE found our 86 year old Aunt laying on concret on some curtains and other stuff at and old school. She was about died. WE got her and her son and take them to Montgomery, Al to the hospital to ckeck them out.They are staying in Montomery in a mobile home doing great. She lost here home she was about a 1/2 block from the beach in Waveland. Orlene Evans says thanks for all the prayers

Shane and Ivy I applaude you for your triumph. I was a resident of Bayside Park, and left due to Katrina. I am pregnant with twins and have a 4yr.old and an 18 mo. old. I will not return due to my conditions, but my heart and prayers go to you and everyone there who stayed. I have been blessed with all of my needs for myself and my family here in Texas. I still have family and friends I wish I could know that were ok, but God will reunite us again. God Bless you, and may he give you strength in these trying times.

Shane & Ivy.. Hey sweeties. I am SO proud of you both. You just got back from Iraq and you are now having to struggle at home. That is alot to bear. Again, I am very proud.. I love ya'll and will be praying for you.

I am shanes little brother we are only 1 year apart but big brother if i become half the man you are i am a man i love you and was always proud of you....ivy keep in line

This story doesn't reflect half the man Shane is, nor does it reflect Ivy's determination and will. I am extremely proud to be Shane's little bro, and have always been elated to have a new sister-in-law. Shame we don't get to spend as much time as we could! But keep on keeping on.

Shane and Ivy, I am truely touched by your story, Growing up in a Cop family has not been easy for me. I really understand the cramped quarters Being a dispatcher myself. It seems that you have the grit,determination,and the faith to pick up the pieces and push forward. I wish you both all the best, Most importantly stay safe and watch your 6 on the streets.

I lived in one of them darn FEMA trailers for two years a couple years back after a hurricane blasted through Florida and wiped my home (and dog) off the planet. For the first few weeks it was cool -- kinda like camping but after about two months I was ready to pull my hair out (and my wife's hair). The darn thing moved like a boat in water everytime either me or my wife moved --- of course my wife at 300 lbs could move a barge. After two years we finally got out and got an apartment. All things conisdered, I was grateful to have the FEMA tralier.

Why must you say "Shane Jordan, his wife Ivy"? Is that all she is-- his wife? Why not "Ivy Jordan, her husband Shane"? I am sick to death of reporters who think women "belong to" or must somehow relate to a man, or that all centers around the man. Get with the times!

I've got a friend, Bob N., who works for FEMA, and he HATES the red tape. FEMA, etc. needs more folks like him. FEMA makes a difference - eventually, for some folks. So does the Red Cross - eventually, and the Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities and Church World Service and other groups. But the REAL differences are made by ordinary folks, like Ivy and Shane, and everyone who's reached out to them and their neighbors, and who've written here. I live in Oklahoma, a state that knows about needing help to recover from nature's wrath. This year its the Gulf Coast. Next year, God forbid, it might be us. With folks like Shane and Ivy out there, I think we'll all be okay in the long run. Let's keep hanging together, people.

you will make it thru and thank god for fema. even with all the problems and red tape it is a godsend to many people.my boyfriend works at a call center and tells me about the courage of so many people that lost everything. Hope Harmon, Richland, wa

There are so many mixed messages about the FEMA ordeal. For the ones who have been blessed with the living quarters that include such luxuries as running water, a stove, MICROWAVE, toiletries and a safe place for you and your family to lay your heads at night- be as grateful as this family is. There are many- for whatever the reason may be- that do not have that. Support each other in times of need and spread warmth and light to your neighbors for you are all in it for the same reason- not by choice or creed or luck or money or sex or religion or power or position. For once in your lives you stand together as the same. My deepest blessings and prayers to you all.

Patty,obviously you do not understand - not only has Shane protected our country,which I thank him for,he is hard at work now protecting his community,paying taxes and deserves all the help he and his family can get.I too have worked all my life, payed my taxes and have lost everything to Hurricane Katrina. I am now living in a wonderful FEMA trailer with my daughter and thank God everyday for it. We have learned a valuable lesson - its not what you have that makes a house a home.I pray Patty would never have to learn the hard way but if she does I would only hope that the taxes I have paid would go towards helping her or other disaster victims. Shane & Ivy - take care, my neighbors.We have come a long way since August 29. Thanks for everyones thoughts & prayers.

I have no complaint that folks need help, but let's get srious. The storm was months ago, and folks are in subsidized housing all over the US.

When did we as a poeple become dependant on the feds to provide for us? When did we yeild our independance?

Personally I am shocked that after this time it seems reasonable to anyone that FEMA is providing housing assitance to anyone. Knowing that they are providing "FREE" housing with utilities for 18 months or longer leaves me totally flabbergasted.

As far as living on $9/hour...well isn't that what was taking place pre-Katrina? When will we as a poeple realize that we can't afford to "give" things to everyone to make all the "poor" poeple middle class?

This is just more government waste of tax dollars. I hope FEMA is disbanded.

Excuse me Lee, not all the ones in housing are poor, you dont seem to understand, there is no housing left,it was wiped outtttttttttt. Before you make judgements like this, you should go to Mississippi and the neighbouring states that were affected by the hurricanes and see for yourself. And asking the government to help with when the majority of the people affected by this are TAX PAYERS is only fair, afterall, its their tax dollars at work too. And by the way the couple here are my daughter and soninlaw, and yes his wages were such before the storm, hes not complaining, they are both working hard to better themselves, and I am from Mississippi, and I can make these statements, because Ive been there and done that.

Patty - Your dark statements reveal the nature of your heart (or lack thereof). As we can all see from your post about who is paying for the FEMA trailers for hurricane victims, it is very CLEAR that our prayers are not only needed for those of us affected by the recent hurricanes. May God help us all. Ivy and Shane, you are living testament to faith, hope, and inspiration. My best to you and your family. Patty - I pray you never have to face what we have all recently had to face. (Especially the widowed and elderly) You could not survive it. Hurricane Victim in Louisiana

Lee, my husband and I are "poor" as you call it because he decided to aid in protecting the lives of others, most of them like yourself. We were not in subsidized housing before the storm, nor will we be after things rebuild. The one good thing about the storm is it left everyone equal as far as housing goes. NO ONE HAS A HOME... There are no classes here any longer. Not low, middle, or upper. We are not trying to change classes by using the goverment. We were busting our asses before the storm and continue to do so. Only more. My husband still works as a cop, and I work for a contractor of FEMA. We are not on welfare because I am busting my behind working 84 hours a week. I have a suggestion for you, Lee: You take your children and your wife, dogs, cats, fish, whatever it is that you have and sleep in your car for a week. Not long, just a week. Imagine there are no houses left standing where you are. No hotels, no rentals, nothing. You are temporarily unemployed because the building you worked in was torn to shreds. You're surviving off of one income for your whole family. Your bills are still coming, but you are still living off of one income. Your baby starts to go hungry. Your wife starts to go hungry. They are getting cold. So, you don't care about yourself. Just the welfare of your family. Good for you. But you're too noble to let the government help. You won't let them put you in free housing because you're too good for that. Okay, that's fine and dandy, but I love my family a little more than that. We will survive and we're doing everything we can to make sure it stays that way. To us, it's not about being too proud or worrying about what others think. I could care less. It's about protecting my family at any cost. Shouldn't our tax dollars at some point in time go to help the people that paid them in? You can dictate how they spend yours if you want, but we needed assistance. We are greatful for everything everyone has done. We have turned down a lot of things from people with kind hearts because I know there are people who are still unemployed or for some other reason need it more. I would like to personally thank everyone who has helped us and said a prayer for us. (Not you, Lee) It worked!

Good on ya Ivy, you said it all, and for anyone else that passes judgement before they really know what they are talking about, go to Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and live just like Ivy said, and then tell me you wouldnt ask for help.

Ivy,
I am a single woman on Long Island, NY. I hear of so many "warnings" from insurance companies and weather predictions that Long Island is due for a very similar disaster such as what you and your family have experienced. When I read about the committment you and your husband have to the well-being of your family, I am filled with hope that I can be as strong if I'm ever faced with that similar tragedy. I agree, without hesitation, that even if the tax-payers have to kick in for some of the costs of this disaster, well, that may just be what happens in a time of natural disaster. I can justify that more than accepting having to pay for for countless people that just choose not to work and look for a hand out from the government. You and your husband should be looked on as a shining example of strength and comittment and shame on those people that have written , what I feel are pretty ignorant blogs, that would rather find something to complain about rather than see what you all are really having to face there! I will think of you and your husband's integrity everytime I feel the challenges of...well...just everyday NORMAL life because you truly are an inspiration!! May God's blessing be with you all.....

Way to go kids, As a owner of a trucking company in Greenfield, In., I personally delivered the 1st FEMA TRUCKLOAD of MRE'S to Ponchatula La., then later, ICE to the Convention Center in New Orleans. I know first hand what destruction was brought to the gulf coast area...as a conservative republican I KNOW our government has waste, but let me tell you Patty, and Lee...THIS IS NOT WASTE!!! If we as AMERICANS cannot lend a hand to our fellow AMERICANS in need, then we are not worthy to call ourselves an AMERICAN. For decades our country has helped every nation in the world, and I for one have some concern about that, however, this happened here at "HOME" ...OUR FELLOW CITIZENS are the one's HURTING...MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON US ALL, if this is the prevailing attitude of our future generation's! I may not agree with the mentality of a goverment HAND OUT but dammit, what is wrong with a HAND UP...have you never heard: give a man a fish, he will eat for a day...teach a man to fish he will eat for a lifetime... I admire Shane Jordan and Ivy Jordan equally, he for his service to his country in both his military and civilian occupation,as well as being a DADDY to the children and a HUSBAND to his wife... she for being the MOMMY to the children and a WIFE to her husband,as well as working all she can to help the family financially! I'am sure they WILL make it because of who they are "HARD WORKING AMERICANS" who will prevail inspite of the sititation at hand...GOD BLESS YOU BOTH AND MAY HE CONTINUE TO BLESS AMERICA!!!

I'm assuming that the trailer doesn't have air conditioning! My God, it must be like living in an oven now! I've seen all of the RV's and mobile homes parked in Hope,AR. I didn't see any AC units anywhere for those housing units either! I know its got to be miserable for everyone in these housing units. God richly bless you and your family, and everyone in these FEMA units.

Shane, I know you are a good guy. Keep working hard and being the man that you are by taking of your family. Even if they are not all yours. I am a single mother of two children and do it all by myself, so I know how you felt when you and your family were trying to survive with your one income.

First let me say a heartfelt "Thank You" to Shane and all members of our armed forces who protect our way of life. I, for one, feel that Ivy and Shane have every right to receive assistance from our government. As a taxpayer myself, I would hope that my government would help if I found myself and my family is such a devastating situation. Ivy and Shane are exactly the type of people that deserve the help. They are hardworking and doing everything they can to get back on their feet. God Bless you and your family Ivy and Shane - you make me proud to be American.

For Shane and Ivy: It is wonderful to see a family struck by the hurricane disaster that is making the most of a bad situation. The best part of all is that you are trying to better your situation, not just lying around waiting for a handout. I sincerely believe that God blesses and helps those who help themselves. God bless you.

Natalie, my daughter Ivy and soninlaw Shane used to live in New Llano when he was stationed at Fort Polk before he went to Iraq, and before they moved back to Mississippi.

I continue to pray for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, those who remained close to home and those who left and cannot return, due to their raw emotions or have nothing to return to. These tragedies, like all Hurricanes, Tsunamis and other natural disasters, bring into sharp focus that we are all just fragile beings on this planet. We are truly more alike than we are different: we want to take care of our families, we want to be happy and successful and we wish the same for our children. It's imporant to remember that when you pass an instant judgement on others, you too may find yourself in a similar or much worse position. God bless us all. From the wife of a former soldier.

fema trailers are to be removed 18 months from their arrival on the property, or 18 months after their initial allotment?

hi where can i purchase a fema approved trailer ? i live in brooklyn new york . just curious id like to get one for property upstate .

I live in New Orleans and have a job helping Hurricane Katrina victims. What people need to remember, these people who spent their entire lives collecting a little here and a little there...lost everything. It took them decades to collect furniture, appliances, clothing, toys, misc. household goods, etc...why do you think it should only take them two years to gain all of that back? The trailers are given also because some of these folks are still having to pay their mortgages on these houses they can't even live in. They need to get money up for rent, mortgages, security deposits, etc...things that they weren't prepared for. Everyone has to pay taxes...who cares what it goes to? You are going to have to do it regardless of what you agree with. And FEMA, they help out...it is necessary...without it, people would have a whole lot less then they have now. Come on people, put yourselves in this family and other families shoes. And Ivy, as a military spouse, mother, and New Orleans resident....you have my support...and this just comes natural to you...you are a military wife (the toughest job..) we have to be strong for our family. You two seem like the type of couple my husband and I would be hanging out with. Ya'll are awesome and your love speaks volumes! Make sure that you guys do talk to people since you guys have been through so much with Iraq and now Katrina....there are free counseling services available for military. Don't be too proud to ask for help and talk to someone, it doesn't make you weak....it makes you smart.

I can't believe there are people who begrudge FEMA's help to people who have suffered the devastation of a flood or hurricane . . . I know, because I'm one of them. I'm living in a FEMA trailer in upstate NY. I worked hard for more than 30 years and bought a modest home--it had a two-year-old furnace and water heater that had to be replaced after the 2006 floods, not to mention walls needing to be torn out, new insulation, new wallboard, new floors, new furniture, etc. This wasn't a flood zone so I didn't have flood insurance--I'm wondering what these critics would do if they had no place to live and needed $30K or more to fix up their homes? Does it make more sense for the government to help us taxpayers and get us back on our feet, into our homes, and back to work, or to ignore these problems? I'm self-employed, so I lost my home office and computer, too. Thanks to FEMA I have a place to live and work while waiting to get back into my home, which thank God will happen soon (after almost a year in the trailer--adequate but pretty darned chilly in 7 degree temps this winter). All I can say is, I have total respect for people who live in one of these trailers with any other people, never mind three or four or five kids. And for people who haven't had such a disaster strike them, thank your lucky stars. I can't think of a better use for tax dollars than helping with disaster recovery, though.

Just to give everyone an update: Shane and I bought our first home... FINALLY! I am so thrilled. He is in Iraq once again, but contracting this time. I finished my first degree and I am halfway through my Bachelor's. It is on hold at the moment until my husband comes home. We are doing better than I had hoped for! I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has said prayers for our family! He was listening! Anyone that is interested in the rest of our progress, visit my MySpace page: www.myspace.com/ivyrae . It has updated photos of our family and our new home. Thank you again!

Ivy, I'm sooooo glad to hear that things are going so well with you! You deserve it. My son is now serving his second tour of Iraq, and I have recently lost my own home. My daughter and grandaughter live with me and we are staying on the floor of a VERY tiny home owned by my friend (her house is a 10 X 50 single wide mobile home. She was kind enough to allow us to have a roof over our heads. Honestly, I would KILL for a trailer like that!! LOL. Keep your chin up, and Shane will be home soon so you can finish school. Best wishes to you both. Thank you for serving our country both here and overseas.

I am so proud of you and Shane, you kept your chins up and worked very hard for what you have, I love and miss you. Mom