Comments:
We served 8 years in the Air Force. I was a Minuteman Missile (ICBM) launch officer stationed in Missouri. I was also stationed in Idaho and New Mexico as a Disaster Preparedness Officer.
Since 1983, I have been employed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), now part of the US Department of Homeland Security, Region VI office in Denton, TX. I have responded to many major disasters including Hurricane Andrew, Northridge Earthquake, Oklahoma City Bombing, Hurricane Ike and others. I would say the toughest event to take was the Oklahoma City Bombing. Just about every other disaster I have dealt with has been a natural disaster. OKC was man made. It is disheartening to witness what one individual will do to express his anger and political views.
Diane also works for FEMA and has a lot of contact with actual disaster survivors. Between the 2 of us, we can testify we are truly in the last days.
Texas is a different world from Utah. I have been involved with hurricanes, tornadoes, major flooding and the destruction of a space shuttle. Texas also has some weird place names like the towns of Cut-and-Shoot, Gun Barrel, Dime Box, Fairy, you name it. I had hoped to return to Utah someday but it's unlikely, at least on a permanent basis. Most of our children and their children live here in Texas. I guess that's how you define the term "roots". We miss Cedar City but we really enjoy Texas. I just wish someone would grow a few real mountains here and we would feel much more at home. That's why we like to come HOME whenever we can.
We pray every night for a disaster somewhere so we can continue working. So far, our prayers have been answered.
