It’s an odd feeling, working for the Department of Homeland Security. Ok, I work for FEMA, but it’s a division of Homeland Security.

I like it tho, I come to work everyday at 5am, yes you heard me correctly, I said 5 am! I have to get up at 3:15 AM to leave the house by 4 AM, to be here at 5 AM. I leave here tired, but with a sense of pride that was never there before. I realize that I am helping people put their lives back together, and that makes me feel good.

I know that this job will not last forever, but I will come away from here with a federal job on my resume, and if there should be another disaster (god forbid!) I know that I will be able to come back.

The people there are so nice and although we work long hours and have no days off for weeks at a time no one is really irritable or cranky or just mean spirited. Everyone here has a genuine interest in helping. Yeah, it may have started out because FEMA pays so well, but it turned into something really gratifying.