Hurry up and wait. That's the name of the game for Texas Task Force 1.
They arrived well ahead of hurricane dolly on Tuesday afternoon, to establish a home base from which to work out of. After a final check of the gear and one last hot meal, it was pretty much a waiting game for Dolly to arrive.
And arrive she did. First came the gentle wind, then a light drizzle. Then, as if someone was slowly turning a giant control knob, it got stronger and stronger. And before you knew it, it was raining sideways and the whistle of the wind blowing over the rooftop never stopped. Over the last few hours, I've fielded a lot of phone calls asking about all the "awesome action" I'm seeing. And there's a quick way to answer it -- I've seen everything from behind a glass window. Generally speaking, when the wind is gusting 80 miles per hour and the rain hits your face so hard you feel like crying, it's safe to say its a little more intelligent to stay inside.
And the follow up question I get is, why did we come so early if the rescue crews are just sitting inside a building while its happening? Trust me, if these guys could go out, they already would have. But to answer the question of why it's hurry up and wait, it only takes one word: safety. While they are trained in rescue and safety, it doesn't mean they can go up against a hurricane without fear. Streets are flooded, visibility is next to nothing, and there's that constant wind that makes it next to impossible to drive. If a team goes out to save someone, they might end up needing to be saved themselves.
So, for the time being, that's all we get to do. Wait, eat M.R.E's (meals ready to eat...what soldiers eat), and play cards. But when the storm clears, whether its 10 p.m. or 10 a.m., they'll be out the door within minutes, saving lives.
And then I'll be prepared to tell you about all the "awesome action" I get to see.
