Ernie Martz

So I am one of the FEMA people reservists. volunteers, who are from the state, there are a number of them, who are called in to disaster situations to try and help out in some way. It's a real thrill in many ways although the work of course is very serious, it's nice to be back here.  I've been on the road a lot last year, I was in Wisconsin, Missouri, Texas, and I just got back from the state of Washington where I was working with slides, mudslides and flooding in the Olympia area and the Olympia Peninsula but it's nice to come back to Minnesota, this is my home, and it's nice to be back in this state it's a great state. 

Ken Carr

It's very nice to be home. It's nice to have the comforts of home and be with my wife and having my family be able to come and see me and helping my home community is a major. How should I say this?  It's a major pleasure to do it in my home community but whether it's this (my) community or any other community, they're going to get the same services of a log chief
It doesn't make any difference where I'm at, I just can't change hats because I'm at home.

Gary Erickson

But I think there is a self reliance here and a kind of rugged independence that's maybe is different than metro areas.

Ernie Martz

Well, first of all, I see a lot of those qualities in the people I work with who are from all over the country, we're not the only ones who have itthere are some very dedicated fine people with FEMA, working very hard, very long hours, and helping as much as they can. I tell you I'm very glad to have some of those qualities and bring it to the organization because it blends in with what I see and feel here.