This is from a man I've known for more than 50 years.  He currently 
lived(s) in Long Beach Mississippi.  We've been trying to get in 
touch with him since Katrina walloped the Gulf Coast and yesterday we 
got the first message.

Just thought it would be worth noting how worthwhile FEMA and the 
federal help has been compared with what has been sent by the 
ordinary people in the cities, counties, and other states in this 
union of ours.

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JUST A LINE TO LET YOU KNOW MY FAMILY AND I MADE IT O.K.........THIS 
IS THE FIRST TIME I COULD GET A MSG OUT.......WE HAVE RUNNING WATER 
(FOR WASHING ONLY), ELECTRIC (OFF AND 0N) PHONE (OFF AND ON) BUT 
THANKFULLY OUR HOME MADE IT WITH JUST  ROOF DAMAGE, DOOR AND WINDOW 
DAMAGE AND A LOT OF FULL GROWN TREES IN OUR YARD THAT WERE NOT THERE 
BEFORE.....THERE ARE MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE HERE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE 
COUNTRY,  PROVIDING US WITH FOOD, DRINKING WATER AND OTHER 
ESSENTIALS....WE HAVE UNLIMITED ICE AND WATER AND MORE THAN ENOUGH TO 
EAT.....MANY RELIGIOUS AND VOLUNTEER GROUPS CAME HERE WITH FIELD 
KITCHENS AND 16 WHEELERS AND ARE SET UP TO SUPPLY TWO HOT 
MEALS DAILY....THE LINES ARE LONG, BUT THE FOOD IS FIRST RATE AND 
WORTH THE WAIT........WE ARE ALSO PROVIDED WITH CAN STUFF AND M. R. 
E's AND LOTS OF OTHER DOIN'S........I WISH ALL OF YOU WELL AND WILL 
GET BACK TO YOU WHEN TIME AND THE TELEPHONE COMPANY PERMITS..... 
PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL ME UNTIL I GIVE THE WORD....I HAVE HUNDREDS OF 
MSGS IN MY INBOX WHICH I'LL NEVER GET TO ANSWER........P.S.....THERE 
IS NO EVIDENCE OF THE  U.S GOVERNMENT'S PRESENCE HERE, (OTHER THAN 
TROOPS)........ WHEN THE ELECTRICITY IS AVAILABLE, OUR ONE LOCAL T.V. 
CHANNEL DISPLAYS TELEPHONE NUMBERS TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE FROM FEMA 
AND THE RED CROSS....TROUBLE IS MOST OF THE PHONES HERE ARE OUT OF 
SERVICE, AND THE ONES THAT WORK AREN'T WORTH THE TROUBLE.... CANNOT 
GET THROUGH -  MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CALLING OR MAYBE 
SOMETHING ELSE...........TO HECK WITH FEMA....WE WILL BE SATISFIED 
WITH OUR HOMEOWNER'S  COVERAGE ........IT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF MOST 
REPAIRS....DON'T KNOW WHO WILL CHOP UP AND MOVE THESE FREKIN TREES IN 
OUR YARD THOUGH.....THAT'S 30 FOR NOW.