Not a FEMA Fan
As we all know, there was tremendous suffering during that horrible day of September 11, 2001. In this context, my story is insignificant, but as a result of that attack, my Very Best Job turned into My Very Worst Job. In a previous life, I worked for a federal agency that responded to national disasters. And no, this was not FEMA. In fact, we hated FEMA. I loved where I worked and I loved the people. I actually consider them my friends. My pay grade was relatively low and at the time there wasn’t any room to move up, but I was so happy in other aspects that it compensated for it. I remember that morning very well. The weather was gorgeous and I was looking forward to a fun weekend. And then I was summoned down to our emergency operation center. And when the gravity of the situation hit, it hit like a ton of bricks. I never worked so hard or got so stressed in my life. I had first-responders literally screaming at me on the phone and all around me there were monitors that showed the buildings burning. And when the first tower went down, I turned away, but right there was another monitor.
They finally told me to go home after 16 hours. One of my co-workers, a grizzled old fireman, told me to follow him. In the darkness of his office, he reached into a locked cabinet and gave me a first-responder shirt, which is worn by real heroes. He lost a lot of brothers that day, so this was a tremendous honor and I will always keep that shirt. For the next couple weeks I worked 12 hour shifts, since our center was obviously running 24 hours. Even after that, there was a lot of work to do. But these people were my friends, and we all supported each other, so it was an honor to be a part of it. And then FEMA happened. You see, in the examinations after 9/11, we were considered “redundant” to FEMA, so someone had the bright idea to consolidate us. Since FEMA was substantially larger than us (“larger” as in “bloated”), they won out on the merger. And what does an evil conqueror do to their victims? You first kill all the leaders among them and separate the remaining people from their family and friends. And that is what they did. They took my supervisor away from me and put me under one of their trolls (an incredibly vile woman).
With federal employment there is what is known as an “FTE” (Full-Time Equivalent). This is a “job slot.” An employee is the body that fills that slot. Even if an employee is gone, the slot is still there to be filled by family and cronies. So even though FEMA didn’t want me, they wanted my FTE, so it became clear that they were going to force me out. So many things were horrible, but I’ll give you an example: right before Christmas, the troll summoned her slaves for a meeting, and made the sudden announcement that she was canceling all holiday leave requests. One man was almost in tears, because he was supposed to fly across the country to bring presents to his family. The troll replied that the airline “may” refund his ticket if he called them immediately. Merry Christmas. It took me two months to get out. I found a job that gave me a huge promotion and an excellent career ladder. And I got out right before our annual conference, so FEMA got their precious FTE, but not a body to work during this extremely busy time. So I couldn’t have given them any bigger payback than that.
A few years later, there was Katrina. FEMA took a tremendous beating from an enraged public. And I loved every second of it.
Nice….karma DOES come back to haunt you. MWAHAHHAHAHAH!!!!!
they should have put the OP in charge of FEMA instead of that idiot, Brownie.
As someone who lived in a FEMA camper for over a year due to Katrina, I would have much preferred a spectacular performance on FEMA’s part to you being able to celebrate their failure.
Maybe that lady was horrible, but she probably had nothing to do with what happened on the Gulf Coast. When there are lives, sanity, and livelihoods at stake, we should want everyone to succeed. In fact, even if not, why do we want people to fail? Who does it help? Why do we need to get revenge?
Folks:
I didn’t spend enough time writing this as I should. The last sentence only applies to the sentence that precedes it. And “enjoyed” was a very poor choice of words. “Vindicated” may be a better choice. I felt very emotional while writing – so that explains any hyperbole. Thanks.
OP – Totally understand your frustration, and I don’t think you in anyway implied that you wished harm upon the Katrina victims.
As someone who went to NYU during the 9/11 attacks, I just want to throw a thank you out there for the work you did during that time. It’s a shame that gov’t cronyism caused you so much grief.
Lilo:
You’re very kind, but I played only a support position. The people on the front line (who risk their health and their lives) deserve our thanks.
I had a unique opportunity to work for these people – and I felt very lucky and honored.
How awful, it must be terrible to try to be doing good for a good cause, and feeling beat down at every turn. At least you know you did help and make a difference while you could.
You know what, I don’t have all the details, but I was there and lived through the day. She is complaining about a work schedule!!!!!! And gifts not being taken to family???!!! She may have had real problems with the new boss, but this comes off as seriously disrespectful for all of those who live it and its’ aftermath.
Also the OP got pleasure from FEMA’s failure with Katrina? Real people died in both 911 and Hurricane Katrina. I have no patience for whinning about schedules and how the OP was “right”! This should not be a subject taken this lightly.
(sigh) Another day, another bunch of histrionic rantings by commenters. @OP – loved the story. @DS…grow up stop getting offended at the drop of a pin.
Reading comprehension note for DS and et: OP wasn’t taking pleasure from FEMA’s failure, he/she was taking pleasure from the fact that FEMA was called out on it’s failure. Big difference.
I have no patience for whinning(sic) commenters.
@DS – Comprehension FAIL. OP worked his/her arse off, and never complained about his/her work schedule. She/He didn’t complain about their holidays being cancelled during the aftermath of 9/11. They took no pleasure in Katrina.
Tronner has some good advice for you. Follow it.
I don’t have reading comprehension issues, Currer. Thanks for being extremely condescending, anyway, though. I hope it made your day a little brighter.
That’s, in fact, why I ended my post with
“When there are lives, sanity, and livelihoods at stake, we should want everyone to succeed. In fact, even if not, why do we want people to fail? Who does it help? Why do we need to get revenge?”
This is to say I should want the bratty kid who made fun of me to do well in college (and obviously hopefully he will be nicer, too). Even though he was a jerk, I should not get PLEASURE in his failures.
OP, your choice of words is totally understandable. I’m not upset with you.
Everyone should just understand that with things like 9/11 and Katrina (only the later which I can really speak of) people are bound to be really sensitive.
Let me give you an example. Say a company was really mean to an employee. Then they created a new machine that scans people for cancer, but in fact it actually ended up giving people cancer and they were all over the news for this. People hated them. If the last sentence now would say
“A few years later, there was the ____ scandal. They took a tremendous beating from an enraged public. And I loved every second of it. ”
Of course, we assume that nobody wishes cancer on anyone else. But if your sibling/close friend/parent/etc. was one of the victims of this atrocity, you would probably not be happy to read that sentence.
I know Katrina was not FEMAs fault and neither was 9/11, so in that case the metaphor has a small weakness, but the point I want to make is that there are some things people are going to be extremely (maybe even over, but you can’t blame people with things like this) sensitive about. Especially if it killed their families. Like Katrina and 9/11 did.
That being said, I do understand why people who were not as affected do not understand this and I hope that you never will!
LOL, oh OP mentioned 9/11? HERO!!! I <3 society.
OP worked for a disaster department, probably did next to nothing for month/years before 9/11. So, then had to work 12 hours a day for a few weeks? boohoo, probably made a fortune at time and a half with the government. Cancelled vacation because of increased work load? boohoo. If that's all you got, I'm not impressed, especially since you got to work in relation to the 9/11 attacks, talk about a resume builder!
Billy, the vacation cancellation didn’t happen until after the examinations after 9/11; it wasn’t due to 9/11. And even with it being afterward, the OP never said anything about it being because of an increased workload. If that was the case, I think he/she would have mentioned that and not had issues with it; note that he/she didn’t have any issues with working long shifts after 9/11.
Ok katrina comments aside…. the story seemed like a bit of an anti-climax? The bad things shes lists is seperating her from her supervisor, and canceling holiday leave?
If you’re going to tell us that it was really horrible, then tell us some of the gory details!
Exactly my point David! I would put this under the category of “cool job to have with story” instead of “very worst job”
Thanks for the comment Natalie, but I wasn’t referring to the increased workload in relation to 9/11. Although, the fact that you think it’s the only time the organization OP worked for could have been busy probably shows what an easy job it was 95% of the time.