Relief, Valley style

Local couples take

RVs to storm region

Sept. 4, 2005

MARY AMES\Frontiersman reporter

ANCHORAGE -At least six couples from the Mat-Su are rolling out of Anchorage and heading down to the Gulf Coast area in RVs, but they won't be vacationing.

They are driving motor homes to areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, dropping them off and flying back home to Alaska.

"The RVs are going to be used for getting the cell-phone system back in place," said John Marquette, owner of ABC RV Rentals. "Some will be used by the news networks, CNN wants a few, and a few will be used for housing."

The cell-phone company, which Marquette declined to name, ran out of RVs in the Lower 48 and found his company listed on the Internet about three days ago.

He was able to send some motor homes that were already Outside, but he had more to send from Alaska.

Bruce and Kim Collins, Palmer residents, on Thursday heard about the chance to take a road trip, help folks in need and fly back to Alaska on someone else's dime. Bruce got some time off work. Kim got her list of questions.

"How are we going to get back? Are we sure we'll be reimbursed for gas money? Is there a CD player or radio on board? How fast can we pack?" she asked. They drove into Anchorage Friday morning to get answers to those questions.

"This is legit and we're going," she said about 10 a.m. Friday. "We have gas cans in the shower because there's no gas down there. Oh, and we have to stop in Chicago to pick up a trailer and tow it down. I'm sorta scattered right now, but the road trip is on."

They will have to stop 400 miles outside of Mobile, Ala., and call Marquette because of the chaos in the areas closer to New Orleans. He won't know exactly where they need to drop off his rig, or the best routes to get there, until then.

"It has been hard getting drivers out of Mobile, but it's getting better," said Marquette.

Usually several Valley folks drive RVs up from the states to Anchorage in spring for him to have for the summer season, but most of those folks have jobs that keep them from leaving now.

"Normally, I have about 20 regular drivers, but only four of them could leave now," he said. "That's really too bad because they are all familiar with the roads, they've worked for ABC for years and know what to expect. But I'll be sending two more RVs out this afternooon. Some are pulling 30-foot trailers that will be used for living quarters."

If the drivers average about 50 miles an hour, and if they can trade off driving, the trip should take about six and a half days.

When asked if he expected to see any of the same RVs back in Alaska again, Marquette said, "Sadly, probably not."

Helping out is not without risks.

"It's costing me a lot, I figure about $3,000 to $3,500 per vehicle sent out," he said. "I sure hope that company pays its bill."

Contact Mary Ames at 352-2284 or mary.ames@frontiersman.com.