Several weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, I was finally able to make contact with a disaster relief company via telephone to get involved with the work effort there in either New Orleans or anywhere where my services would be helpful.
The 5 principal contractors who were awarded the biggest sums of money would not even speak to me, so I was pleased that through a second party, I was able to make contact, and even speak with several of Bamaco's represenatives concerning my intentions.
Bamaco, Inc. Supposedly is what is known as a "second teir" contractor, working under principal contractors Phillips & Jordan, Inc.
I requested Bamaco, Inc. Send us a contractual agreement, to protect our interests. Also, to familiarize us with the scope of work. They kept saying that due to faulty phone lines, they only have a satellite fax, and they have trouble sending anything. I got a secratary to e-mail a contract to us, read and signed it, and returned it. They never signed their sent copy.
Within the timeframe of initial conversations with Bamaco and myself, I worked vigorously to purchase needed heavy equipment to work for Bamaco, because they were seemingly very eager to have us on site ASAP. Supposedly.
2 weeks pass, (I started the process of contacting Bamaco on 9-28-05,) and all systems were go. My lending institution was willing to finance a brand new demolition dump trailer custom tailored for this project. I spent in excess of $6,000.00 out-of-pocket to prepare other equipment, and make arrangements to leave my family, (wife and 2 children,) for a 6 month commitment, requested by Bamaco.
I arrive in Gulfport, Ms. On 11-4-05, introduce myself to a Bamaco representative known as "Brother Randy", and was informed that "There's no work for you here. Where do you want to go, New Orleans or Ft. Lauderdale?
Taken back by this statement, as prior to this they almost begged me to arrive in Gulfport ASAP to get checked in, I ask several individuals standing nearby what the deal is, and I get the rude awakening that things in Gulfport (and actually the entire Katrina affected region,) are not what we anticipated.
Bamaco literally told me there was no work for me there through them, even though I had in my hand a contract (remember the one they didn't sign?) to perform debris removal. I'm now 1500 miles away from home, out of my element, and in the deep south, by myself. I literally put my entire business life and family life on hold for six months going on the word of this unknowingly crooked outfit, and now I'm stuck.
Someone said there, "If ya'll wanna work, ya'll need to go talk to Bill Joe." This Billy Joe, a.K.A. "Bubba", (go figure,) supposedly is a contractor in place that is preparing to position himself in Gulfport to make a strike in the big-money making world of debris removal, funded by FEMA.
I get introduced to Billy Joe, and without judging him by appearance, I wondered how a guy that looked and talked like him that drove an older model Chevy pickup truck with 1/2 bald tires would be in this position to be in control of so much potential. Nevertheless, I agree to work under his contract, only because Bamaco wouldn't let anyone else do so.
Come to find out, Billy Joe and Bamaco are in together, positioning themselves for the big "honeypot", as I've heard them say on occasion.
I consider myself a fairly intelligent, well spoken, sharper than average country businessman from the Northeast, but after observing the way these people operated, I realized that the term being used down there, "Good 'Ol Boy Network, " was in fact a reality. They were all tied in as a team.
I worked very sporadically from Nov. 4th through Jan. 7th, '06. The revenue was depressingly low, and there was a non-productive period from Thanksgiving week that lasted 2 weeks.
I invested approximately $20,000.00 cash, I earned back $13,281.00 in 2 MONTHS, and decided I could not take the ridiculous work practices being performed by these jokers any longer. To this very day, the affected areas of the Ms. Gulf Coast including New Orleans, La. Remain in the control and custody of these kinds of crooked, dishonest people who are simply milking the government out of millions of federal disaster relief dollars.
There have been dozens of stories from other good-intention contractors trying to wade through all of the politics about so many people that came down there to help out who had financed themselves above and beyond what they ever imagined, just to lose it all waiting for the "good 'ol boy network" to let them work. Good, hard-working honest men and women have lost their credit and even homes after being caught up in this whirlwind of deceit and downright lies. Fortunately for me, I lost a small amount of money, 2 months away from my family, I lived in my truck, showered in a truckstop, did my own laundry, used port-o-potties and ate a lot of canned food, but came home to a roof over our heads, which is more than some can say.
I hope at the very least that this story is read and understood by as many people as possible, and to educate anyone who wants to become a "stormchaser", or "Hurricane Relief Contractor", or otherwise that there are a lot of things to beware of out in that arena. There's a lot of Bamacos', and a lot of Billy Joes', so be careful.
Thanks for listening.
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