She and her colleagues ate MREs (military meals ready to eat) and worked 12-plus hour days every day.

CNN: 'Geocoding' used to locate Katrina survivors

Ms. THURSTON: Yeah, I know that next door at the civic center, they're giving away ice and MREs and that sort of thing.

NPR: Hurricanes Wreak Havoc In Haiti And Cuba

Walking with us are white-collar retirees, accountants and lawyers, to name a few, who choose to spend the day in waterlogged clothes and each night warming up by a wood-burning stove while noshing on MREs from a camping store.

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