The Johnsons are one of six families who arrived in Chester on Sept. 1. They are believed to be the first large group from the hurricane-ravaged region to relocate in South Carolina, said Chester County Emergency Management Agency Director Eddie Murphy.

Murphy refuses to call these families evacuees. "We call them our friends from New Orleans," he said, adding Chester is taking "a hometown approach" in its relief efforts to keep the families out of a shelter.

"We want the same effect as if someone's house burned here," Murphy said. "We want to give them a normal life as soon as possible."

Johnson and the others initially went to Monticello, Ark., to sit out the storm. When they realized the depth of the destruction, Johnson called a friend in Chester and asked for help for himself and the five other families, he said.

"I called and told him we're not broke, but we're gonna go broke if we stay here. We're spending $300 a day on motels," Johnson said.

Johnson's wife, Linda, also had a friend in Chester whom she affectionately calls "Mee maw." An urgent call was placed for the 23 people who needed a place to stay.

"Mee maw said bring 'em on, we'll deal with it," Linda Johnson said.

When the group arrived, they found an outpouring of support, for which they are grateful. But they're even more grateful they're all together.

"Chester has been wonderful," Linda Quey said. "Everybody has been taking care of us and feeding us. We're not sure yet if we'll stay, but personally, I love it here."

Quey, and her sister, Leverda Gegenheimer, mopped floors and washed clothes earlier this week as they settled into Gegenheimer's household of eight. Gegenheimer's family is from the Jefferson Parish in Marrero, La., she said.

Four-year-old Kaitlyn has already met friends and likes being in Chester, she said. Her sister, Courtney, 13, started school at Chester Middle on Monday.

The Johnsons are not sure what they'll find when they go back home. They know they had at least 3 1/2 feet of water in their house, Linda Johnson said. There's also a canal behind their house, so the property is also likely full of sewage waste, she said. But her daughter, Jenn, 13, wants to go back home simply because it's her home, she said.

"It's hard leaving all your friends," Jenn said. "The people here have been really nice, but I want to go home."

Jenn's brother, Jordan, who celebrated his ninth birthday last week, is making the best of the situation, he said.

"It's been fun," Jordan said. "We had friends here that we get to see again, and we get to go to school and meet new friends."

Area churches, restaurants, motels and others have given unselfishly to help the families, Murphy said. The community also has set up an account at First Citizens bank to help with the families' expenses.

"We need to be prepared to help with their rent and utilities for six months to a year," Murphy said. "We don't want them working right now."

But Johnson, the owner of a roofing and home improvement business for more than 20 years, wants to work to show his gratitude to the local community, he said.

"I want to do jobs for the elderly, like paint and clean shutters," Johnson said. "All I ask is they supply their own materials, but I won't charge labor because I feel I need to give back to this community.