This blog post was written by Eric Kilz, a Red Crosser deployed to help with Sandy relief efforts in New York.

Breezy Point, a quiet picturesque neighborhood located on a peninsula in the south of Queens, never looked like the rest of New York City. As a private community, it hosts three of the few remaining volunteer fire departments in the New York area and its own private security force. When Hurricane Sandy blew into New York, Breezy Point faced stress as it never had before.

Our public affairs team arrived in the morning of Nov 13 to document the work done by the Red Cross and the role the agency is playing in the communities’ recovery. After refueling at a FEMA fuel point due to ongoing fuel shortages, we hoped the 10 gallon limit would allow us to complete our day’s mission and make it back to headquarters in Manhattan. Our trip was worth it. We encountered some amazing people in this neighborhood: residents, volunteers, emergency workers and the people already trying to rebuild their lives.

With a 97 percent volunteer workforce, large disasters such as Hurricane Sandy usually require Red Cross workers dispatched in from all over the nation. The Emergency Response Vehicle from Oregon that we encountered was a perfect example of Red Cross workers’ dedication. We followed it as it snaked through police roadblocks, debris and mud-covered streets in its mission to bring hot food to cold people.

The ERV made on particularly noticeable stop in the parking lot of a restaurant called Kennedy’s. Kennedy’s restaurant has received outstanding reviews online reviews and had been a focal point in the community featuring incredible views of the Manhattan skyline. When we saw it, it was covered in discarded appliances and furniture. A look inside revealed a floor covered in sand, walls covered in mold. One woman I spoke with, a heartbroken owner of the restaurant, and told me through tears how the restaurant had been her family’s livelihood for years. When asked if she would re-open, she seemed unsure.

The parking lot of Kennedys was as a drop off point for supplies donated by the community. It was a rainy day so a frantic effort was being made to cover the supplies with tarps. Sometimes in a disaster, we focus so much on the larger issues like food and shelter. But sometimes, just the little things can make someone’s day, such as the man who arrived to find a roll of toilet paper – the stores had been out for weeks, he said, and was immensely grateful. This man told us that he had been to other disaster sites with another organization so was happy to see help coming in to his neighborhood. His home had one-and-a-half feet of water at the height of the storm.

Another woman told us her extended family had been staying at her house – she now had 8 people living with her. We helped her load up with water and canned food. She still had no electricity or gas service.

Spiritual Care is an assistance many people don’t realize the Red Cross offers. A nondenominational service, the Red Cross recognizes its clients have their own urgent religious and spiritual needs in a disaster. We met two volunteer chaplains who had spent the previous day in Breezy Point and who took us on an impromptu tour. They told us tales of clients breaking down over the loss of their homes, yet experiencing relief at finding a remaining photograph or other small memento. Breezy Point citizens seemed grateful for the Red Cross chaplains’ visit, if only to use them as a sounding board to share their emotional experiences.

We walked many impassible side streets during our tour of Brooklyn. In the cold, wet weather, the streets were a hardship faced by all, including two men pulling a pump in a children’s wagon so they could remove the water from their home. Debris was everywhere, but debris was only part of the problem. The hardest obstacle was the sand. Sand was virtually everywhere: covering streets, burying homes thousands of feet from the beach, immersing yards. It was impossible to get close to the homes to offer help – to even take pictures.

The most heartbreaking and poignant place we visited was our final stop. At some point during the storm, a fire started in a home and it quickly spread to more than 100 surrounding houses. The local volunteer fire department was unable to reach the fire due to the storm – neither could the New York Fire Department. Entire blocks of homes burned down to their foundations. Little was left that was recognizable. Many of these homes were summer homes – those owners would at least have a place to go. Not all of the homes were summer homes, though – several inhabitants were there sifting through the rubble.

Hurricane Sandy produced countless stories of heartbreak and hope. There are many images of people of people helping one another hand-in-hand. One image that will remain in my mind for a long time is that of a smoldered fire hydrant with a freshly painted American Flag in the background. New Yorkers are a resilient people; they have encountered much adversity. One lesson I have learned is that New York will always be a great American city – it will rebuild, and it will come back better than ever.

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Last week a friend of mine was sitting on her couch, admiring her family’s newly-decorated and beautifully lit Christmas tree, when she and her husband heard a strange hissing sound.  They assumed that the sound was coming from one of the lights, and they were right.  When they found the hissing light, they discovered that the bulb was smoking and the plastic around the bulb was melting.  Thank goodness they caught the problem when they did – in all likelihood, the bulb would have caught fire within a few minutes.

My friend’s story reminded me that our tendency to become caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season often leads to forgetting to take the appropriate safety precautions when it comes to travel, decorations, etc.

Here are a few tips to help you and your family members stay safe and truly enjoy your holiday season:

• When traveling during the holiday season, be prepared for severe weather.  Check the forecast ahead of time, adhere to travel advisories, allow extra time to reach your destination, and keep a winter storm survival kit in your car.  And perhaps most importantly, ALWAYS wear your seatbelt.
• Dress appropriately – in layers and taking into account the air temperature, the wind speed, and your anticipated level of physical exertion – before going outside.
• Be very careful with holiday candles.  Never leave them unattended, and keep them (along with matches and lighters) away from children, decorations, and combustible materials.
• Be very careful with your holiday lights, both those inside and outside your home.  Before you hang your lights, check them carefully for cracked cords, frayed ends, and loose connections.  Turn off indoor lights when you leave the house, and turn off both indoor and outdoor lights before you go to bed at night.
• Decorate your home with flame-retardant or noncombustible materials, and do not light a fire in your fireplace while stockings are hung from the mantle.
• Keep live Christmas trees fresh (water trees daily), secured in sturdy stands, and away from heat sources and exits.  If you use an artificial tree, make sure it’s fire-retardant.

Stay safe and have a wonderful holiday season!

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Editor’s note: Jim Judge is a member of the American Red Cross scientific advisory council, and is an expert on preparedness,including post-disaster safety. With thousands of people still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy, we thought that Jim’s tips on safely cleaning up homes could be helpful.

How do you identify mold or potential for mold when coming back to your home after a disaster?

Things that stayed wet for 2 days have mold growing on them even if you can’t see it.

Sight – are the walls or ceiling discolored or do they show signs of mold growth or water damage?
Smell – Do you smell a bad odor, such as musty, earthy smell or a foul stench?
If yes to either it’s mold!

More tips:

• Mold can look grey, black or even brown. Mold colonies may appear cottony, velvety, granular, leathery or glassy.
• Mold will begin to grow on most surfaces after just 24 hours in a damp environment.
• Certified/licensed mold inspectors are available in most communities.
• The color of mold does not impact the choice of mold cleaner, the cleaning methods are the same.

Red Cross gives out clean up kits to help with recovery. These kits often include bleach. Does bleach help kill mold?

Yes. Use bleach to clean mold off hard things, like floors, sinks, countertops, flatware, plates and tools. Items soaked with water such as clothes, carpet, etc. have to be discarded.

More tips:

• Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.
• Mix no more then 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.
• If the surface is rough, scrub with a stiff brush.
• Rinse with clean water.
• Dry the item or leave it out to dry
• Take out items that have soaked up water and that cannot be cleaned and dried, carpet, clothing, mattresses, furniture, all other items that cannot be disinfected. Flood waters generally have sewage so take protective precautions.

How do you dispose of ruined furniture, carpet, clothing, etc. safely?

Generally, in an area where many homes have been affected, by taking the contaminated items to the curb for a solid waste pick-up. Disposal at the local landfill or local solid waste facility is the safest method. Even calling the local solid waste office for information on having the items safely removed if the damage only affects a single home.

Wear protective boots, gloves, mask, and eye protection during this phase and all phases of cleanup to removal.

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After a flat tire, snow, and alarms going off in the airport terminal, I finally boarded the plane! Who knew making a simple flight to Atlanta could get so interesting?

After arriving in Atlanta, I met the rest of the Afghanistan team at baggage claim. There are four of us on Team 29 headed to the Red Cross station on Bagram Air Field. We also met up with one member of the Kuwait team and made our way to the shuttle. We managed to fit all our bags in the back of the van and were on our way to Columbus.

For the first 3 nights, we stayed in a hotel and went over all the Red Cross briefings . They included information on our destinations, orders, operations, casework, medical, ICRC, and of course travel. We also received the Red Cross gear we’ll be bringing with us.

While we weren’t in briefings we got to know each other. We ate our meals together and explored the area. At lunch one afternoon, the woman who owned the restaurant told us how Red Cross was so helpful when they had a home fire and her family was displaced. Stories like hers are proof that it really is a small Red Cross world.

After we completed all the Red Cross briefings we made our way to Ft. Benning to process through the CRC (CONUS Replacement Center). We arrived early and signed in. At the reception center they handed us each a set of sheets, pillow, and blanket and directed us to the appropriate barracks.

The barracks remind me very much of a camp setup. 2 sets of bunk beds to a room and wall lockers for our bags.

I’ve been assured that the next section of our adventure will include busy days of briefings and equipment issue with the military. More on that later…

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Catching up with blood donors who gave blood today on Twitter and Instagram – a big THANK YOU and virtual cookie for all those who gave!

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My name is Nate. I live in LA, but recently traveled to NY for work. I landed right in the middle of the noreaster that followed up in the aftermath of hurricane Sandy. Needless to say, the NY area was still reeling a bit, and even though the city was up and running, there was plenty of work to be done. I had a day free near the end of my trip so I signed up to volunteer with the city branch of the Red Cross. Signing up was easy enough. I had a couple different shifts that I could chose from, and all I had to do was get to the RC headquarters in Manhattan and they would bus me to where they needed me.

I arrived at the RC for the 930am-430pm shift on monday of last week. Veterans day. There was a couple dozen volunteers there eager to chip in. Everyone was greeted warmly and we were all excited to do our part. They loaded us onto a school bus and took us across to NJ where we all got right to work at the warehouse where moving trucks were being loaded up with supplies for the areas hit hardest. Immediately I was asked to go off into the warehouse with a 3 man crew to start labeling boxes so that the forklift operators could easily find specific items to move onto trucks.

After that I got in an assembly line passing supplies to be loaded onto the moving trucks. Everyone was in a great mood. The supervisors were all incredibly knowledgeable and concise. I was very impressed with how smooth of an operation it was. Believe it or not, the only real problem that I noticed was finding stuff for everyone to do. I was impressed by the level of communication that was going on. Everyone was kept pretty busy and was moving at a comfortable pace.

Lunch was great and everyone working for the RC was gracious and very appreciative. There were school kids, retirees, People on their day off and a soccer team that had showed up to help. It was a pretty good mix. At one point I heard a coordinator tell drivers that they couldn’t leave with some of the trucks we’d loaded, because to get to their destinations through traffic would take them too long and once they got there, the volunteers on site would be gone for the day. I’m sure in a relief effort like this, these types of problems pop up all the time, but I felt confident in these people. The new plan was to get the trucks out early the next day so that they would arrive first thing in the morning. The most reassuring thing was the level of trust that the drivers seemed to have in what they were being told. It was clear that they were all on the same page. Everyone seemed very focused. I definitely felt like I was in the right place to contribute. However small my contribution may have been.

Thanks to the Red Cross and to all the terrific volunteers I met last week. Not looking forward to the next time, but if and when we face more of this type of disaster effort, I know where I will be going to pitch in.
Sincerely,
Nate Craig

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Editor’s note: Meghan is a Red Cross worker from Kansas currently deployed to aid with Sandy relief efforts in New York.

Neighbors helping neighbors.

These three words have been swarming in my head after seeing community after community continue to help each other every single day. More than one month after Superstorm Sandy hit, communities continue to recover, rebuild, and reestablish their neighborhoods throughout New York. These small groups have come together to help each other in times when they need it most.

It isn’t easy. It can be a frustrating time for everyone involved, especially for the people who have lived in their communities for their entire lives, and treasure their homes and neighbors they grew up with. The Red Cross Community Partnerships Team continues to work together with local non-profits, faith based partners, like the Gospel Assembly in Coney Island, local businesses and agencies, like the Sheepshead Bay Area Improvement Group, and pop-up groups like Occupy Sandy, to coordinate and create streamlined services to increase the capacity to respond to those in need.

Teams of Red Cross Community Partnerships workers canvas communities every day. These teams reach out and partner with hundreds of groups, compiling a resource guide for each affected area and identifying long term recovery groups who are working to rebuild their neighborhoods. I have seen the devastation in Coney Island, Breezy Point, the Rockaways, and more recently, those who didn’t make the headlines in Seagate, Brighton Beach, and Sheepshead Bay. Yet, while I see the devastation I also see the community effort – the groups who have come together during a time when it is needed most, and the Red Cross effort to work together to overcome each new problem.

Teamwork and working together is key. The best thing? It is happening, every day, person by person, street by street, and neighborhood by neighborhood. As the partnerships continue to grow, and the coordinated efforts continue to push forward, the results are great. More people are served the hot meals they need, are given the masks and supplies used to clean the mold from their homes, and long term recovery meetings begin taking place to rebuild and push into the future. Partnerships continue to enhance our response, extend our reach, and best serve those affected. Let’s keep working together, and it will be done.

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A Day Long Remembered…

Hurricanes hitting the Northeast may seem like the exception, but over the years that region has seen its fair share of destructive storms. On September 21, 1938, a hurricane initially expected to hit the coast of Florida shifted course and moved northwest impacting Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. The residents were caught unprepared for the storm.

Large arrows show the course of the storm while small arrows indicate the coastal locations hit by the resulting tidal wave. Map drawn by Harlan Kirby, staff artist of the Los Angeles Times. Printed in the Red Cross Courier, November, 1938, courtesy of the Los Angeles Times.

Wind speeds reached 87 mph in Providence, Rhode Island and massive flooding occurred due to heavy rains that preceded the hurricane’s landfall which coincided with high tide. During and after the storm, 15,107 people were cared for in Red Cross shelters throughout the affected area.

Flooding in Providence, Rhode Island, September 21, 1938. Adler photo for American Red Cross.

Damage was widespread. There were 494 fatalities and 708 suffered injuries. Over 19,000 structures and nearly 6,000 boats were damaged or destroyed. Immediately following the hurricane, chapters of the Red Cross had their rescue committees out searching wreckage strewn beaches and destroyed homes for the dead and giving first aid to the injured. First Aid stations were set up by Red Cross following the storm providing care to 17,000 patients. Red Cross also handled hundreds of welfare inquiries from friends and family members looking for information on loved ones after the storm.

Post-storm damage in the yacht basin at Pawtucket Cove in the Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, September 1938. American Red Cross.

In the wake of the hurricane and flooding, $1.6 million was spent to aid approximately 60,500 of the people in the storm’s path. The fishermen of southern New England were particularly hard hit. Their homes were ruined, boats were damaged or destroyed, fishing gear was lost and docks demolished. Red Cross aided the fishermen in rebuilding or restoring homes and household furnishings in addition to replacing boats and gear so that they could return to their livelihoods.

Fishermen in their storm-torn craft receive aid from a Red Cross worker, September 1938. American Red Cross.

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It’s possible you’ve already heard about – or even participated in – the American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes Campaign, but if you haven’t, I encourage you to read on. En route to providing you with the information you’ll need to participate, should you feel so inclined, I’d like to share with you my 2012 Holiday Mail for Heroes experience.

Once a year, the Red Cross provides Americans with an opportunity to send holiday cards to United States service members, veterans, and their families. Anyone is welcome to participate, and I know from experience (last year I organized a Holiday Mail for Heroes activity for my son’s preschool class), that this campaign is a perfect way for adults and children alike to learn more about the American Red Cross and to support our country’s service members during the holiday season.

Back in October I approached my son’s kindergarten teacher about the campaign, and she was as enthusiastic as I’d hoped she’d be about bringing the Red Cross into the classroom. I set to work gathering materials and preparing to speak to 22 five- and six-year-olds about the mission and work of the organization.

As I’ve done in previous years, I began by asking the kids “Have any of you heard of the American Red Cross?”, “What does the American Red Cross do?”, and “How does the American Red Cross help people?” Their answers were – as expected – sweet and funny and bizarre, and ranged from 100% correct statements to minutes-long stories about pet dogs and gingerbread cookies.

Once I felt the kids understood why and for whom they would be making these cards, I set them free to create.

I was so proud of these kindergarteners. They put a great deal of time and effort into their cards, drawing pictures and using stickers to create elaborate holiday and winter scenes, and working hard to write meaningful messages and sign their names.

I love the HMFH Campaign because of what it represents and because it means a great deal to the active duty service members, veterans, and families it reaches. But I also love the HMFH Campaign because it provides everyone – including children – with an opportunity to make a difference.

There’s still time for you, your friends, your kids, and/or your kids’ classes to participate in the 2012 Holiday Mail for Heroes Campaign. Here’s what you need to know when creating your holiday cards:

• Use generic salutations, such as “Service Member”, as cards addressed to specific individuals cannot be delivered through this program.
• Only cards are accepted. Do not send or include letters or photos.
• Do not use glitter on cards, as it can aggravate health issues of ill and injured warriors.
• Ensure that all cards are signed (first names are fine), but do not include email or home addresses on the cards.

Now just simply create your cards, place them in an envelope or box (no individual envelopes are needed – just place all of your cards in one large envelope or mailing box), and send them to the address below. All packages must be postmarked no later than December 7th.

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Happy creating!

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Natreka Wallace is a peer educator for the Bahamas Red Cross HIV programs, working with her colleagues to increase disease and prevention awareness in their communities. Many national stakeholders have requested their assistance at various activities, including national HIV testing events, World AIDS Day activities, community health fairs and condom blitzing campaigns, including the Condomize! campaign. 

My name is Natreka Wallace and I am 19 years old. I work in a childcare centre and I play in the Centreville Band in my hometown of Nassau, Bahamas. That is how I was first recruited into the Bahamas Red Cross HIV project: a Field Officer told us band members about the project. After doing the training and starting to do the peer education I really enjoy it and believe in the process.

In school we only ever learn the most basic things; being a peer educator opened my eyes to serious issues. I knew the basics about HIV, but I didn’t really know all the facts. I used to look at some people differently and treat them differently because I didn’t have all the information.

One of the best things about the peer education part of the program is talking to people about healthy and unhealthy relationships; I can help friends understand better ways of acting and thinking. Sometimes people think it is encouraging youth to have sex by talking about how to stay protected; many parents are ashamed to talk about sex with their kids, and they react negatively when others try to. The good news is that when people find out we’re trained by the Red Cross, they are more willing to listen.

Before my training, I was very shy to speak with strangers, even my peers who we target, ages 16 and older. Now that I’ve been trained by the Red Cross though, I have more confidence, for speaking with groups and one-on-one. As an artistic person, creative approaches like the “Condomize Project” opened up new and fun ways to speak with my peers. People are learning about the importance of safe sex, and the peer educators are building a positive reputation in our communities – when we walk down the street people come up to us asking for new information and for condoms. Before, there was not much information and people were afraid to get tested or to use condoms. Now, people know it’s OK to get tested and to use condoms; they know who the peer educators are, they find us and ask for condoms and to talk. It is exciting to see people becoming aware and confident in the community.

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