Posted on 11/14/2012 8:46:11 AM PST by Alice in Wonderland
Kathy Maggio, 56, lives a half block away from the beach on 126th Street, in a one-story brick house in Rockaway, Queens.
Hurricane Sandy severely damaged her house: Flood waters gushed in, leaving leaking ceilings, a ruined skylight, water-logged walls and a basement full of destroyed furniture, rugs, and boxes of photos and keepsakes.
Maggio said she saw volunteers in her hard-hit neighborhood shortly after the storm hit.
"So I saw these guys walking around, removing debris at a neighbor's house," Maggio said.
Two days later, she said, half a dozen volunteers were at her door. They were members of Team Rubicon, a nonprofit organization leading house-to-house relief work in the Rockaways.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnyc.org ...
Official help has been painfully slow but volunteer efforts have been more than amazing! Volunteers and donations are pouring in from far and wide! Besides Team Rubicon there are Mormons, and Sikhs, and other faith based groups.
For the first time in its history, Doctors Without Borders has responded to a crises within the United States. And Rockaways own Rockaway Youth Taskforce is doing an amazing job bringing food, water, blankets and other supplies to the disabled and elderly trapped on the upper floors of high rise buildings. Not all yuts cause mayhem.
I cant say enough about the people of Occupy Wall Street, who are now operating under the name Occupy Sandy. They were the first to arrive after the storm and have setup refugee sites up and down the peninsula. They have even opened a medical clinic which they say will be a long-term community fixture. They are a highly organized and very efficient group. I guess they really did learn something during their encampment at Zuccotti Park.
Since there is not phone service, Facebook has been the way to communicate. And would you believe theres an Amazon Wish List for those who want to help, but cant in person!
The Rockaways are more than grateful for all the help they are receiving. Plans are already in the making for a great big fat Thank You party for Memorial Day weekend! And the Rockaways definitely know how to throw a party! Ask any Wounded Warrior.
Thanks for the Amazon link! Just finished sending! Good luck to you all!
I am surprised to hear of basements on a barrier island (peninsula). A basement would seem to be a near permanent indoor pool. Isn’t the water table near the surface in such a place?
My husband’s father has a home in NJ on Long Beach Island (home of Seaside, aka Jersey Shore show).
He has a basement, a small one but an entire floor below the home. It’s always dry but for the occasional huge storm, and not all storms, either. It’s where their washer/dryer, water heater, etc are.
Not all homes have a basement on the island but many do. The home was built in 1927.
I wasn’t looking for donations but that was super nice of you. Thank you very much!
He lived across the street from the bay and I only remember him flooding once, during Hurricane Donna.
Some basements have apartments. I never cared for them much, they always have musty smells. This is a picture of the entrance to a friend's basement apartment. She lost everything. I sent her a check to help her get back on her feet.
I thought that was a great idea, the wish list. I feel so badly for everyone with all the horrible stuff to deal with. It made me feel better, do to a little something, so thank you! Interesting post!
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