Red Cross Continues to Assist New Jersey Flood Victims

Red Cross Continues to Assist New Jersey Flood Victims

Areas of New Jersey continue to flood, more than 8,000 people affected

Fairfield, New Jersey April 27, 2007 – Almost two weeks after a Nor’easter storm blew through northern New Jersey, the American Red Cross is still running shelters, service centers and helping thousands of residents clean up their homes and businesses.

The following shelters are open for people affected by flooding:

Raritan Valley Community College
Rt. 28 & Lamington Rd.
Branchburg Twp., New Jersey
(Somerset County)

The Presbyterian Church at Bound Brook (American Red Cross supported)
409 Mountain Ave.
Bound Brook, New Jersey
(Somerset County)

The following American Red Cross service centers are open to provide disaster relief assistance to flood-impacted residents. The service centers are staffed by caseworkers as well as health care and mental health teams.

PNC Bank Bldg.
4^{th floor
1 Garret Mt. Plaza
West Paterson, NJ}

^{Winemasters of Somerset
12 Church St.
Bound Brook, NJ}

^{Manville Public Library
100 S. 10th Ave.
Manville, NJ}

The Red Cross has activated its toll free information line. Anyone with questions about flood relief is urged to call 1-866-GET-INFO. Hearing impaired callers may call TDD 1-800-526-1417.

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Mamaroneck Village Church Members Work Together to Resume Services

Mamaroneck Village Church Members Work Together to Resume Services

by Tara Lynch

Westchester County, NY – In the Washingtonville section of Mamaroneck Village Sunday, parishioners of St. Vito’s Church were anxious to return to their place of worship following last week’s devastating nor’easter. Community volunteers and members of the parish worked hard all week to clean up the church, ravaged by the storm.

In the days leading up to what residents hoped to be the first church services following the disaster, the St. Vito’s community was hard at work. Last Friday, NY Sen. Charles Schumer met with St. Vito’s leader the Rev. James Healy to tour the property and listen to Healy’s story. Both the Church and St. Vito’s School sustained significant damage last week, when heavy rains brought massive flooding to the entire area. As the sunny skies on Saturday helped to dry out homes and businesses, St. Vito’s also used the beautiful weather to begin the recovery process, arranging salvageable items on their welcoming steps, providing hope to parishioners eager to return to their place of worship.

 

The front steps of St. Vito’s Church in Mamaroneck on Saturday

Photo credit: Tara Lynch

Both the weather and the hard work of local volunteers sustained the community, as parishioners got their wish – church services were conducted Sunday at St. Vito’s, a testament to the strength and resiliency of neighbors pulling together for their parish.

Other areas of worship, such as the First Baptist Church, have also been looking to local partners to help with the clean-up. Today, the Rev. Jackson and his First Baptist Church in Mamaroneck continued to dry out the pews and remove debris from his beloved church. Visits from NY Sen. Hilary Clinton, Sen. Balboni, and Westchester County officials Andy Spano and Nita Lowey included tours of the First Baptist neighborhood, along with the opportunity to meet residents and survey flood damage. Community partners such as the United Way, Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross work side by side with local residents to support their recovery efforts. Local Red Cross relief teams continue to work with the Rev. Jackson, providing hot meals, blankets and individual assistance to his collective congregation still without power.

 

Local workers continue provide assistance at the Red Cross shelter, where residents have access to the resources they need.

Photo credit: Tara Lynch

Many residents displaced by the floods remain in an American Red Cross shelter on the grounds of Mamaroneck High School.  Dedicated local residents have been seen returning to their neighborhoods during the day to help their neighbors in need. Red Cross volunteers continue to provide outreach to the community as well, driving throughout the area with food, water and clean-up kits to help with the relief effort. “We’ll continue to support the communities affected by this disaster until they no longer need us,” says Susan Rounds, acting COO at the Westchester County Chapter of the American Red Cross. “We’ve been able to reach deep into these communities to help get individuals and families the help they need.”

 

Residents of this home have begun to clean up, removing furniture damaged by flood waters last week.

Photo credit: Tara Lynch

RED CROSS REACHES OUT TO EPSOM FAMILY IN NEED OF HELP

Contacts: Paul Shipman

Phone: (860) 250-4147

DR655-07CM-OS-MGR@usa.redcross.org 

Louise St. Germain

Phone: (909) 961-8620

DR655-07CM-OS-SUP@usa.redcross.org

RED CROSS REACHES OUT TO EPSOM FAMILY IN NEED OF HELP
Neighbors Across New Hampshire Can Help by Donating to the American Red Cross

Editor’s Note: Dave Grandmont is available for interviews. Contact Paul Shipman or Louise St. Germain at (571) 226-8275.

CONCORD, NH, April 23, 2007 – On Sunday morning, Albert and Margaret Grandmont from Epsom, along the Suncook River, worried that flood waters were approaching fast. Although they were impacted by the Mother’s Day flood last year, they were able to clean up and move back home after only a couple of days. But by mid-afternoon, streets had been transformed into rivers and homes, once places of safety and comfort, became places of destruction. The water was moving closer to the front door and it was apparent that they could no longer stay in their home. After the devastating Nor’easter moved out of the area, four feet of water stood in the Grandmont’s home and they found themselves on cots at the Epsom Fire Department wondering what to do next.

With numerous health conditions, including a recent triple heart bypass as well as a hip replacement and tracheotomy, Albert Grandmont felt helpless. His wife, Margaret, along with local family members helped to salvage dishes and other sentimental things from the house. The American Red Cross reached out to the Grandmont family with the help of Dave, a maintenance supervisor at the Old State Highway garage on Stickney Avenue where the American Red Cross set up an operations center. The Red Cross determined the family’s needs and rushed to their side.

Red Cross volunteers visited the Grandmont’s home in Epsom and provided food, financial assistance for clothing, toiletries and other items as well as lodging. In addition, Red Cross volunteers visited with the family to discuss long term plans and worries about the future.

“On top of everything else with my father’s health, this has been very difficult for him,” said Dave Grandmont. “Red Cross volunteers have been great about reaching out to help my family during this very difficult time.”

In addition to the Grandmont family, numerous families along the Suncook River and Piscataquog River in the area have been affected by the devastating flood waters on Sunday, April 15. Families in Allenstown, Goffstown and Epsom as well as other townships are cleaning up and moving on with the assistance of local agencies as well as the American Red Cross.

All Red Cross assistance is free, made possible by the generosity of the American public, volunteers and by neighbors helping neighbors throughout the area. Trained disaster volunteers and employees have been working throughout the last week and a half providing food, beverages, medical and mental health care and financial assistance. Due to the extensive devastation created by this storm, the public’s help is needed. The Red Cross is reaching out for contributions to help provide assistance to victims of flooding in the Northeast. People interested in making a financial contribution can do so by contacting their local Red Cross chapter or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.

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Families, Businesses Picking Up Pieces Following Nor’easter Storm

 

 

 Families, Businesses Picking Up Pieces Following Nor’easter Storm

 

On this beautiful, sunny Sunday 20 miles north of Manhattan, it looks like a typical spring day in Hartsdale – families riding bicycles, kids playing catch and joggers shuffling to the rhythm of their iPods. But as you take a look around, it’s not business as usual. The devastating Nor’easter that swept through the Northeast part of the country last week left multiple towns without power, hundreds of businesses closed and thousands of families picking up the pieces of their lives washed away by floods.

 

For this restaurant in Hartsdale, NY, a generator helps power the clean-up efforts inside while the kitchen equipment dries out in the afternoon sun.

Photo credit: Tara Lynch

 

American Red Cross teams of relief workers remain in the communities, working with local partners to provide meals, safety information and a shoulder to lean on for those able to return home. “Long after the attention dies down and other breaking news fills the minds of the public, we’re here to help the thousands of people affected by this storm begin the recovery process,” notes Robert Imbornoni, a Red Cross Response Officer assigned to the relief effort. “This upcoming week is critical for all
New York residents across many counties, as individuals and families need to make sure they take care of their physical and mental health as well.”

 

 

Saturday afternoon, this Mamaroneck, NY house was evacuated by the local Fire Department after residents inside felt the entire structure shift heavily to one side.

Photo credit: Tara Lynch

Seven days since heavy rains and winds made their way up the East coast, roads and parkways in Westchester County remain closed; young security guards watch over local businesses and banks attempting to air out their storefronts and, for one street in Mamaroneck, the lingering effects of flooding showed their strength when two buildings were evacuated yesterday due to significant foundation damage that shifted the brick homes.  A Red Cross mobile feeding truck (ERV) travels into neighborhoods each day, and volunteers helping with the relief effort make sure residents take a break from their clean-up efforts for some water, food and emotional support. Yesterday, an ERV driver crouched down to offer a young boy in thevillage of Rye a snack from the truck. That boy’s father, watching as his son puts the finishing touches on his lemonade stand, politely declines the offer but explains why. They’re giving back to those who have helped, offering free lemonade to the first responders and clean-up crews who continue to help their neighborhood return to some sort of normalcy.

American Red Cross shelters remain open in various areas, and some working on the state-wide relief effort indicate a potential increase in feeding and sheltering needs as partner agencies finalize their damage assessments.  “Our dedicated relief workers will continue to provide vital services across
New York state to make sure these communities build back better,” says Imbornoni. “It’s been a true testament of neighbors helping neighbors here.”

 

This local Mamaroneck business proves the resiliency and spirit of the community

Photo credit: Tara Lynch 

For safety information following a flood and updates on the Nor’easter relief effort, visit www.RedCross.org or contact your local chapter today.