Worth Sharing. He's right.
Check out this video on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/l-gQLqv9f4o
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Operation Cupcake
Today, with the involvement of the youth group at the Community Presbyterian Church, Americorp, and students from Elon University, we delivered some scrumptious cupcakes to community members of Brigantine.
Because who doesn't love a scrumptious cupcake!? You can hold them in one hand, you don't need any utensils to eat them, and yet they're more than bite size, because let's be real, bite size is never enough .
These scrumptious cupcakes were made by two ten-year-old girls who understand the love that the majority has for cupcakes and wanted to spread that love to the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Since the storm, founders/owners/10- yr- olds/cupcake extraordinaires, Emma and Nina have delivered to numerous shelters and other communities throughout New Jersey . With orders and donations through friends and families, these two girls ask nothing more than for everyone to enjoy a cupcake.
Spreading frosting and spreading smiles, I say Operation Cupcake is a huge success!
To learn more about Operation Cupcake and how you can help please visit:
http://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/home.php?__user=1242150156&soft=side-area
Because who doesn't love a scrumptious cupcake!? You can hold them in one hand, you don't need any utensils to eat them, and yet they're more than bite size, because let's be real, bite size is never enough .
These scrumptious cupcakes were made by two ten-year-old girls who understand the love that the majority has for cupcakes and wanted to spread that love to the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Since the storm, founders/owners/10- yr- olds/cupcake extraordinaires, Emma and Nina have delivered to numerous shelters and other communities throughout New Jersey . With orders and donations through friends and families, these two girls ask nothing more than for everyone to enjoy a cupcake.
Spreading frosting and spreading smiles, I say Operation Cupcake is a huge success!
To learn more about Operation Cupcake and how you can help please visit:
http://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/home.php?__user=1242150156&soft=side-area
Friday, January 18, 2013
Holy Moldy!!!
Look at that mold!! Many homes throughout the state of New Jersey are still wet and continue to get more moldy by the day.
Our organization and many others are working to get all the mucking and gutting done, stopping mold in its tracks and making sure it doesn't come back.
It's important to remove anything and everything that's wet and to make sure to remove the sheet rock about 18 inches above the water line. This is to make sure the house is rid of all mold, including the spores we don't see.
Thank you Prince George Community College for contributing your efforts to getting families back into Healthy homes !!!
Our organization and many others are working to get all the mucking and gutting done, stopping mold in its tracks and making sure it doesn't come back.
It's important to remove anything and everything that's wet and to make sure to remove the sheet rock about 18 inches above the water line. This is to make sure the house is rid of all mold, including the spores we don't see.
Thank you Prince George Community College for contributing your efforts to getting families back into Healthy homes !!!
Monday, January 7, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Service is Contagious!
After seeing this group hard at work....
...this gentleman on the dumpster was excited to lend a hand!
We've seen this before and it has happened again. If this was an episode of MythBusters, this myth would be CONFIRMED! Service IS contagious.
"Ooo!!Ooo!!Ooo!! Can I help you carry that??"
Yes, that is a direct quote.
Seeing volunteers doing service is a morale boost for the community and Atlantic City is ready for it!
Catch the bug people. This one is good for you!!
http://www.helpguide.org/life/volunteer_opportunities_benefits_volunteering.htm
Friday, January 4, 2013
What kind of work are we doing you ask??
Well....
The beautiful part of volunteering is the continuum.
Our service is always changing because although one group may strip a home down it's bare bones, another may get to put up sheet rock, while a third group plasters and paints.
It can be challenging to leave an alternative break when you want to see a home or project to completion.
It's important to remember how together, we are a pieces of a puzzle which fit together to build the complete picture.
Illustrating this point, we have had groups working on insulating a home, gut out crawl spaces, demo wet sheet rock, and paint an office space for a Long Term Recovery Center.
Here are a few more pictures of our time with the College of Charleston.
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The beautiful part of volunteering is the continuum.
Our service is always changing because although one group may strip a home down it's bare bones, another may get to put up sheet rock, while a third group plasters and paints.
It can be challenging to leave an alternative break when you want to see a home or project to completion.
It's important to remember how together, we are a pieces of a puzzle which fit together to build the complete picture.
Illustrating this point, we have had groups working on insulating a home, gut out crawl spaces, demo wet sheet rock, and paint an office space for a Long Term Recovery Center.
Here are a few more pictures of our time with the College of Charleston.
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What is a "Superstorm" anyway?
Why is Sandy referred to as a Superstorm and not hurricane?
This is an ongoing issue.
-
Superstorm Sandy had qualities of a tropical storm and of a hurricane. It had tropical storm force winds while rainfall and flooding classified it as a hurricane.
But to a person standing on the street in the rain, does it really make a difference?
Probably not.
However, to that same man in the street who returned to a home needing major repairs, it does!
But to a person standing on the street in the rain, does it really make a difference?
Probably not.
However, to that same man in the street who returned to a home needing major repairs, it does!
-The
mayor of AC had greatly pushed for meteorologists to "re-categorize" the
storm.
Believe it or not, regardless of the damage the storm causes, the terminology greatly effects insurance for homeowners and businesses.
For example,
The business deductible for a "hurricane" is 100,000 dollars. For a "disaster" is 20,000.
Believe it or not, regardless of the damage the storm causes, the terminology greatly effects insurance for homeowners and businesses.
For example,
The business deductible for a "hurricane" is 100,000 dollars. For a "disaster" is 20,000.
This is an ongoing issue.
Many people are waiting on insurance money, help from FEMA, etc. Many people are staying with friends and family or hopping from rental to rental. Besides the emotional and mental toll, this is a great financial burden. While paying rent, which for most is higher than their
mortgage, people are also they’re paying their
mortgage!
What does this mean for the future:
New updated flood maps will change, showing some areas in Brigantine (one of the cities of Atlantic County) to have a 12 foot flood risk. This means homes would have to be adapted to meet standards to protect from that risk.
If a home is not adapted, this may become an issue of noncompliance with insurance companies.
However, none of this is set in stone yet and is currently being worked on.
Additionally, some areas had less damage from dunes on engineered beaches made by NJ army corp. Considering options such as this are certainly being considered for future preparation.
New updated flood maps will change, showing some areas in Brigantine (one of the cities of Atlantic County) to have a 12 foot flood risk. This means homes would have to be adapted to meet standards to protect from that risk.
If a home is not adapted, this may become an issue of noncompliance with insurance companies.
However, none of this is set in stone yet and is currently being worked on.
Additionally, some areas had less damage from dunes on engineered beaches made by NJ army corp. Considering options such as this are certainly being considered for future preparation.
SuPeRsToRm SaNdY!
In 2012 alone, NJ had been hit by 3 storms that have been declared as federal disasters: Hurricane Irene, a severe storm on June 30th, and then Superstorm Sandy.
Prior to, the last hurricane to have hit NJ was in 1894.
The worst case scenario that could happen for NJ is a
storm coming up from the south near Delaware. That puts New Jersey in
the Northeast quadrant of a storm, which has the most force aka is the most
damaging. In this case, the storm was
900 miles wide.
Water Damage
The Storm lasted three days which means 3 high tide cycles. This led to record tidal flooding.
Additionally, the storm was projected to hit NJ during a full moon, which causes tides to be exacerbated. Sandy was projected to hit land at the same time as the highest high tide was projected.
AC already has flooding during full moons..
Historically, the worst flood NJ had had prior was an 8 foot flood.
Additionally, the storm was projected to hit NJ during a full moon, which causes tides to be exacerbated. Sandy was projected to hit land at the same time as the highest high tide was projected.
AC already has flooding during full moons..
Historically, the worst flood NJ had had prior was an 8 foot flood.
With this storm and the rise of the tides, there water level rose to 10 ft above normal. Following, there was an additional 8 foot surge. A surge is defined as : a rising of the sea as a result of atmospheric pressure changes and wind associated with a storm.
Before Sandy had even hit, NJ was experiencing tropical storm force winds. These sustained winds were in excess of 80 mph. Lastly, on the ocean side there was an additional 10 ft of wave action.
Before Sandy had even hit, NJ was experiencing tropical storm force winds. These sustained winds were in excess of 80 mph. Lastly, on the ocean side there was an additional 10 ft of wave action.
To put in another way, in the barrier islands of NJ, the bay and the ocean touched, with houses scattered amidst the water.
Atlantic County was announced to be in a state of emergency on October 29,2012. For a variety of reasons, Atlantic County is still in a state of emergency, although this will hopefully change soon.
Atlantic County was announced to be in a state of emergency on October 29,2012. For a variety of reasons, Atlantic County is still in a state of emergency, although this will hopefully change soon.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Rebuild !?? What What!!
 |
| College of Charleston Rebuilding with the Fuller Center for Housing Disaster ReBuilders |
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Responsibility
“Responsibility = the Ability to Respond"
It's everyone's responsibility to respond to help others when we're able to!
Planning Ahead
Storm Plan Phases:
Preparation, Activating plans, and Long Term Recovery.
In order to help prepare for damage that Sandy could cause, the NJ Emergency Management Team opened 5 shelters, housing about 3,000 people. Additionally, they opened a medical shelter to house those that need around the clock medical care. This allowed for hospitals to be better prepared to help those injured in the storm.
Sandy did cause 3 fatalities.
Additionally, the Emergency Management Team had 150 trained volunteers to help in rescue missions, in running shelters, etc.
The last major hurricane before Hurricane Irene had not hit NJ since 1894. So, this is the first time NJ has ever had to enter their Long Term Recovery plans.
This is why volunteers are such an essential part of the recovery process. Ed Conover, Deputy Coordinator for Emergency Management of Atlantic County, had talked to a homeowner of a house that had recently been worked on by a group of volunteers. He said this person was the happiest person in Atlantic County that he had seen, and it was all because of the work the volunteers.
Volunteering really shows a community that we care and really helps to boost morale.
All it takes is to ask "How can we help?"
(-Special thanks to Ed Conover for sharing this information with us. more of what we learned from Ed to come)
(-Special thanks to Ed Conover for sharing this information with us. more of what we learned from Ed to come)
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