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Stories of heroism emerge from NY community hit hard by Sandy
Tragedy has too often visited one Queens community, but residents drew a line in the sand with Superstorm Sandy, rallying with a surfboard and kayaks at the storm's peak to rescue themselves as a fire engulfed 14 homes and flaming embers came at them like a torch.
"We heard screaming and crying in the dark," 55-year-old Thomas Buell recalled as he explained the midnight march through 4-foot-high flood waters in Belle Harbor by dozens of residents to reach a yacht club on higher ground. "It was a nightmare."
People here know disaster. On these few blocks of beach community, the Sept. 11 attacks hit hard, followed weeks later by a plane crash that killed 265 people and now Superstorm Sandy, which took lives and touched off fires that destroyed about two dozen homes. But the rescues are the talk of the community, even as residents continue their cleanup, stacking destroyed belongings up to 20 feet high outside their ruined homes.
The heroism included Tommy Woods, who put his 82-year-old mother on a surfboard and ferried her several blocks to his brother's home through the chilly waters.
"He did a good job," Charlie Moran said, speaking quietly and reverently of his nephew, as he stood near the charred wood and concrete that was all that remained of the mostly two-story homes. A blackened firefighter statuette stood guard in front of one home's skeletal remains.
After rescuing his mother and 15-year-old son with the surfboard, Woods returned to the street where homes were burning to the ground to help a neighbor's mother get out by putting her in a kayak and walking her to safety, said Moran, a retired firefighter.
Several men in the burning homes went door-to-door to get everyone out.
Down the street, unaware of Woods' heroics, Buell and his neighbor Troy Bradwisch joined three other men wearing waist-high fisherman's waders to ferry people through the rolling waters to the Belle Harbor Yacht Club. Dozens of others, including an 86-year-old man, formed a human chain and trudged through the water, clutching neighbors to make sure no one was lost.
"There was a lot of current, but people were close together, holding on to each other," Buell said.
"Up the block it was like the apocalypse," he said, explaining why no one protested the move to the yacht club, a social club built high enough to remain dry even after the waters of the ocean met Jamaica Bay. He said the wind-driven storm and subsequent flood at high tide combined with a fire that produced grapefruit-size flaming flakes and clouds of smoke, distorting perceptions and making it impossible to know how near the fire was. Fire trucks couldn't immediately get through.
Those who were walked through the swirling waters in two kayaks, one 9 feet long and the other 15 1/2 feet, included Bradwisch's wife and children, a woman and her newborn, a pregnant woman and an elderly couple.
"The fire just kept spreading because of the wind," he said. "It was like being in front of a flame thrower. The most harrowing part of it was hearing the screams in the dark."
Bradwisch, a former Navy nurse who now works at a federal prison in Brooklyn, said everyone kept calm during the evacuation "because we had kids."
Once at the yacht club, 40 to 50 of them waited out the storm until morning by the light of lanterns, not knowing if they would have homes when they returned.
Buell said one friend who lost her home in the fire has since asked him if he was OK.
"I find that ironic coming from someone who lost her house," he said.
Caring for one another comes naturally in a community that's "been very hard hit over the last decade," he said.
The working-class neighborhood is on a peninsula known as the Rockaways and is home to numerous active and retired members of the city's police and fire departments. The Rockaways are where 59 residents died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Two months after the attacks, American Airlines Flight 587 plunged into a home in Belle Harbor.
At the end of the street last Monday, the fire demolished the Harbor Light Pub, a 32-year-old restaurant owned by a man whose son died at the World Trade Center. The American flag out front and the blue awning and steps it covered were about all that remained of a building just a block from where Flight 587 crashed.
The storm in Belle Harbor still claimed lives. Buell said the neighborhood's longtime postal worker died when he got trapped by water in his basement. And a friend of Buell's was killed when a plate glass window shattered and a shard of glass sliced her, causing her to bleed to death, he said.
He said he last saw her Sunday at a school swim meet for their children.
"She kissed me on the cheek and said: `Be safe.' It's the last thing she said to me."
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/04/heroic-ny-community-rallies-together-despite-devestation-left-in-sandy-wake/
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Massachusetts
Police Tip Line Goes Mobile
Download the app to send the police photos, tips, questions and comments.
The Swampscott Police Department's newest Anonymous Tip forms relative to community policing, crime fighting, public outreach is now available right on your Android or iPhone.
The phone application or “app” can be downloaded FREE by searching for My Police Department or MyPD in the iPhone or Android marketplace.
The app is packed with ways to contact the Swampscott Police Department to send ANONYMOUS tips, photos, features for checking on the latest news, social media postings, directions, department contacts, submitting feedback & questions, department surveys, submitting crime tips, and more.
The Submit a Tip feature will be an anonymous tip feature.
The app is available to the public free of charge and is also free of any advertisements.
“We are proud to adopt this latest technology and provide it to the citizens of Swampscott ” said Chief Ronald Madigan “Our goal is to increase the flow of information, allowing users to easily send us messages or ask questions, while also providing them with our latest news and services in one easy to use app.”
“Often times our citizens know what they need but are unsure who to direct the question or comment to.” Said Chief Madigan. “Our app's crime tips or questions and feedback features allows a user to choose a topic from the forms dropdown menu that best suits them and that message will then be routed to the correct Officer.”
All of the forms can be sent anonymously to the department, though we encourage an email address or phone number if you would like a response. Users also have the availability to upload photos and GPS information with the app forms.
The public can now send crime tips, commendations, and feedback directly from the Swampscott police website as well.
The app developer, WiredBlue, and the Swampscott Police Department have new features planned for an upcoming release.
“The department is always open to suggestions and feedback from our citizens” said Chief Madigan.
More app information can be found on the Swampscott Police Department website at
www.Swampscottpolice.com or the MyPD app website
http://MyPDapp.com. The Swampscott Police Department is now on Facebook at Swampscott Police Department and on Twitter @SwampscottPD.
http://swampscott.patch.com/articles/police-tip-line-goes-mobile
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From the White House
How to Help the Survivors of Hurricane Sandy
Recovery and cleanup in the wake of Hurricane Sandy has now started along much of the East Coast. As survivors of the storm begin to deal with the aftermath of the giant storm, people across the country are asking what they can do to offer aid to their fellow Americans, and the federal governent remains committed to providing all available resources to support affected areas, as directed by President Obama.
We've put together this page to help you find the information you're looking for, whether you want to get help, or get involved in the recovery process.
Help Others >
FEMA offers this list of suggestions for people who want to help storm survivors and affected areas:
- Cash is the most efficient method of donating. Cash offers voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources and pumps money into the local economy to help businesses recover. Remember, unsolicited donated goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, and mixed or perishable foodstuffs require helping agencies to redirect valuable resources away from providing services to sort, package, transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors.
- At the national level, many voluntary-, faith- and community-based organizations are active in disasters, and are trusted ways to donate to disaster survivors. In addition to the national members, each state has its own list of voluntary organizations active in disasters. If you'd like to donate or volunteer to assist those affected by Sandy, these organizations are the best place to start.
- Give blood. Numerous blood drives have been canceled as a result of the storm and the Red Cross has a need for blood donations. To schedule a blood donation or for more information about giving blood or platelets, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
- Affiliate with existing non-profit organizations before coming to the disaster area. Immediately following a disaster, a community can become easily overwhelmed by the amount of generous people who want to help. Contacting and affiliating with an established organization will help to ensure that you are appropriately trained to respond in the most effective way.
- Be safe. Do not self deploy until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support. Wait until it is safe to travel to volunteer sites and opportunities have been identified. Once assigned a position, make sure you have been given an assignment and are wearing proper safety gear for the task.
- Be patient. Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after the disaster - especially when the community enters the long-term recovery period.
For more, check out this volunteering resource page from FEMA.
Get Help >
If you live in an area affected by the storm, there are a number of resources available to help you get the recovery assistance you need.
Safety is a primary issue when you're recovering from a disaster. Follow these tips to help ensure your safety and cope with the disaster . If you aren't able to return home, states, tribes, localities, and the Red Cross continue to operate emergency shelters along the East Coast. Here's how to find shelter:
- Monitor conditions in your area; find shelter; and let others know you are safe, with the Red Cross Hurricane App .
- Download the FEMA app to find a map with open shelters and open FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers.
- Call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
- Search for shelters via text message : text: SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA). For example: Shelter 01234 (standard rates appl
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/10/31/how-help-survivors-hurricane-sandy
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Weekly Address: Recovering and Rebuilding After the Storm
WASHINGTON, DC—In this week's address, President Obama thanked the brave first responders and National Guardsmen for their tireless work through one of the worst storms in our nation's history, and reassured the millions of Americans affected by Sandy that our country will be there for them as we work towards recovery. The President and his team continue to work with state and local partners to make sure that all available resources continue to be made available to support ongoing response and recovery. Already thousands of FEMA personnel and over ten thousand National Guardsmen are deployed in affected states to support the Governors and their teams. At the President's direction, agencies are moving assets as quickly as possible, ensuring red tape is not standing in the way of making sure state and local responders have the federal resources they need. Now it is time for all Americans to join together so that we can recover, rebuild, and come back stronger than before.
The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, November 3, 2012.
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
November 3, 2012
This weekend, millions of our fellow Americans are still picking up the pieces from one of the worst storms in our history.
I toured New Jersey on Wednesday with Governor Christie, and witnessed some of the terrible devastation firsthand. It's heartbreaking. Families have lost loved ones. Entire communities have been wiped away. Even some of the first responders who repeatedly put themselves in harm's way to bravely save the lives of others have suffered losses of their own.
Today, I ask everyone to keep them in your prayers. And as President, I promise them this: your country will be there for you for as long as it takes to recover and rebuild.
Throughout the week, I've been in constant contact with governors and mayors in the affected areas, who are doing an excellent job in extraordinarily difficult circumstances. And we owe the first responders and National Guardsmen who have been working around the clock our deepest gratitude.
Our number one concern has been making sure that affected states and communities have everything they need to respond to and recover from this storm.
From the earliest hours, I ordered that resources be made available to states in the path of the storm as soon as they needed them. And I instructed my team not to let red tape and bureaucracy get in the way of solving problems – especially when it came to making sure local utilities could restore power as quickly as possible.
Before the storm hit, FEMA pre-staged emergency response teams from North Carolina to Maine, and deployed resources like food, water, and generators up and down the coast. As the storm passed, thousands of FEMA personnel were on the ground responding to those in need. And by midweek, the Department of Defense was ready to fly in cargo planes that could be loaded with trucks and equipment to help local power companies get up and running faster.
But recovery will be a long, hard road for many communities. There's a lot of work ahead.
If you've been directly impacted by this storm and need temporary assistance getting back on your feet, you can call 1-800-621-FEMA, or apply at DisasterAssistance.gov. If you know folks who are still without power, please spread the word and let them know.
And if you don't live in an affected area and want to help, supporting the Red Cross is the best and fastest way.
This week, we have been humbled by nature's destructive power. But we've been inspired as well. For when the storm was darkest, the heroism of our fellow citizens shone brightest.
The nurses and doctors at NYU Medical Center who evacuated fragile newborns, carrying some down several flights of stairs.
The firefighters in Queens who battled an inferno from flooded streets, and rescued people from an apartment building by boat.
The Coast Guard crews from North Carolina who saved a sinking ship in stormy seas – and their rescue swimmer who, when he reached those in need, said, “I'm Dan, and I hear you guys need a ride.”
That's who we are. We're Americans. When times are tough, we're tougher. We put others first. We go that extra mile. We open our hearts and our homes to one another, as one American family. We recover, we rebuild, we come back stronger – and together we will do that once more. Thanks, God bless you, and God bless America.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/11/03/weekly-address-recovering-and-rebuilding-after-storm
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From the Department of Justice
Justice Department Officials Raise Awareness of Disaster Fraud Hotline
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice, the FBI and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) remind the public there is a potential for disaster fraud in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts associated with Hurricane Sandy should be reported to the toll-free NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721. The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters.
NCDF was originally established in 2005 by the Department of Justice to investigate, prosecute and deter fraud associated with federal disaster relief programs following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Its mission has expanded to include suspected fraud related to any natural or man-made disaster. More than 20 federal agencies – including the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney's Offices, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Secret Service – participate in the NCDF, allowing the center to act as a centralized clearinghouse of information related to disaster relief fraud.
In the wake of natural disasters, many individuals feel moved to contribute to victim assistance programs and organizations across the country. The Department of Justice and the FBI remind the public to apply a critical eye and do due diligence before giving to anyone soliciting donations on behalf of hurricane victims. Solicitations can originate as emails, websites, door-to-door collections, mailings, telephone calls and similar methods.
Before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, including the following:
- Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming emails, including by clicking links contained within those messages, because they may contain computer viruses.
- Be cautious of individuals representing themselves as victims or officials asking for donations via email or social networking sites.
- Beware of organizations with copycat names similar to but not exactly the same as those of reputable charities.
- Rather than following a purported link to a website, verify the existence and legitimacy of non-profit organizations by using Internet-based resources.
- Be cautious of emails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files, because those files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
- To ensure that contributions are received and used for intended purposes, make donations directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
- Do not be pressured into making contributions; reputable charities do not use coercive tactics.
- Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions. Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.
- Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by debit or credit card, or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals.
- Legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services.
- Most legitimate charities maintain websites ending in .org rather than .com.
In addition to raising public awareness, the NCDF is the intake center for all disaster relief fraud. Therefore, if you observe that someone has submitted a fraudulent claim for disaster relief, or observe any other suspected fraudulent activities pertaining to the receipt of government funds as part of disaster relief or clean up, please contact the NCDF.
If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud by a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of hurricane victims, or if you discover fraudulent disaster relief claims submitted by a person or organization, contact the NCDF by phone at (866) 720-5721, fax at (225) 334-4707 or email at disaster@leo.gov .
You can also report suspicious e-mail solicitations or fraudulent websites to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/November/12-crm-1308.html
