Frankenstorm recovery

Cannot thank you all enough for your offer. I will see how it goes. Thanks again.

Let me know also, Victor.

Just took a tour of my hometown, yep I had tears in my eyes, garbage still piled up at the curbs and hubby said that they come thru every day and pick up trash, so much devastation. There are police stationed at the ends of the streets that go into the development to stop looters, driving around town police were out in force

anyone see Jon Bon Jovi touring the town?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEsPMS-sa_I

Same in Rockaways - many breakins over the long weekend. Should be shot on sight.

I agree, Victor. No excuse for that.

Karen

Breakins, looting- disgraceful.

just horrible what people do

Absolutely disgusting... what has this world come to? I can't imagine what is in those peoples hearts.. if they have hearts.

No morals, that's for sure......

PTA at High School running a telethon
http://mobile.nj.com/advnj/db_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=ioK95kii&full=true#display

Love those trying to help out
http://www.wfmz.com/news/Secret-Santa-s-100K-gift-to-Sandy-victims/-/121458/17606004/-/414mq1z/-/index.html

Yeah - heard that. So nice.

My cousin called to thank me for the help. Heartbreaking to hear first hand. I don't know anything about the assistance channels, but she said she cannot get anything from FEMA. She was renting the house from her BIL, who did not have flood insurance. He cannot get much help since it was not his primary residence. I get that part, but not the first part. As a renter, why can't you get help? Doesn't sound right.

If she was renting she should have had her own renter's insurance. And as a landlord I think that full coverage should be required to have on your rental properties.
FEMA will only pay out to low income people, I heard many complaints about them, they check your bank account info first before letting you know if they can help or not.
Has she contacted the Red Cross, Salvation Army or any of the various church groups helping? Convoy of Hope, Operation Blessing, etc

She did say she contacted RC and other charities.

and no response?

Still waiting.

Red Cross is one of the biggest scams that ever hit our country. .... since the very beginning. Talk to the vets of WWll. RC doesn't GIVE things, they SELL them. I am child of WWll and had 17 family members gone at one time. They all had nothing but bad words for the RC.
Check what they pay administration.

Lou, I have never heard that about the RC. Terrible!

Victor, I hope they can find some sort of help soon. Awful situation.

Karen

yes, soldiers much prefer the Salvation Army.. I wasn't happy with the RC about Sandy as I know others are doing a better job.

Victor dmail me her info and I'll make sure she gets a response from someone

I will tomorrow, Jen - thanks.

Yes, I have heard the SA is much better. Have to start donating to them.

My DH who served in WWII said the same thing...our money always went to Salv. Army, never to RC.

Wow - I knew there were recent complaints against them going back to 9/11 but had no idea the problems when back that far! Yikes.

it has always been that way - heard those WW2 stories years ago - just look who has been the president of RC, most have political associations - with huge saleries

That's a shame about the RC. I now know who not to donate to.

Karen

I tried to give the local SA a brand new, still in the box, generator a few years back. They were trucking food, water and clothing to Fl after one of the storms. According to reports from family down there the people were clamoring for generators and the local businesses did not have any available. We had been spared so we thought we would share but the SA would not take it. You would have thought they could have used it themselves in one of their own locations down there. I thought that was rather short sighted on their part.

Ever wonder where all those billions of dollars went for Katrina? Not much made it to the people who were so hard hit.
As I posted soon after Sandy, The Baptist Men came from all over the country. They can feed 30,000 per day, they bring semi-trucks all tricked out with washer/dryers and more with hot showers and restroom facilities. They are mostly retired men and women...all volunteer and depend on donations. Each group has to buy and outfit their own equipment. One of our friends went with a group to Staten Island. They reported the RC was giving out hot chocolate and cookies....BMen were cooking hot stew with lots of meat. Lots of injustice in this land. Should you be inclined, look them up on the internet and donate. They get no pay and do not preach. Just pure love for fellow man.

I agree, the smaller groups that directly share their resources where they see the greatest need make the most sense to me.

Found out that our church is collecting CVS gift cards for Seabright NJ. I suspect that it is part of a larger collection. Feel better to donate that way instead of RC.

That Baptist Men group sounds like a really good one.

Karen

Yes it does.

We need more of that.

Yes, we do....the govt. isn't there for us.....

The churches seem to be the way to find assistance. I know that Mercury One is a charity that gives 100% of donations to the local churches to use where it is needed. They may be using other outlets to get the donations to the people but I know they are using some churches. They have donated funds and separate their operation funds so you know everything you give is going to help people. They have taken several truck loads of supplies to the area.

Renters really do get stuck in the middle. Tell them not to give up. There is help out there, it is just being hidden by the curtain of government.

A good reason for renters to think about getting renters insurance, although I'm sure it's not cheap, and many people can't afford the added expense.

Karen

I am also hearing stories about people who are refusing help because they want to look at every paper or object themselves. That would be OK but winter is coming and temporary housing offers are just that. When I hear about that kind of helplessness, I am sad because that's not only poor planning but its also a sign of depression.

Yes, that's what I mean. Friend's sister can't seem to bear letting go of anything so she is trying to save every spoiled object no matter how long it takes. Very sad to see because she mobilized immediately after the storm and managed to secure a rental for three months for her family. Since they own a health club that was also devastated, they are homeless and the business is unable to give them income. The damaged house has memories of departed family members too. This reminds me to try out if anything has changed there yet, and if she will accept any help now.

She could rent a Pod to store in the parking lot of the health club so she could get the house cleared out and look at her stuff over time.

I can certainly imagine being overwhelmed by it all.