Community Chat

[cindychats]

Thursday, November 1, 2012 6:25 p.m. EST

Long Beach, N.Y. — As volunteers unloaded Convoy of Hope’s tractor-trailer load of 40,000 lbs. of supplies in Long Beach, N.Y., the line of storm survivors waiting for help grew rapidly, giving gravity to the situation here.

Ria came through the line to get cleaning supplies after flood waters washed through her home. “It was frightening,” she says, describing watching the rising water with her 12-year-old daughter. “We watched as the ocean met the bay.”

Ria has no insurance and lives in government housing. She says she has no idea how she will make ends meet. But, she says today she was given a little hope. “The cleaning supplies and food will at least get us started,” she says.

Long Beach sits on a barrier island that was inundated by water from both sides as the storm surge mixed with high tides. Residents are now pumping water out of heir homes and piling their destroyed belongings in heaps on the side of the street.

“The people of Long Beach really don’t have anywhere to go for these basic needs,” says Francis Becker, Nassau County Legislator. “The devastation is so significant; it’s going to be a long time before this community recovers. Convoy of Hope is helping to fill a void here and its wonderful.”

Convoy of Hope will continue to work with local and state officials to aid storm survivors in the coming days.

Adam McMullin, Convoy of Hope field reporter — Long Beach, N.Y.

Friday, November 2, 2012 12:45 p.m. EST

Washington Township, N.J.—Convoy of Hope’s Global Disaster Response team is coordinating additional emergency aid distribution efforts set for this weekend in New Jersey and New York.

“There are five tractor-trailer loads of supplies being staged in Pennsylvania with three of those loads being shipped and distributed on Saturday, Nov. 3.,” says Nick Weirsma, director of community services for Convoy of Hope.

Two distribution sites are planned in Bayonne, N.J., and Long Beach, N.Y.; as well a partner distribution effort in New York City.

http://convoyofhope.org/go/headlines/entry/hurricane_sandy_response_update#press