With the help of a pilot who donated his time, fuel, money, and plane, Lindsey Scott delivered 400 hot hamburgers to a group of evacuees who were tired and hungry after losing their homes to what has been dubbed the most devastating tropical storm in U.S. history.

The meal she provided was much-needed by the victims of Hurricane Harvey, but Lindsey, who is from Southeast Texas, the region hit hardest, was so “astonished” by the treatment she received from Red Cross workers that she took to Facebook to share her story.

Hurricane Harvey has left more than one million people displaced and without basic necessities like food and water. One woman decided to bring 400 burgers to evacuees who were starving.

But when she arrived at the airport where they were hunkering down, she was met by workers from the Red Cross who had a negative response to her kindness.

“I’m astonished at the behavior of the Red Cross husband/wife team at the mid-county Jack Brooks airport yesterday,” Lindsey wrote on Facebook. She said the workers “accosted” her and “took turns berating me because I was trying to bring 400 warm hamburgers to our hungry evacuees, who according to them did not need the food because they had ‘already had a sandwich.” Lindsey continued, “Yes, they had 1 sandwich in 24 hours. They were desperate for a hot meal!”

Unfortunately, things only got worse. “The Red Cross proceeded to try and load the warm, ready to eat burgers into an ice chest. The pilot, who had donated his time, fuel, money, plane and arranged the delivery of the burgers was horrified at not being able to serve them (he actually came to volunteer as well),” she added.


Lindsey was taken aback by an organization like the Red Cross rudely turning away such a generous donation, and she had no idea how to respond. “I confess I just stood there with my mouth gaping open, fighting back tears while they told me that I did not know what I was doing and they had not even seen me volunteering,” she wrote.


“The Red Cross was not there at 6:30 am when we got there to find we had no food to serve the 100s of evacuees who had sat on a bus all night and some who had not eaten in 24 hours,” added Lindsey. “They were not there when the sun came up and [the evacuees] woke up hungry, angry, tired, scared, and frustrated. They did not see them fighting over donuts that OUR friends and family answered the call to bring at 7:00 am. They did not see the tears over dehydrated babies while we worked to arrange the delivery of Pedialyte and formula,” she wrote.

“They showed up HOURS later,” Lindsey went on, “when we had already coordinated the delivery of food and supplies with our LOCAL community members (who came out in droves) and The Sky Hope Network through our wonderful State Representative Dade Phelan after just a single phone call. And the reason they didn’t see me (sweating and sunburned) is because I spent most of the day on the aviation side of the airport on the tarmac coordinating the landing, unloading, and transport of supplies the Sky Hope Network was flying in all day,” she wrote.


“I do not care they weren’t there (I understand the vast, severe, damage that ranges from Corpus, Rockport, Houston all the way to Louisiana). I do, however, care how they treated the people of our community when they arrived!” an exasperated Lindsey explained.


“These supplies/donations were made by OUR LOCAL community members and the Sky Hope Network (not the Red Cross) and the Red Cross wanted them all shipped to their warehouse for processing and distribution,” wrote Lindsey. “Apparently they don’t do ‘local distribution.’ Say what?! We need these things here, locally, NOW,” she added.
Source

Hurricane Sandy ravished the East Coast of the U.S. on Oct. 29th. Many people have suffered great loss because of this devastating storm. But people were not the only victims of this storm. Fortunately, unlike the tragedy with hurricane Katrina, many people were able to take the pets when evacuating this time and many shelters allowed pets to come with them. But pets and animals were still caught up in the destruction of the storm and many were displaced.

To come to their rescue, many local and national organizations have created several programs to reunite Sandy victims with their beloved pets. The following organizations are some of those who have stepped up to help.

Facebook’s Hurricane Sandy Lost and Found Pets was created to post pictures of lost or found animals in the affected Northeastern regions.

The Red Paw Relief Team of Philadelphia is also using their Facebook page to share information about displaced animals in the area.

Twitter’s #SandyPets is helping by posting up to date tweets from rescue organizations and shelters like the Humane Society and Animal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) on how to volunteer and help.

New York City’s Humane Society has set up a hotline for anyone that were forced to leave their animals behind. Anyone needing to report can call 347-573-1561.

The ASPCA of New York has helped by sending field work teams to several areas affected by the storm.

When five young people from the Pine Ridge Reservation answered a call for runners to represent their community in the New York City Marathon they never imagined their visit would create such a lasting impression. The trip which was sponsored by One Spirit, a non-profit organization headed by a remarkable woman by the name of Jeri Baker. One Spirit works within the Pine Ridge community bringing food, wood and various programs to community members in need.

This past spring the New York Road Runners Club granted five entries to One Spirit with the hope of encouraging Native youth to train and finish the 26.2 mile course. “By allowing just regular community runners to enter the race, this program became a way to highlight the positive accomplishments members of the community can do,” says Baker. So with the help of Lakota running coach Dale Pine they set out to recruit 5 runners: Jeff Turning Heart, Amanda Carlow, Nupa White Plume, Alex Wilson and Kelsey Good Lance.

Two days before their visit, New York City was hit with the worst natural disaster it has ever faced. Nonetheless the city’s mayor told the world the race would continue. On Friday evening as this reporter sat with the runners in the lobby of their hotel conducting an interview the news reported the Marathon was cancelled.

One could see the look of disappointment on the faces of the runners who worked so hard preparing for the race some running up to 120 miles a week. Almost instantly the runners, their coach and One Spirit’s Baker decided this trip would not be in vain and even though the mission of the run was to help their community they knew many communities in the city also needed help.

On Sunday morning Team One Spirit joined a few hundred other runners and climbed aboard a New York ferry heading toward one of the hardest hit boroughs in the city, Staten Island. The team along with their coach ran across the island to Midland Beach which was almost completely destroyed in the hurricane. The runners grabbed masks gloves and shovels and began going house to house helping residents dig their homes out of the decay left by the storm. They could have stayed dry and clean in one of the distribution areas handing out supplies but these Natives come from a place where helping your community is a daily duty. “We come from a hard place to live” says Coach Pine.

“Many of our elders go without heat, electricity and hot water every day, we know what is needed in situations like this.” And so they did, clearing a complete basement of moldy sheet rock and rugs in 30 minutes. As they helped a Chinese husband and wife who barely spoke English the man turned and asked “Who are these people?”


A Road Runner staff member replied, “They are American Indians, they come from a community which is the poorest place in America.” The man replied “I am honored they would come to help me.” Jeff Turning Heart said, “At first I was sad the race was cancelled but coming here and seeing all these people working together made me feel proud to be part of it. We know how to survive in desperate situations and have the skills to assist these people in need. I know I am stronger from this experience.”


The runners never imagined they would be coming to New York City to help another community in need but as One Spirit founder Jeri Baker said “These young people are now heroes in their community and an inspiration for our youth. That is what this trip was all about. I think that part of our mission was accomplished. There will be other races to run and goals to reach but helping people in need is priceless.”
SOURCE

(Reuters) - While superstorm Sandy sent most people running for shelter wherever they could find it, bird enthusiasts rushed outdoors as soon as possible to scan the skies for birds that usually don't visit these parts.

A powerful storm can take birds far from home or thousands of miles off their migratory course if they are swept up in the center of a storm and carried along until they reach the first spot where it is safe to land.

To greet them, there are often groups of intrepid bird watchers, or birders, eager to spot an extremely rare out-of-town visitor like the Leach's Storm-Petrel.

Birders were quick to say on Friday that they were very upset by the devastation caused by Sandy, which killed scores of people, ruined homes and left many without power. But they also view dangerous storms as an opportunity.

Because the storm that ravaged the U.S. Northeast this week combined a hurricane from the south and winter winds from the north, it brought in a more peculiar group of birds than usual when it made landfall in New Jersey on Monday night.

"This was a storm that mixed species groups you don't ever usually see together," said Andrew Farnsworth, a New York-based researcher for Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology.

One birder discovered a Red-billed Tropicbird in New Jersey - more typically seen in the Caribbean - and brought it to a wild-life rehabilitator, according to Farnsworth, who studies reports on the online forum ebird.org.


Near Ithaca in Upstate New York, one ebird.org visitor reported seeing an arctic bird, the Ross's Gull, while another reported a sighting of the same bird near Lake Ontario, Canada.

"The same storm that brought this arctic bird also brought this Caribbean bird," said Farnsworth, 39.

On Tuesday, as soon as they decided it was safe to go outside, several Manhattan birders headed to the banks of the Hudson River. They were delighted to catch sight of Jaegers, which are typically only found out at sea.

"It's just exciting to be on the Hudson and see these birds that you'd normally only see out on a fishing boat," said Dale Dancis, a retired teacher who declined to disclose her age.


Starr Saphir, 73, who leads bird tours in Central Park and appeared in a HBO birding documentary, "The Central Park Effect," said she saw Forster's Tern on Tuesday. "They had already migrated south so they got blown back," she said.

Peter Post, 73, a retired social services worker who has been a birder for 62 years, said he spotted an American Oyster Catcher on the Hudson, far from its coastal habitat.

Post was disappointed he missed the Leach's Storm-Petrel Farnsworth spotted on Tuesday. "It would've been nice," he said.


Joseph DiCostanzo, 60, an ornithologist who works at the American Museum of Natural History, was lucky enough to see a Red Phalarope, usually an ocean bird, near the river through the window of his Manhattan home before he was able to go outside.

"My wife and I did try to go out. The problem was that they were closing all the parks," DiCostanzo said.
SOURCE

With Hurricane Sandy, one of the largest storms of the last 30 years, bearing down on the Eastern Seaboard, Best Friends is assisting local rescue groups faced with protecting animals in harm’s way and will be on call to help local authorities and national groups engaged in the effort.

Our work on Hurricane Sandy began late last week when Jamie Rubin, who heads up our work in New York, began communicating with and supplying information to NMHP Network partners and local rescue groups via our New York Face book page. We will continue to post and re-post information as it becomes available to help concerned animal welfare organizations throughout the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) for the duration of the storm.

Meanwhile, Best Friends has sent a small rescue team to the New York area. On arrival they will assess the situation on the ground and assist the National Animal Response and Sheltering Coalition, which will coordinate the work of animal rescue groups. Best Friends will be in contact with our NMHP Network partners and other local animal rescue groups who may need help.

We’ve also been in touch with the Mayor’s Alliance in New York City, New York City Animal Care and Control, and other local groups to learn of their disaster plans.

Sandy is a Category 1 hurricane (the highest is Category 5), but with winds today pushing 90 miles per hour, there is a chance that it could reach Category 2 later today. Weather experts, state and municipal governmental leaders and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are monitoring the storm’s progress, cautioning that the main concern of this particular storm will be its size, duration, heavy rains and storm surge that will produce considerable coastal flooding. With tropical storm-force winds out to 520 miles and hurricane-force winds out175 miles from its center Sandy is second only to Hurricane Olga in 2001.


As the situation develops, we will keep you informed as to just exactly what Best Friends’ will be doing to help animals in distress.
SOURCE



 1) Prepare To Take Your Pets — Don’t leave your pets at home. If you’re planning to head to a Red Cross Shelter or hotel, remember that not all will take animals. Here’s a list of directories for finding a pet-friendly hotel from the ASPCA. Other options include a veterinary clinic, animal control shelter, or pet shelter.

2) Photos & IDs Please! — Keep a current photograph of your pet in case something happens to them during the storm. Identification in the form of a collar is also essential and will make it easier to locate them if they get lost.

3) Leash And Pet Carriers – Think about how exactly you will keep track of your pet during the storm, and how you will transport them should you decide to evacuate. A leash and/or pet carrier will ensure your animal doesn’t go astray.



4) Bring Your Pet Inside — The last thing you want is to have to hunt for your pet on the brink of a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center suggests that owners calm and comfort pets inside well in advance of the actual storm.

5) What To Pack — The ASPCA recommends you pack five to seven days of pet food and water along with litter trays, litter and trash bags. Pet first aid kits might be a good idea, and remember their medications. If you are taking them to an animal shelter, you’ll need to bring all of the above and ensure your pet has its rabies tags, up to date immunization records and labelled supplies.

For more information, the American Red Cross has more about disaster preparedness and safety for pets.
Source

As a worldwide initiative we are sending prayers of love and safety to the people along the Eastern seaboard of the United States in the path of Hurricane Sandy. We pray to calm her winds and to lessen her rains and storm surges to prevent the least amount of destruction possible. We will continue to keep them in our thoughts during this onslaught by Mother Nature as Hurricane Sandy bears down on that area.

Hurricane Sandy also being called 'Frankenstorm' is approaching the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. It is a category 1 Hurricane with 90 mph winds coupled with the high tides of the full moon which could produce storm surges of up to 6 to 11 feet. Hurricane Sandy is 800 miles wide, moving slowly and will effect states from North Carolina to Maine for an extended period of time this week. The hardest hit areas will be the New Jersey coastline, NYC and Long Island.

The number of people that could be effected are between 50-60 million. Power outages and flooding will be the biggest problems caused by Sandy. In addition to the hurricane a snow blizzard is moving in behind the hurricane and could bring up to 1-2 ft. of snow from Kentucky to Virginia.

If you are in that area please follow the suggestions below to prepare to ride out the storm.

Before the storm:

*Make sure you have ample drinking water. Fill pots, tubs or jugs with water from your tap, or buy bottled water

*Make sure you have plenty of food that does not require refrigeration and that can be safely eaten without cooking it

*Assemble a basic emergency kit

*Check that flashlights and other battery-operated devices (such as a radio) have fresh batteries

*Have cash on-hand, as bank machines and interac will not be working in a blackout

*Make sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas

*If you live in a house:

*Tie down or remove loose items from your lawn and yard that may be blown around by the strong winds

*Clear leaves and debris from your rain gutters, to help your home's built-in defenses keep it safe from water damage

*Rake the leaves from your yard, and clear any leaves and debris from street gutters in front of your property, to keep rainwater drainage systems as clear as possible

*If possible, cut down any dead branches or trees around your house, to reduce the chance of damage to your home or power-outages due to downed power lines If you live in an apartment building:

*Be aware that winds at the top of a high-rise building can be significantly stronger than winds on the ground

*Bring any items from your balcony inside, or tie them down to prevent them from being blow around.


During the storm:

*Stay indoors as much as possible

*Stay alert for warnings

*Watch out for your neighbours, so that you may help them in an emergency; we are all safer when we are all looking out for one another

*If you live in an apartment building, use the elevator as little as possible, as you never know when the power may go out

If the power do goes out:

*Do not use candles for light as they may cause a fire

*Turn off all electronics and appliances

*Turn off all lights except one — so that you will know when the power comes back on

*Food in the refrigerator will last for roughly 24 hours (about six hours for dairy products), and food in the freezer will last for 24 hours if it is partially full, or up to 48 hours if it is completely full; each time you open the refrigerator or freezer door, this time will be reduced

*Manage your food and water supplies, but do not ration water — drink when you are thirsty to avoid dehydration.


How to prepare emotionally and psychologically for Hurricane Sandy ~

By John M. Grohol, PsyD

1. Be prepared.

Hopefully you’ve got this covered already, but if you don’t, find a friend or family member who does. Or get thee to a store before it’s too late. Being prepared for your physical needs helps put most fears related to your physical well-bring to rest. Most people feel uncomfortable and anxious being caught with their pants down.

2. Know and review the family plan.

Got a family? Get a plan. Here’s what the U.S. government recommends for family preparedness for a hurricane. Remember that you can’t count on being able to notify other family members living close by if the power is out (although mobile phones may sometimes work, see below), so let others know that even if they don’t hear from you that they shouldn’t worry.

3. Take comfort in U.S.’s stringent building codes.

A lot of people worry about how their house, apartment or condo will fare in the worst weather. The good news is that because of our country’s stringent building codes, most dwellings are built to withstand the strongest tropical storms, Nor’easters, and, yes, even hurricanes (especially if you live on the coast). While there’s no doubt they can still cause massive amounts of damage, most homes inland will come through the storm intact.

4. Accept the forces of nature and that storms are temporary events.

There’s little point in getting angry or upset over the natural order of things. Nature will always do what it pleases. It can be rough to weather big storms like Hurricane Sandy, no question. But hurricanes and other natural events are a part of what makes our planet so rich, diverse, and ultimately, interesting.

Lucky for us, all storms pass in just a few hours’ time. Hunker down and engage in whatever stress-relief exercises that work for you, whether it’s reading, spending time with your kids, doing crosswords, Sudoku or puzzles, or surfing the Internet (if you have power; you should plan on being without power for a few hours, at the very least).

5. Take a news break.

Information overload is an issue in many people’s lives, and no more so than when there’s a weather event. The news media works itself into a frenzy, because that’s what they get paid to do. Take a break from the constant updates and focus on a project or hobby that takes you out of the news cycle.

6. Keep in touch with loved ones, if you can.

If power allows, try and keep in touch with your friends and family. Staying connected with them during an event like this can help ease the stress and anxiety of the hurricane. It can also be a shared experience that you talk about for years to come. Sometimes a mobile phone will work even when power is out in your house, so please make sure your smartphones are charged ahead of time.


VIDEO Dawn to Dusk: Hurricane Sandy, October 28, 2012, Super Rapid Scan