Giving Back After Hurricane Sandy
Call it what you will: “Frankenstorm” or Superstorm Sandy, but Hurricane Sandy completely rattled the northeast last week. She not only shut down New York City and destroyed hundreds of miles of populated coastline in New Jersey and the outer-boroughs but also smashed all sorts of meteorology records in her ultra-destructive wake. This storm was so catastrophic that the name “Sandy” will join the ranks of “Katrina” and “Irene” and be permanently retired from the Hurricane Names Rolodex.
Second in its destruction only to 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, Sandy caused an estimated $20 billion in property damages, shut down schools/businesses/Wall Street for days, left at least 110 people dead and thousands more displaced, and cut power to over 8 million homes from North Carolina to Maine. The combination of the storm surge with a full moon and high tides was the ultimate recipe for disaster, as water levels shot up 14ft higher than usual and poured into city streets, subways, offices, and homes.
The conditions that spawned such a force of devastation can partly be credited to climate changes caused by our excessive environmental pollution which multiplies exponentially as our planet becomes more and more overpopulated and consumer-driven. As we have seen a surge in “natural disasters” across the world over the past decade, there is a clear indication of a far greater problem than the preparedness of our emergency relief teams that desperately needs to be addressed. Global warming seems to be the elephant in the room when it comes to the advancement of our society, and while it’s safe to say everyone recognizes the need for change, it is slow to take hold. In this time of economic depression, the need for global cleanup and a switch to green energy seems to be pushed aside for whatever provides a quicker and more convenient fix.
Hopefully this superstorm will serve as a wake-up call and make people understand that significant changes need to be made, and fast, to restore our planet to a cleaner and more balanced place.
To volunteer or donate to those affected by Hurricane Sandy you can reach out to the following:
The Humane Society of the United States – The organization is accepting donations to help with its efforts in New Jersey and New York via its website. You also can text the word ANIMALS to 20222 to donate $10 to help the HSUS disaster relief fund.
American Red Cross – The organization is accepting donations for its Hurricane Sandy relief fund via its website. You also can call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to donate or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. The organization also is asking people to donate blood.
Habitat for Humanity – Habitat for Humanity works to build affordable homes throughout the world. The organization is collecting donations to help with its efforts with rebuilding following Hurricane Sandy. Visit the organization’s website for more information and to donate.
Additionally, there are many local organizations across the country gathering supplies and donations that are desperately needed from firehouses to restaurants, so check out who’s helping out near you!