Hurricane Katrina – it’s a name too pretty for the horrendous storm that caused massive destruction in and around New Orleans and parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and the Bahamas.
So far, repairs are estimated to cost $120 billion. The federal government has committed $10.5 billion in aid with another $51.8 billion approved by Congress at end of last week.
Americans have donated over $400 million since Sept. 1, and over 60 nations from around the world have pledged financial and medical assistance.
In Jersey City there has been an overwhelming response from city government, local businesses and individuals, with several dozen trained by the Red Cross last week to possibly go South.
Mobilizing for trip to disaster area
Last week, 70 volunteers were trained at the Bergen-Hudson Red Cross Chapter office on Greenville Avenue. They received a one-hour orientation and longer training sessions on Thursday and Friday.
Claudio Perez of the Bergen-Hudson chapter said there will be future training sessions in Jersey City and other Red Cross offices across the state.
Joan Bellofatto, public relations director for the Red Cross, said that volunteers from Jersey City might not be deployed immediately, but there is a definite need for them.
“We have 5,600 Red Cross workers in Red Cross shelters right now helping victims of the hurricane,” she said. “After two or three weeks, those workers will eventually have to go back to their homes, so we’ll need a lot of replacements.” Bellofatto also said that volunteers must be “healthy and committed.”
“A lot of dedication is needed since anybody who volunteers will be spending 10- to 12-hour days for 10 days straight before getting a day off,” Bellofatto said. “They will also be living in the shelters, although in a section with other Red Cross workers.”
Members of the Jersey City Fire Department were also preparing to travel south to help out their firefighting brethren. Last week Rich Nierstadt, a veteran Jersey City firefighter working out of the Engine Number 15 firehouse on Sip Avenue, helped put together a group of about 25 firefighters who could volunteer their time in the affected areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
“You look at the news and see fires breaking out in New Orleans and they are undermanned,” he said. “If we can help in any way then we would want to be of assistance.” Giving in any way possible
Many United States residents have seen media images of underprivileged storm victims and have chipped in to help. In Downtown Jersey City, Torico’s Homemade Ice Cream Parlor on the corner of Erie and First streets donated all their profits from the sales of ice cream cones last Saturday. At the end of the day, $1,260 was raised. The total was matched by former City Councilman and downtown resident E. Junior Maldonado and the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association.
Pura Berrios and her husband Pete have operated the ice cream shop for over 30 years.
“Just watching the news, it broke our hearts, and we wondered how we could help,” said Berrios.
Other businesses that followed suit were the Beechwood Café and Market on Grove Street, which raised over $1,300 from business on Labor Day Weekend, and Melt restaurant on Jersey Avenue, which donated $150 on Tuesday afternoon.
Sawyer Smith, the owner of the Beechwood Café and the treasurer for the Downtown Historic Special Improvement District, said he hopes the fundraising efforts will encourage more businesses to donate to organizations assisting in the relief effort. Churches
Local churches are also contributing. The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Jersey City and Vicinity, Inc. are planning a New Orleans Relief Sunday for today (Sept. 11). That day, leaders of the 77 county churches in the alliance will request contributions from parishioners for relief efforts. And a rally this Wednesday at Mount Olive Baptist Church on Arlington Avenue will be held to continue the fundraising.
Rev. Ronnie-Calvin Clark, communications director for the Alliance, said some ministers are discussing the possibility of delivering goods and money directly to shelters in affected areas.
Clark also said that some churches in Jersey City have already raised money; one church raised $5,000 last Sunday.
Clark’s interest in helping disaster victims is personal as well. His godparents’ house in Jackson, Miss. was destroyed, and they expressed their anger at how authorities have treated of the victims.
“They were appalled about the [Mississippi] governor’s comments that he would use armed officers against those who are looting,” said Clark. “Many of those looters, they didn’t have food or water, and my godparents asked what would the governor do in that situation if he had no water and no food.” Living space
Some residents are opening up their homes for victims of the disaster. Maiya Thompson, a massage therapist who lives near Hamilton Park, posted a listing on the online bulletin board Craig’s List (www.craigslist.org) saying she has a room available in her house for a six- to eight-month period for a family left homeless in the aftermath.
Also, a house purchased outside Pittsburgh, Pa. by Thompson’s girlfriend is being offered for a large family.
“My girlfriend and I were on our way to Key West, Florida on Aug. 26 to celebrate my birthday, but they shut down the Fort Lauderdale Airport since the storm was hitting Florida. After the storm passed, we rescheduled to arrive on the 29th,” said Thompson. “But once we were in Key West, we just couldn’t celebrate after seeing the news. So when we returned, we decided that since we didn’t have any money to make a difference, we would post the listing.” Personally affected
Much of the media has criticized the federal government’s relief efforts, led by President George W. Bush, for coming too late and mismanaging the situation. Federal, state and local government have also been criticized for neglecting New Orleans and failing to buttress its levees over many years.
Jersey City resident Britin Bleakley is concerned about her brother who lived near New Orleans. Her brother, Royden Peabody, and his wife and children had to abandon their home in Orleans Parish, just outside New Orleans. Royden Peabody, who worked for a ship building company, sent his family to stay with relatives while he went to stay in his parents’ home in Louisville, Kentucky.
“I am happy that they got out, but knowing my brother, he wants to return there as soon as possible, and I hope he doesn’t,” said Bleakley. She said that the government’s incompetence in tending to the victims’ needs was “disgraceful” and “embarrassing”. Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com Sidebar How to help
The following are options for residents in Jersey City and the surrounding areas to assist in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort:
* The Hudson-Bergen Chapter of the Red Cross is looking for volunteers to train for possible deployment to Red Cross shelters that are housing victims in affected areas. For more information, call (201) 652-3210.
* The Salvation Army chapter at 148 Erie St. is accepting non-monetary donations for Hurricane Katrina Victims. They are open Saturday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Just about everything is needed, except for winter clothes. For more information, call (201) 653-3071.
* Contributions to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Recovery Fund set up by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Jersey City and Vicinity, Inc. can be mailed to IMA of Jersey City & Vicinity, Inc. c/o New Orleans Relief Recovery, P.O. Box 8290, Jersey City, N.J. 07308-8290. The alliance will also hold a rally this Wednesday for their relief efforts from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Mount Olive Baptist Church. For more information, call (201) 432-8795.
* Those wishing to provide living space in their homes for victims can post listings on www.craigslist.org and www.hurricanehousing.org . – RK