Journal News
NEW ORLEANS — It may have disrupted a presidential convention five states to the north, left dozens of dead and injured people in its wake in the Bahamas, prompted the largest evacuation in Louisiana’s history, and blasted that state inland and throughout Mississippi, but one thing Hurricane Gustav didn’t do was stop legions of volunteers, many from the Lower Hudson Valley, from stepping into the breach, lending a helping hand to the storm-threatened region. Their efforts were rewarded with grace - another catastrophe avoided.
By Monday afternoon, New Orleans residents and officials could exhale: Their city did not take a direct hit of Gustav. The former Category 4 storm was downgraded to a Category 2 once it hit land, still causing problems but none of the widespread calamity of Katrina. Elsewhere in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast, millions of people were left without power, millions of dollars were lost to industry, trees were toppled and rivers flooded.
Already in the region were at least a half-dozen Westchester Red Cross volunteers to help with comfort and cleanup. Two volunteers were in Natchez, Miss., where they were delivering meals and needed supplies, Abigail Adams, director of communications for the American Red Cross in Westchester County, told The Journal News. Four others were detailed to Louisiana State University in Alexandria, La., about 200 miles northwest of New Orleans, the staging area for the main relief effort to pitch in as directed. Four of the six - Mary Walton of Mount Vernon, Bob Reggio of New Rochelle, Lou Bonomini of Somers and Ron Effig of the Bronx- were familiar with what to expect out of Gustav; all are veteran volunteers of Hurricane Katrina.
The American Red Cross, like most Louisiana and federal officials, had learned many lessons after Hurricane Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 storm in 2005, flooding 80 percent of New Orleans, breaking levees and killing an estimated 1,800 people in Louisiana and Mississippi. The Red Cross had put out a call Thursday for 3,000 volunteers to face down the effects of Gustav.
Four ambulances and eight paramedics from Rockland Paramedic Services were among those traveling to Alexandria, La. Raymond Florida, executive director of Regional EMS and Rockland Paramedic Services, said the Federal Emergency Management Agency requested the outfit’s help in the New Orleans evacuation. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Preparedness and Emergency Operations also activated the Disaster Medical Assistance Team New York 4, based in Rockland, and its strike team flew to Tallahassee, Fla. Kim Lippes, commander, said the team comprised a doctor, nurse, paramedic, respiratory therapist and physician assistant.
The United Way of Westchester and Putnam, along with Rockland’s chapter, are part of the United Way of America’s effort to create a 2008 Hurricane Relief Fund, and are seeking donations as well as more volunteers. Another potential hurricane, dubbed Hanna, could strike the Carolinas later this week. The after-effects to that and other anticipated storms could bring much rain and flooding to the Lower Hudson Valley, weather centers are predicting.
Disasters, and the need for volunteers, know no bounds, geographic or emotional. A reader made this comment after reading about local volunteers efforts on LoHud.com: “Thank goodness for the Red Cross and volunteers that are giving of themselves to help. My father is being evacuated right now (Nederland, Texas) and he says that most people learned their lessons last time, and are leaving. I wish everyone a safe journey and a safe return home.’'
Ditto.