Superstorm Sandy Response

[David Andrew Bopp]

Welcome to the IDRN Sandy Response Information Forum. Sandy was a major storm, previously a hurricane, that has caused extensive flooding, power and transportation outages, and physical damage to the US East Coast and Caribbean. More than 100 deaths have been linked to the storm.

Please feel free to post any up to date information at this location

NEEDS AND ASSETS

If you have a need or would like to offer assistance, please fill out this Questionnaire.

One you have submitted the necessary information, all data will automatically be compiled at this Spreadsheet

Ushahidi Disaster Map (courtesy of Chaz Cheadle):

http://maps.themechanism.com/

Additionally, please find some helpful informational links below:

Maps

• Google Super Storm Sandy Map
• Google Super Storm Sandy Maps: NYC Close-up
• ESRI’s Hurricane Information Map
• Weather.com Hurricane Tracker

Get emergency notifications on your phone:

• CT Alert
• NY Alert
• Notify NYC

Local TV Live Stream

• Boston: CBS
• NYC: NBC
• Philadelphia: CBS
• Washington DC: Fox
• Washington DC: NBC

Radio

• A brief post with details about how to listen live to audio streams of first responders from throughout the affected region
• Listen to live audio streams from all-news stations in Boston, DC, Philadelphia, and New York City.
• NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio (Additional Audio Including Podcasts)

Emergency News

• A list with Twitter streams from emergency management offices from many states and DC.
• Flooding will likely be an issue. NOAA provides real-time feeds of streamflow on rivers around the country. Here’s a direct link to info for the Northeast.
• Twitter’s Sandy resources page

Live Blogs

• NBC News
• New York Times
• Wall Street Journal
• Washington Post / Capital Weather Gang

Imagery

• Searchable database from the NOAA Satellite
• FEMA will add photos of damage and other storm activities to their searchable photo library.

Key Contact Information and Resources

• Local Resources
  
• Prevent mold damage
• NYS Dept of Health action steps for health after floods
• Debris Management in CT
• Donation and Volunteer Opportunities in the NYC Area
• Tips from the Insurance Department on filing storm damage claims

Hurricane Sandy: Open Gas Station Locations

• New Jersey
• Long Island
• New York City

Power Outage Maps

• NJ, PA, OH, WV, MA Power Outage Map
• CL&P outage map
• UI outage map
• Con-Ed outage map

[Evert Bopp]

Finally getting around to putting some data on here. We've been on the ground in The Rockaway area since November 4th. Mainly building wifi networks in shelters etc and providing Internet access to support the various organisations working there as part of the disaster relief effort. A sitrep is online here

We are planning to extend the range of our network in the next few weeks by building point-2-point links across the Rockaways connecting 5-10 locations together. Organisations which need connectivity can lodge a request via our website: http://disastertechlab.org/hurricane-sandy-response/

[R. Darrell Smith]

I'll be in Staten Island Dec. 5-10 conducting a survey trip of the area.  My NGO has been contacted by several local churches to help with their response.  I'll post the findings once I have them.

[IDRN Admin]

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

For those of you interested, Dr. Ron Patterson posted an asset of medical supplies for responders of Superstorm Sandy.  Reply to Here if you are interested.

[Kelli E. Merritz]

New as of 535 PM EDT consolidated shelter list for NYC 

'As recovery efforts continue, we have consolidated Hurricane Sandy public shelters. The public shelters are available to anyone who requires overnight shelter including food, water, and shower facilities. There are some shelters limited to individuals with special medical needs. Please see the current list of shelters below. If you have problems accessing this list, please call 311.

Format=

Borough

Location Name

Address

Population Served)

Bronx
Lehman College
250 Bedford Park Blvd W, Bronx, NY 10458
All Populations

Brooklyn
Brooklyn Tech HS
29 Fort Greene Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Special Medical Needs Only

Brooklyn
FDR HS
5800 20 Av, Brooklyn, NY 11204
All Populations

Brooklyn
Park Slope Armory
361 15 St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Special Medical Needs Only

Manhattan
G. Washington HS
549 Audubon Av, New York, NY 10040
All Populations

Queens
Hillcrest HS
160-05 Highland Av, Jamaica, NY 11432
All Populations

Queens
Queens College
65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367
All Populations

Queens
York College
94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11451
All Populations

Staten Island
Susan Wagner HS
1200 Manor Rd, Staten Island, NY 10314
All Populations

Staten Island
Tottenville HS
100 Luten Ave, Staten Island, NY 10312
All Populations'

http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/hurricane_shelters.html

[David Andrew Bopp]

Returning Home

• Return home only after authorities advise it is safe to do so . Keep tuned to your local radio and TV stations for recovery information.

• Beware of downed or loose power lines . Report them immediately to the Power Company, police or fire department.

• Drive only if absolutely necessary. Avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.

• Enter your home with caution.

• Beware of snakes, insects and other animals driven to higher ground by floodwater.

• Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.

• Do not use candles or open flames indoors. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage.

• Check refrigerated foods for spoilage.

• Use telephone only for emergency calls.

• Inspect the utilities in your home.

• Check for gas leaks – If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.

• Look for electrical system damage – If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.

• Check for sewage and water line damage – If you suspect sewage lines are damaged avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes.

• Take pictures of the damage for insurance claims, and contact your service agent.

• Let a relative know you are back at home. Tell them how to get in touch with you, if the phone lines are still down.

• Monitor the radio or TV to learn how to apply for possible assistance, and to receive further official information.

 

[David Andrew Bopp]

SITUATION STATUS # 23.7

NEW JERSEY STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

November 6, 2012 

 

 

Low hanging wires across the NJ Turnpike, I-95 Express and Local lanes, in both directions in area of exit #71 in Leonia.

 

PSE&G is on the scene advising that there are several cracked utility poles on both sides of the roadway and low hanging wires are in danger of falling and causing a major hazard to motorists.  PSE & G advised that they would not be able to properly stabilize the poles to keep wires from falling and it was determined that a closure of the roadway in both directions was needed.

 

State Police IMU Sgt. Lano & Sgt. Krisco and Emergency Services John Sutcliffe are on the scene and in discussion with Maintenance Duty Person Pat Gilberti.  PSE&G advised they need all lanes closed in the area of the transmission lines to utilize a crane and cut wires, lay them on the roadway and remove them. 

 

PSE&G advised it would take approximately 2 – 4 hours for the closure to complete the work.  Turnpike personnel are estimating 1 – 1 ½ hrs but that is dependent upon how the scene progresses. The NJ Turnpike requested NJDOT to assist with diverting traffic from Rt.80 East to Turnpike South. 

 

Turnpike Maintenance is to close I-95 Northbound and divert traffic to Rte 80 West. , Port Authority of NY/NJ will assist with southbound closure off of GW Bridge and divert traffic to Rte 4 / 1&9 / 46.   Initial closure time was for 4:30 pm  but closure points are being put in as soon as personnel are set up

[David Andrew Bopp]

Nor'Easter Weather Briefing

The most current briefing from the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly NJ on the arrival tomorrow of a Nor'easter storm is found at this link.

 

Source: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/phi/

[David Andrew Bopp]

ATTENTION FOR REGION 1 -- RHODE ISLAND SPECIFIC

For all those wanting to help clean up Misquamicut, many of us love it in the summer, I figured I would share the info to sign up to help.

Misquamicut Relief Volunteer Effort for Saturday & Sunday

Serve Rhode Island, The Misquamicut Business Association and Greater Westerly Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce are coordinating Hurricane Sandy clean up and recovery effort for...the impacted residents and businesses of the Misquamicut community. Many residents with destroyed appliances, household and debris items need help removing and sorting items and generally cleaning up.

Dozens of volunteers from throughout the state will be arriving 8:00 AM Saturday morning by shuttle bus equipped with boots, gloves, safety gear, rakes, shovels, hammers and other tools to work four-hours shifts throughout the weekend. All volunteers must register with Serve Rhode Island and will be given passes. Volunteers will arrive park their cars at Rotary Park on Airport Road and get a bus ride to the disaster area where they will report to the MBA/CHAMBER Mobile Recovery trailer. The bus will loop all d
ay until last group is out at 5 PM.

Caswell Cooke, Town Councilman and Executive Director of the Misquamicut Business Association and also the President of the Association, George Tatersall are the on the ground work coordinators.

Residents seeking assistance with cleanup or other needs should call United Way 2-1-1. People who would like to volunteer should go to the Serve Rhode Island’s website to sign up:www.serverhodeisland.org or call  [phone].

Donations are being accepted for the relief of Misquamicut. There are two funds established.

Go to: http://www.WesterlyChamber.org/ or www.misquamicutrelieffund.com

[David Andrew Bopp]

http://www.google.org/personfinder/global/responders.html

Is anyone using this with any success?  Care to share any stories of how it was utilized and under what circumstances?

Google Person Finder helps people reconnect with friends and loved ones in the aftermath of natural and humanitarian disasters.

Is this something we want to embed somewhere on IDRN?

[David Andrew Bopp]

Sandy slams New York, New Jersey; Washington region spared major devastation

By Fredrick Kunkle, Laura Vozzella and Jeremy Borden, Tuesday, October 30, 6:47 AM

The Washington area escaped the worst of the devastation brought to the East Coast by Hurricane Sandy. Residents awoke Tuesday to widespread but not overwhelming power outages, and flooding and downed trees and branches that paled in comparison to what had happened further north and along the eastern seaboard.

New York, New Jersey and the beach towns of the Del Marva peninsula were brutalized by the storm. As of Tuesday morning, an estimated 7.5 million people were without power on the East Coast, and at least 16 people in seven states were believed to have died in the storm, the Associated Press reported.

The National Weather Service projected diminished rainfall in many areas, but schools, transit and government remained shut down in most cities, and the damage had already been done. The powerful storm’s torrential rains, howling winds and widespread flooding transformed the streets of Atlantic City, N.J. into rivers and inundated parts of Lower Manhattan. Swirling water formed whitewater cascades in the Ground Zero construction zone and swamped New York’s financial district. Part of Manhattan’s storied skyline went dark as power failed for more than 250,000 customers south of Midtown.

Sandy — which was reclassified as a nontropical storm because of its unusual dynamics — came ashore at 8 p.m. Monday in Atlantic City, carrying sustained hurricane-force winds of 80 mph or more and dangerous flood tides as high as 13 feet , the National Hurricane Center said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/sandy-slams-new-york-new-jersey...