Red Cross helps victims of Sandy on LBI

Photo by Jack Reynolds
Red Cross volunteers man the intersection
near 19th St. and Long Beach Blvd. 

The American Red Cross stationed a re-entry truck on the Boulevard of Long Beach Island, near the Ship Bottom water tower, yesterday for residents to access while making their way to their homes for the first time since Hurricane Sandy ravaged the 18-mile island. The truck provided water, coffee, snacks and hot lunches, including pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, baked beans and corn, as well as masks, working gloves and trash bags to those in need. Disaster mental health personnel and disaster health services were also offered.

Three Red Cross teams traveled around the Island, canvassing the different sections and offering residents personal support during this time. Various snacks and toiletries, as well as trash bags, gloves and even stuffed animals were handed out to those who accepted them.

Nearly 1,000 Red Cross volunteers have been deployed from across the nation to aid in the relief efforts along the East Coast. Volunteers Don Snookal, 69, of Chino, Calif., and Don Hrdina, 57, of Rochester, Minn., said offering emotional support to the victims of Hurricane Sandy is one of the organization’s main priorities.

“Everybody needs something different right now,” said Hrdina. “We want to make sure people aren’t stressed or discouraged. Some people just need to talk, and others just like knowing we’re there if they need them. We just stop and talk to people, and they’ll signal their neighbors out. We don’t have to knock on doors,” he added.

Photo by Jack Reynolds
Jack Ives of Tinton Falls, NJ holds up supplies
for residents arriving on the island for the
first time since Hurricane Sandy.

The volunteers said they came into contact with many people who were experiencing different levels of grief. Although it appeared many were clear-headed and ready to get to work cleaning up their homes, others were still downtrodden and angry with the way things have turned out.

Learning what areas of the Island are suffering from the most physical and mental trauma will help the Red Cross better streamline its efforts during this time.

“Literally being here makes a difference, but since we can’t be everywhere, we need to send people where there is the greatest need,” said Snookal. “Our focus is on empowering people by giving them the tools to help them recover. We give them physical things to use, and we also give them information for support. By doing this, people end up with considerably less complications and symptoms,” he added.

Laura Steinmetz, community/government relations officer of the South Jersey Region of the American Red Cross, said the organization will continue to support the area’s residents throughout these trying times.

“We absolutely have not forgotten about LBI. You’re going to start seeing us in a big way,” she stated.

This article was published in The SandPaper.