Getting Help and Giving Help After Hurricane Sandy

GETTING HELP

If you’re reading this, hopefully you’re in a safe, warm, dry place, but thousands of people are still in crisis mode and will be for a long time to come.

Even communities that haven’t had the worst damage are going to be affected with gas shortages and transportation nightmares. Gas rationing has started today in the following New Jersey counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Monmouth, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren. Gasoline sales will alternate between odd and even-numbered license plate holders. (The odds can buy gas on odd-numbered dates, the evens on even-numbered.).

Getting useful information is important and one’s local police department is a good first place to start. Through their Facebook pages or Twitter accounts, they are giving the latest updates of road closings, wires down and other essential safety notices. Apparently, there have been some close calls in our town with people using their gas stovetops for heat. That is extremely dangerous, because it can cause a build-up of carbon monoxide inside your house.

The local power companies are also tweeting their progress in getting homes back up and running. Even if it’s depressing news, it’s better to know just how long they’re estimating it will be until the power is on. (IF they even know, that is).

New Jersey Office of Emergency Management has loads of useful information and bulletins.

Obviously, severely affected folks will be touch with The American Red Cross, FEMA and other local helping organizations. 

NOTE: I just found out that many counties in New Jersey are offering early voting over the weekend and on Monday, November 5 at County Clerks’ offices. EARLY VOTING INFO HERE.

GIVING HELP

There are many opportunities through THE AMERICAN RED CROSS to support relief efforts. One easy way is to text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 (for those 18 years old and older).

NBC’S Nightly News has assembled a useful list of organizations to donate to: Go to Sandy's aftermath: How you can help, which includes links to The Salvation Army, Feeding America and Americares

New York Cares

For help with animals and pets:

Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

ASPCA (and ASPCA on Twitter)