Graffiti on wall in Red Hook – the ‘devil’ hurricane passed through our area leaving destruction in it’s wake, followed by a massive snowstorm.

It is almost 2 weeks since Hurricane Sandy hit the New York area devastating some parts like Red Hook, Rockaway and Staten Island and leaving others untouched. Some of us lost power for a week, other areas still dark after all this time have no heat or light, people have no food, elderly people are  stranded on high floors of apartment buildings, stores are shuttered, there is no phone service. Many people are left homeless, their houses destroyed by flooding.

Father and son outside a church today in Red Hook where food trucks are giving out much needed hot meals.

Alfred organizes volunteers at the grass roots community center run by GOLES (Good Old Lower East Side).  Volunteers from all over are helping out, distributing food, clothing and essentials at churches and community centers, making sandwiches, clearing debris, knocking on doors to see if people need help, donating supplies like warm blankets, batteries and flashlights, food and clothing.

There is a line to talk to the lady from FEMA trying to help Red Hook residents. People are amazingly patient.

A huge pile of soaking wet debris we helped load into a dumpster today in Red Hook. Furniture, clothes, children’s toys, books ..

Amongst the debris from a church is a basket of rosaries

Debris outside a flood damaged building in Red Hook – the windows still taped from the hurricane