World Vision Assessment Teams Reach Out to Victims in Superstorm Sandy’s Aftermath
Relief supplies arrive as second South Bronx site opens
Assessment Teams Deploy from New York to Appalachia offering Food and Hygiene Kits
NEW YORK, NY (Nov 1, 2012)
– As millions in the eastern United States hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy are still without power, World Vision relief workers and volunteers are cleaning up damaged supplies in a South Bronx warehouse and opening a new facility to receive urgently needed relief supplies arriving from across the nation. World Vision, an international Christian relief and development organization, is also sending out assessment teams today to other regions hard-hit by the storm offering an initial batch of hygiene kits and food kits.
Monday, the South Bronx World Vision site was heavily damaged when the nearby East River flooded its banks destroying relief supplies. That site will be closed until repairs are completed. Today, relief supplies trucked in from World Vision’s Domestic Disaster Headquarters in North Texas are arriving at a second, newly-opened New York warehouse location.
“We lost about one-third of our relief supplies when Sandy hit," says Rick Miltimore, World Vision’s National Director of Resources and Relief. "However, we’re mobilizing hundreds of partners to potentially reach thousands of people immediately.”
World Vision assessment teams from West Virginia are also providing immediate assistance in areas hard-hit by heavy snows. In Appalachia, where power is still out, the World Vision site in Philippi, West Virginia is closed because of a power outage. This is the third day that facility has been shut down.
World Vision is now using its existing pre-positioned supplies to help as it restocks shelves. “In the last three days we have bought additional blankets, tarps and clean-up kits,” says Miltimore. “Donations are critical to replenish our supplies.” World Vision is setting up a long-term distribution center in New York to distribute family-fundamentals (clothing, cleaning supplies and household goods). “We’re going to help restore this community,” says Miltamore.
In Haiti, which also suffered significant flooding as Hurricane Sandy passed through, it is estimated that more than 70 per cent of crops in the south of the country were destroyed.
World Vision is providing tarpaulins to help people rebuild damaged shelters as well as cooking materials and mosquito nets to affected populations.
Alex Whitney, who is leading the humanitarian response in Haiti for World Vision, said: “Haiti has suffered multiple shocks in recent months. It is not just the effects of Sandy, but the previous damage caused by Hurricane Isaac, as well as mounting cholera cases. In some areas, there has even been drought. The loss of crops caused by adverse weather is pushing up the price of food and we are very concerned that hunger will increase.”
You can help us purchase emergency response items, like blankets and hygene kits, for future emergencies when they strike: visit our Must Have Gifts site for our full range of emergency Must Have Gifts.