Margaretville Update

Great day!  11+ jobs done and very moving meeting to end the day.

Finished 11 jobs in the Margaretvill/Ashville area.  Mainly mudding out basements/first floors.

We did have some organizational problems at the start but they worked themselves out very quickly and the day went exceedingly well. 

• Some of today's events:
• Mudding out 4 home basements
• Jacking up a  porch
• Sweeping out a first floor (it had been gutted but thin layer of mud remained)
• Removing furniture and other items from first floor, removing carpets, and storing items to allow house to be gutted and heaved floors to be replaced.
• Counseling several residents on "next step" (typically bleach and ventilate to allow wood to dry)
• Removing appliances and furniture from several apartments (to give you an idea of # of appliances, they filled 3 medium sized dumpsters, helping tenants salvage any of their belongings before their apartments were to be gutted
• Mudding the basement of a local theater.  (Note, this was a HUGE job--at least 25 volunteers...may never have seen a team work so hard for 2 straight hours.  GREAT work VOLS!!)
• Removing a tree trunk that was potentially blocking stream under bridge.
• several volunteers worked in food bank in Margaretville.
• At night, packed 2+ pallets of medicine for shipment to Eithiopia with Citihope.

We also had a great meeting to wrap up the day.  In addition our volunteers, we had truly inspitational talks by the Reverend Paul Moore, his sone Paul both of Citihope, and Tom Harvey of The Global Environment and Technology Foundation.  Honored to be able to work with them all.  Not sure what else to say, but truly inspirational people doing great things all around the globe.  I hope that BonaResponds will be able to help them in the future.

Tomorrow we will be working in Arkville, Margaretville, and making our first trip into Fleishman. 

Lest you think today was all work, I have to add I heard several times that this was the most fun BonaResponds day that even expereinced volunteers had ever been on.  Oh, and Jive and I dove into a large mud pile as if it were a slip and slide (was already so muddy it added virtually zero to our mud total). Look for pictures soon! 

Updates on our trip to Margaretville for flood cleanup--yes you can come!

 To try to save everyone from contacting me separately...

• YES WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!
• We will decide van departure times today at the 5:30 BonaResponds meeting in Murphy (aud).  Best guess is one van will leave on Thursday night (9:30?) and a second van 5:00pm on Friday. 
• it is unfortunate but yes we do have to be back on Sunday.  HOWEVER, if you want to stay longer, we will help arrange places for you to stay and tools..
• We do need drivers.  You must be PREAPPROVED by SBU, so please let us know ASAP if you are willing to drive.
• We will be staying with the Catskill Mountain Christian Center in Margaretville.
• Most of the work will be mudding out houses.  
• Thanks to generous donations in the past, we purchased two sump pumps (our other ones were destroyed in Gowanda).  One is a gas powered pump that can pump 16 gallons per minute. 
• BonaResponds' stars Larry and Bonnie will be in Margaretville by this evening to scout jobs etc.
  They also took about 20-25 gallons of bleach.  Much of this was left over from the floods in Olean area last year. And our new LARGE pump.

 Took part in this morning's NY VOAD meeting.   Some highlights

• Best description of what it is like is that "it is just like Gowanda in 2009 but it is town after town of the same".
• Many groups coming together to provide food and water and cleaning supplies, but difficult as needs are widely spread and many stores are closed due to their own flooding.
• Be sure to have those affected file with FEMA.The Red Cross will likely be getting us cots, but I can not guarantee it yet.  We do have a place to stay in Margaretville, NY.  The area was hit especially hard and in the center of several towns that need help.
• The Mennonite Disaster Response crew will also be in the area!  They are very very good. :)

here is a map:

View Larger Map


Special requests: laundry detergent, diapers (baby and adult), and baby food.  The grocery store (and many other stores in area) were flooded.  You can drop off these items at 231 Murphy on the SBU campus or at the Allegany Park and Shop (24 N 1st Allegany NY) (our typical Haiti collection spots).


We are open to all who want to help.  Here is a sign up form.  You will also have to sign this waiver form.




Here is a video of recovery efforts in the area:



Here is one during the flood which gives some idea of how high it was (16 feet of water!) Wow:




I will end with two things:

1.  There is a clear need for assistance.  You can and will help people and have a great time.
2. Imagine if you were flooded out.  Or your parents.  Or your grandparents.  Wouldn't you want someone to help.



Open to All.  See BonaResponds.org for more.

What to bring?  Space in vans may be tight, this is not an exhaustive list, but here are some recommendations:

1. A good attitude--by far the most important.  We want hard working and flexible people who want to help.  It will be fun even though it won't go as planned.
2. Work clothes (jeans, long sleeve tee, short sleeve tee, sweatshirt, workboots (ideally steel toed).
3. Gloves--leather is best IMO
4. Sun glasses/safety goggles
5. Sleeping bag (pillow if you want one--yoga block works great and is smaller)
6. Flashlight
7. Phone charger
8. Digital camera, charger
9. Towel
10. Toiletries etc (contacts, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc)
11. Water bottle
12. Granola bars etc for drive

You can meet us there!  By all means. 

Related articles

• Irene devastates Catskills (nydailynews.com)
• Cuomo Asks Obama to Declare Disaster in New York State (cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com)
• A.M. Roundup: 'This will get worse,' Cuomo predicts (timesunion.com)
• With Shocking Speed, Floods Turn Deadly (nytimes.com)