More flooding :( Stay tuned.

Lots of reports of new flooding to East.   BonaResponds has several local events planned, BUT are considering a response.  It is currently raining there (listening to radio now).  10,000 in Binghamton area are under evacuation orders and many roads are again closed. 

  Several SBU alumni have been in contact as well.  We have several local jobs planned this weekend, so it may be impossible to take many people, but we are exploring possibilities of teaming with other groups to help.  Stay tuned. 

Related articles

• Thousands told to evacuate as flash floods hit East (msnbc.msn.com)
• Remnants of Lee Bring Fresh Flood Worries to East (foxnews.com)
• Remnants of Lee bring fresh flood worries to East (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Families Feel Sharp Edge of State Budget Cuts - NYTimes.com

“We’re O.K. unless something — anything at all — goes wrong,” said Rachel Haifley,Families Feel Sharp Edge of State Budget Cuts - NYTimes.com:

"Whatever the motive, such policy changes come as the downturn has left a growing number of low-income families in worse financial trouble.

The percentage of children living in poverty rose during the last decade, particularly once the recession hit and unemployment soared.

By 2009, about 2.4 million more children’s families lived below the poverty line than in 2000, an increase of 18 percent, according to a recent analysis of Census Bureau data"

What sums it up is:

“We’re O.K. unless something — anything at all — goes wrong,” said Rachel Haifley,

BonaResponds helps with those who fall through the "ever widening cracks": The person who makes too little to afford home repairs, but too much to get it done by some state program. Or after a disaster when many things go wrong. By being small and nimble we can help these people. We do help these people.

BTW I am not saying the cracks should not be there as it may be more efficient to have cracks than bloated bureaucracies intended to catch every crack, but I am saying that those who slip through the cracks need help. And we can do that. Be it with a wheelchair ramp for a veteran who somehow has been turned down by the VA, or school supplies for the children whose parents have lost their job.

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)

BonaResponds Irene Response

Yes we are helping....we have at least 2 vans that are going.

Work will be a mix of mucking out homes and tree removal.   MUST say the actual counts etc are still very uncertain, but it looks like the work will be present for months.  We will be updating as the week goes on but we are going somewhere!  Sign up now:








Conference call with NY VOAD
* last night 78 Red Cross Shelters...many closing as needs wane
* heard from groups in NYC, Long Island etc...

FEMA is sending 500 paid employees/contractors.  

Good source for flood details:
Watershedpost.com

Notice Board Announcement

BonaResponds meeting this Wednesday at 5:30 pm in the Murphy Auditorium. Purpose of the meeting is to introduce BonaResponds and to determine leadership structure. With many local projects, school collections, disaster responses, service trips, and our continued Haiti efforts pressing our time, we need many leaders and many people to help (Many hands make light work). We really need you to be there :) It will be short (out by 6pm).


ALSO while Hurricane Irene was less severe than feared, it has caused significant flooding and destruction in many parts of the Northeast and Mid Atlantic. We have received a couple of work requests and there is a VERY high probability of trip THIS coming weekend to help.   Location to be determined based on need. Watch BonaResponds.org (follow us on twitter @BonaResponds) for updates as the week goes on. We'd love to have you help!

Related articles

• The Internet Responds To Hurricane Irene (buzzfeed.com)
• A new podcast ! (HaitiScholarships.org)
• Hurricane Irene cleanup begins on battered East Coast (framework.latimes.com)

Almost 600,000 Haitans are still living in tents

Wave of Illegal, Senseless and Violent Evictions Swells in Port-au-Prince | Truthout:

"The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported August 19, 2011 that there are about 594,800 people living in about 1000 displacement camps in Haiti. Most want to leave but have nowhere to go. Nearly 8000 people have been evicted in the last three months. Their report concludes by saying “With nearly 600,000 internally displaced persons still in camps, the scale of Haiti’s homeless problem remains daunting.”"

and then making it more personal:

"Mathias O is 34 years old. He is one of about 600,000 people still homeless from the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. He lives with his wife and her 2 year old under a homemade shelter made out of several tarps. They sleep on the rocky ground inside. The side tarp walls are reinforced by pieces of cardboard boxes taped together. Candles provide the only inside light at night. There is no running water. No electricity. They live near a canal and suffer from lots of mosquitoes. There are hundreds of families living in tents beside him. This is the third tent community he has lived in since the earthquake."

How can you help?  We are still collecting and shipping school supplies, soccer balls, small toys for children, musical instruments, and carpentry tools to multiple groups in Haiti.  Also you can help send a student to school in HaitiScholarships.org.

Related articles

• Protests Over Evictions in Haiti Blocks Traffic (hcvanalysis.wordpress.com)
• Improving lives by providing access to safe water in Haiti (repeatingislands.com)

Canadian Tornado

Gage pointed this one out.  Only about 5 hours from us.  mmm...With school starting is it doable?

A new podcast! HaitianHappenings Cofounded by HaitiScholarships and BonaResponds!

HaitianHappenings Podcast:

 Welcome to the BRAND NEW HaitianHappenings podcast. It is brought to you by HaitiScholarships (http://HaitiScholarships.org) and BonaResponds (BonaResponds.org) (paid for by an anonymous outside donor so your donations were not used).   

The purpose of the podcast is to give people a sense of what is happening in Haiti and to be able top follow up on their donations to see how they are helping Haitians. 

We will try to do a different podcast weekly (maybe more, maybe less) depending on time and interest. 

Kicking off the podcasts will be today's interview with Jean Kendy Estimphil of Leogane Haiti. I had the pleasure of meeting Jean Kendy last year in Haiti and he has helped both BonaResponds and HaitiScholarships immensely both in translation, being our person on the ground for distribution of supplies (the link is a set of pictures)/

Listen to the interview here

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Alison Thompson: WARNING: This Message Could Save Your Own Life

Alison Thompson: WARNING: This Message Could Save Your Own Life:


Ok, so it may not save you. Her logic?

"...In Haiti where I work, most of the volunteers arrive and lose weight, get a suntan, meet hundreds of new friends, help save lives and some even fall in love. My intent is to get everyone out of therapy and out helping others. You soon forget about your own mind-pounding problems and realize that yours aren't so bad after all. "

Which is definitely true, but also sets you up for sadness when you leave Haiti (or wherever).

But that said, it is a great article on spontaneous volunteering that reminds us all that we can help. My favorite line (ok, maybe second favorite after the stripper comment;) ) was Allison speaking about her time at Ground Zero after 911:

" During those days, Fema (google them) kept visiting our little makeshift first aid station trying to shut us down. They would declare it was time for the government professionals to take over, but on their 3rd visit to us something very unique happened. The Fema agent gave us his usual spiel about sending the volunteers out of ground zero, but then he covered his badge and proclaimed, "please stay, we really need your help." This one sentence, less than a Twitter feed, helped define the next ten years of my life as I set out on volunteer adventures all over the world. Why? Because I knew I was needed even when the large aid groups got on TV told me I wasn't."

Which has been our experience again and again after disasters.

It also has a nice conclusion:

"Volunteering doesn't have to be overseas. Our country is struggling with so many people out of work. Its time to ask, 'how can I help?'"

One way to help is to come help BonaResponds! We do things every weekend and have 7 wheel chair ramps, 4 roofing jobs, a drywall job, and an addition planned locally not to mention work on local trails, collections for schools, and continued efforts to help in Haiti. Oh and planned trips to Buffalo NY, Camden NJ, and Tuscaloosa AL.

A "thank you" from Paula in Springfield Massachusetts

It is always fun when we hear from the people we helped.  In today's mail we got the following from Paula in Springfield Massachusetts:

"On June 1, 2011 a tornado ripped though my city, my neighborhood, and my home.  It was devestating to se such destruction....although my home had minimal damage, it had 8 trees fall in my back yard.  It was heartbreaking.  But with your kind efforts and dedication, I was able to see some good through this destruction.  Thanks to you and your group.  Again Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.  God bless all of you!!!"

Paula

Thank you Paule for taking time out of your recovery to let us know the efforts helped!  So glad we could help! 

A tribute to Chris Zahuta an All Hands Volunteer and example for us all

This is one of the saddest blog articles in a while.

I will start with the "news"...Chris Zahuta of California a volunteer for All Hands in Leogane Haiti died from a fall. Here is the story from the Hands.org site: (reposted with permission)

"Remembering Chris Zahuta

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the tragic loss of one of our brightest volunteers, Chris Zahuta, 20, from Santa Ynez, CA. Chris, who had been volunteering with us in Leogane, Haiti since June 6, worked tirelessly on our transitional schools program. He was respected and cherished by all and had built strong friendships with volunteers and community members alike. He took great joy in making a difference in the lives of Haitians, which was evident in his enthusiasm and energy. Tragically, on Sunday, July 17, Chris suffered severe head trauma after a serious fall. He was flown by helicopter to Port au Prince, then on to Miami by air ambulance, where he passed away. Chris’ sudden loss is deeply felt in Leogane, where community members have begun to light candles and place flowers outside the All Hands base.
In an email Chris sent to his mother on the 8th of June, he said, "today was so much fun working…I love the people and the area is like nothing you could ever imagine! I love it! I’m going to make it and change someone’s life! I love you mom and I miss you!"

Chris' mother, Christie has written the following:

“Our Son and brother Christopher Zahuta just spent 6 1/2 of the most amazing weeks of his life in Leogane, Haiti with All Hands Volunteers. When we took him to the airport on June 6, 2011 we expected to see him again on July 22, 2011. Sadly that was not to be. He accidentally fell and suffered a head injury which resulted in his death. But even with this horrific turn of events I do not regret him going in any away. He dreamed of doing this and helping others and making a difference in someone's life. He sent me many emails describing how amazing his time there was and the wonderful people he was meeting. Knowing that he was working on schools to help the children there was one of the most fulfilling experiences of his life. Now he is back in the states as we wait for the hospital to do what is necessary for organ donation. When he first got to Haiti he told me that he was going to make it and change someone's life! And now, as much as I want him with me, he is going to be changing even more lives. He was born December 13, 1990 and I had the honor of being his mother for more than 20 years”.
Christopher's Family (Christie Jeffers-mother)

All Hands pays tribute to this wonderful, hardworking young man, who volunteered with passion to help communities in need. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Chris' family and friends, and we share in their grief.
For further information please contact Stefanie Chang at stef@hands.org."






I would add that the thoughts and prayers of all of BonaResponds goes out to Chris' family.   It is a sad time.  We have worked with All Hands many times and several of us volunteered in Haiti with them last year.  I confess I did not know Chris, but I feel like I lost a friend.  Maybe it is because he was doing what we do, maybe because he was being the example we all need.   Regardless it strikes close to home. 

Please take some time to remember Chris' life. But also do not forget that he died helping.  He died where he wanted to be, doing what he wanted to do.

Life is full of risks and rewards.  Helping others, be it in Haiti or in your own home town, is the same.  Do not be scared away from it.  Do not stay away from Haiti.  Accidents can happen anywhere.  We can all learn from this death.  We can remember to take precautions, but in the end, bad things can still happen.  But, like Chris, we must make the most of our time on earth to make a positive impact.

I am sure that Chris would want all of us to pull together to help even more, not less.  To make a difference, the difference that Chris was making.  The difference that Chris' actions will continue to make. 

And finally to Chris himself.  I do not know if you can read this, but thank you for being the example.  For showing us that each of us can make a difference.  Your death, while tragic and sad, will not be in vain. Your actions will live on through all of your many friends, family, and your All Hands family as well.  The students in the schools that you helped to build, the Haitians who you met on the streets, will all be richer because of your actions.  Thank you. 

Haiti death toll: The science of measuring civilian death tolls is controversial and crucial - Los Angeles Times

Wow. I knew there was much disagreement as to how many died, but never had seen an estimate so low. (and yes I realize in any case, many many many died.)

Haiti death toll: The science of measuring civilian death tolls is controversial and crucial - Los Angeles Times:

"Within days of the event, Haitian authorities estimated that more than 230,000 people had been killed and another 300,000 injured. A year later, the prime minister claimed instead that 316,000 citizens had died. Few outsiders questioned the numbers or their underlying methodologies at the time, despite the statistics appearing to have been plucked out of thin air.

In June, a consultancy group commissioned by the U.S. Agency for International Development offered a dramatically reduced death toll. The authors of the study claimed that between 46,000 and 85,000 Haitians had been killed and another 850,000 assembled in camps. Although the numbers were considerably more conservative than the Haitian government's figures, the authors did not adequately explain how they were generated.

There are reasons to be cautious about both the high and the low estimates."

Bigger than football: Study shows sports can help communities recover from disaster

FYIBigger than football: Study shows sports can help communities recover from disaster:

"'Sports, and by extension sports media, can be a powerful force for good. It can bring people together. It can provide hope, even in the midst of great destruction,' says Dr. Ken Zagacki, co-author of a paper describing the research and a professor of communication at NC State. 'But we have to be careful that we don't use sports to gloss over real problems. We don't want to 'move on' from tragedies like Katrina when real social problems remain.'"

FYI after Katrina BonaResponds collected enough softball and baseball equipment to outfit more than 2 leagues near Bay St. Louis/Waveland MS, and after the Haitian Earthquake we helped to send about 300 soccer balls to Haiti. (and we are still accepting donations of soccer or basketballs!)

Needs from Haiti

Image by Bona_Responds via FlickrI have heard from some groups in Haiti.  First of all they have not yet received our last shipment.  I will have to check on that.  We used a different way to ship this time and it seemingly is taking longer (but was cheaper!). 

Things they asked for:

• More school supplies (really loved the calculators some sent last time). Also pens, crayons, pencils, etc.
• Basketballs and soccer balls were also mentioned.  (Since the quake we have sent about 300 soccer balls)
• A basketball net (I wonder if they meant rim and net?)
• Musical instruments (any kind, but really want Saxaphone, trumpet) and sheet music
• A new trade school would LOVE tools.  Hammers, drills, tape measures, etc., pretty much anything.  I requested pictures of what they have now and will share when I receive them.

Items can be dropped off at Park and Shop Allegany (24 N 1st) or to the upstairs business secretary in Murphy Building on the West side of St. Bonaventure. 


Also our spin-off HaitiScholarships.org is trying to fund up to 50 students to go to school in Haiti Classes start there this fall and any and all help would be GREATLY appreciated! 

Related articles

• Meet the Students (HaitiScholarships.org)
• Meet Maudeline one of our applicants for the coming school year (HaitiScholarships.org)