Last summer, the Princeton Philadelphia Chapter met again for our annual Beach Day at Bay Head at the beautiful beachfront home of Alva Kappy.  We elected new officers - President Anne Sweeney, Vice President, Madonna Dunn and Treasurer Else Gallagher.  We made plans for the holidays and the year to come.  Little did we dream that just three months later, our beloved Jersey Shore and many of our members would be plunged into chaos and catastrophe by Hurricane Sandy, the Megastorm that devastated the Northeast and impacted World Wingers in New Jersey, New York, Long Island and Connecticut.

A Day at the Beach - Enjoying our annual Beach Day at  Bay Head - Left to right, our hostess, Alva Kappy, Chapter President, Anne Sweeney, Vice President, Madonna Dunn, Nancy Cooke and Leslie Anding.   Alva's beautiful beachfront home survived Sandy, thanks to the dunes in front of the house. 

 
Several chapter members live at the Jersey Shore while others live in the Princeton area and the Delaware Valley in Pennsylvania.  All areas were hit hard by the storm but the devastation at the Shore is unimaginable and it remains a true disaster area.

For two days my cell phone did not work and for nearly a week I had no power.  We were not allowed to leave our condo development since the roads were impassable with fallen trees.  Except for the radio and my neighbor's smart phones, we had very little information.  When our public library finally opened on the Thursday after the hurricane, I made my way there.  The five-minute trip took nearly an hour because of traffic and closed roads.

The library was set up with charging stations and WIFI and for the first time since Sunday I was online and able to see the incredible devastation this storm has wrought.  I had an e-mail from Chris Goldstein, vice president of the Florida Biscayne Bay Chapter, asking how I was and what could she and other Florida-based World Wingers do.  I wasn't sure.  First I would have to find out how our members were faring, especially those at the Shore.  I had our membership list - but very few cell phone numbers.  Land lines were down across the state.  I sent out an e-mail and information started coming in.  Chapter members were safe, but without power or heat. Kirsten Holman's house was flooded and had to be evacuated.  

In the midst of it all came an e-mail from our intrepid treasurer, Else Gallagher, who drove to Bay Head, talked her way past the militia guarding the beach and found Alva Kappy and her beautiful beach house in fine shape.  The dunes in front of the house that the family had so carefully cultivated, withstood the winds and tides, protecting the house from damage.  

It took about five days to account for everybody, only one of our members had to abandon her home but we also learned of several Manhattan Chapter members whose homes at the Jersey Shore were flooded or destroyed.   

Members of the New Jersey Chapter, who lived farther north, were less severely impacted but many were without power for several days and several members reported major damage from fallen trees.  NJ Chapter President Margarethe Wexler, among them. Fortunately, we were able to communicate via e-mail. The Long Island Chapter was the last  to be contacted - power and phones were out for two weeks but happily, everyone is safe.  While much of the media coverage focused on New Jersey, damage on Long Island, Staten Island and Queens was terrible and the flooding in Manhattan is unprecedented.  Connecticut suffered serious damage as well with power outages of up to two weeks.    

World Wingers wanted to help, especially Florida members who understand the physical and emotional damage a severe hurricane can have.  What could we do to ease the pain and show concern?  Chris Goldstein and International Vice President Charity Julie Watson and I came up with a plan. We would identify people in the most severely hit areas and send either cash or gift cards to Target. During the initial days after the hurricane, credit cards did not always work and there were shortages and long CASH ONLY gas lines. These gifts were meant as a convenience for the recipients and a way to tell our members that World Wingers look after our own. The funds came directly from other World Wingers, not chapter treasuries.  We were able to reach all our members and send everyone a gift card or cash,  thanks to the efforts of Julie, Chris, Manhattan Chapter President Carol Young  and Long Island Chapter President, Rita Kaiser. The first floor of Rita's house was completely flooded.  

Joan Nell Bernstein of Angel Wings worked tirelessly to identify our members who may need more substantial assistance as damages are assessed and insurance and FEMA claims made.  We will also use some of the money we collected (about $2000 at last count) to help  members who need things like cleaning supplies and paint. When we have a better idea of what else is needed, we can look at helping out on the Shore, in New York and on Long Island.    

 There were other offers of support and assistance. Trauma expert  Dr. Helen Davey of the Los Angles Chapter offed to counsel hurricane victims by phone. The Reverend Nancy Hite Speck, a member of the Manhattan Chapter whose own home at the Jersey Shore was flooded,  offered a Christmas Eve Mass. Birgit Graham and Eva Arvanitis braved the cold and bad roads to help to locate Kirsten Holman. Members from New Jersey and Connecticut offered to house those like Manhattan Chapter Treasurer Serena Smith, whose home in Sea Bright was destroyed.   Serena stayed put so she could assess the damage to her condo and fulfill her obligations as a member of the building's Board of Directors.

On behalf of all of us impacted by this terrible storm, I want to thank everyone who donated to provide a personal and encouraging message to fellow World Wingers at a very difficult time. Thanks to the chapter presidents who wrote to us in support and to the members of the former Tokyo chapter for their generous contribution.  To Julie Watson and Chris Goldstein, your compassion and quick action showed leadership and commitment to our members.  Thank you for reminding us of what World Wingers can accomplish when we stay true to our mission of friendship, charity and care.     

 Anne

Anne Sweeney

President  

Princeton/Philadelphia Chapter