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Hurricane Sandy Update #31
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Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church
| Friday, February 8, 2013
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The most recent church e-newsletter, as well as copies of past Hurricane Sandy Updates, may be viewed in our online archive.
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Greetings!
Looks like we have a new visitor to be concerned about. He's a Nor'easter and his name is Nemo.
4-10 inches of snow is of course something to be taken seriously by anyone who's on the road, but it wouldn't be of more than passing concern for those hunkered down in their homes, were it not for three ominous words that have gone out with the weather forecast: "Coastal Flood Warning."
We know all too well what that's about. We dealt with that during Sandy, and in several smaller events that followed. For at least a few people I know, the follow-up flooding was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, with respect to their ability to hang in there and rebuild their homes.
The most recent bulletin from our local Office of Emergency Management speaks of "minor coastal flooding." For tomorrow (Saturday) morning's 7:40 high tide, the threat is upgraded to "moderate."
Even if the water-level rise is moderate, we're still vulnerable. The new inlets have been closed, thanks to the Army Corps of Engineers, but with Barnegat Bay's water level still so high, due to the sand and debris Sandy washed into it, there aren't a lot of harmless places the storm surge can go.
We'll hope and pray it's not severe this time. The last thing anyone with a gutted home needs - nor, even worse, those who have just finished rebuilding their homes - is more water in the house.
The church stands ready to assist, whatever happens.
In Christ's love,
Carl
The Rev. Carl Wilton, Pastor
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Voluntary Evacuations
There are voluntary evacuations in effect for barrier beach areas that are part of Brick and Toms River, as well as low-lying parts of the mainland in those municipalities.
Point Pleasant Beach is posting emergency notices on its website, including a recommendation that people in low-lying parts of town move their cars to the train station parking lot, where parking fees have been suspended during the storm.Please check with your local emergency management officials for more information.
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WITF Radio Interview
This morning I was interviewed by telephone on WITF radio, the Central Pennsylvania NPR affiliate. Also participating in the studio were several representatives of Lend A Hand, the Presbytery of Carlisle recovery ministry with whom we are in partnership.
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Another Reason for Local Residents and Business Owners to Apply for FEMA Aid
 Mary-Lynn Morrison, who staffs Monmouth Presbytery's Hurricane Sandy Recovery Committee, shares the following information. Another reason, she says, for those whose homes or businesses have been damaged by Sandy to apply for FEMA aid is because that will result in more money being made available to the larger community:First, the amount of grant money that will be disbursed to New Jersey will largely be based on the number of people who register for FEMA AND who apply for SBA loans. The end date for those applications is March 1, 2013 and I cannot stress enough how important registration is, especially for SBA loans.Second, the question has come up about who can apply. ANYONE who is a US citizen and was in the area affected by Sandy can apply. Even households where only one member is a US citizen are eligible and entitled to apply. The "Small Business" in SBA can be confusing, but all business owners, homeowners, and even renters can and should apply for SBA assistance.I know there has been a lot of confusion about SBA loans, and resentment of the process, but I want to encourage everyone to participate. It is important to understand that applying for an SBA loan doesn't mean you have to accept a loan, or even that the application has to be fully completed (they say you can just fill in the personal information and sign it to be registered for the process and to be counted), but just sending in the form and starting the process helps everyone. If you don't qualify or cannot pay it back - GREAT! - that opens the door for you to apply for a larger amount of grant funds. The number of applications helps determine the amount of grant money and federal money allocated for our area.
As it stands right now, because the number of applications is so low, our area is only scheduled to receive about 30% of the money designated for Sandy Recovery even though New Jersey has the lion's share of the damage. So again, PLEASE help out all of New Jersey receive the funding it deserves by encouraging every individual to fill out and submit the SBA loan applications.Here is a helpful overview of the SBA loan program and contact information:
HOME DISASTER LOANS are offered to homeowners and renters to repair or replace property owned by the victim. Renters can apply for loans to replace personal property, including automobiles.
BUSINESS PHYSICAL DISASTER LOANS are available to all sizes of businesses and private non-profit organizations to repair or replace storm-damaged property owned by the business or non-profit.
ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS help small businesses and non-profits meet their financial obligations while recovering from federally-declared disasters.
Applicants for all loans must have an acceptable credit history and show that they can repay the loan.Interest rates for business recover loans range from 4.0% to 6.0%, depending on the availability of non-SBA credit. Interest rates for home recovery loans range from 1.688% to 3.375%, depending on the availability of non-SBA credit.Deadlines: The deadline to apply for home and business damage recovery loans is March 1, 2013. The deadline to apply for economic injury loans (EIDLs) is July 31, 2013.How to Apply: For more information, contact SBA's Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure Website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/elaYou may view the Fact Sheet for this disaster at SBA.gov, Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey, Declaration #13367. |
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Lend A Hand Photo Gallery
 On the Lend A Hand website, there is a photo gallery that includes some pictures of their most recent work crew's visit to our area in January.
If you look closely at some of the pictures, you'll see Bill Williams from PPPC, who worked with the Lend A Hand group all week as a local volunteer.
Bill shared this poem that expresses what, to him, is the essence of volunteering: It's not for money; it's not for fame;
It's not for only personal gain.
It's just for love of fellow man;
It's just to lend as helping hand.
It's just to give a little of self;
That is something you can't buy with wealth.
It's not for medals worn with pride;
It's for that feeling deep inside.
It's that reward within your heart;
It's feeling that you've been a part
Of helping others far and near
That makes you a volunteer.
The opportunity is available, during most of the visits by work groups from outside the area, for PPPC members to pitch in and help them with their work. Bill says he found this a very rewarding experience, and the folks from central Pennsylvania a joy to work with. Please let us know if you have some time and talents you can donate yourself, as a volunteer, and we'll gladly make inquiries with visiting group leaders about adding another set of helping hands to those they're bringing with them.
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God of the Winds
"When [God] gave to the wind its weight,
and apportioned out the waters by measure;
when he made a decree for the rain,
and a way for the thunderbolt;
then he saw it and declared it;
he established it, and searched it out.
And he said to humankind,
'Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
and to depart from evil is understanding.'"
Job 28:25-28
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A Hurricane Sandy Recovery Song
Denise Robertson, who was part of the most recent Lend A Hand group staying in the Education Annex, wrote the following song, to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic":
My eyes have seen destruction of Super Storm Sandy
We have come to volunteer to clean up the debris
As we restore the house and lives of the residents we meet
Their smiles are all we see
(Chorus)
Glory, Glory Hallelujah
The Lord has brought us right here to ya,
Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Point Pleasant is marching on.
My eyes have met the families that have endured this tragedy,
They are picking up the pieces with the help from you and me,
For Charlie, Carol, Sandy, Kim we're the angel that they need,
Their lives are marching on.
(From the Lend A Hand website)
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PPPC Hurricane Response
HURRICANE SANDY RECOVERY COORDINATOR
Peter Farwell
(908-675-7287) is serving as our church's Hurricane Sandy Recovery Coordinator, serving as the main communication person for our recovery efforts and representing our church at coordinating meetings with other churches and non-profit agencies.
Our Hurricane Sandy Recovery Team is meeting weekly, on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Room, to coordinate the church's continued response to the disaster, particularly the Volunteer Village in the Education Annex. All are welcome!
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More Information
FACEBOOK GROUP
is a good place to keep up with your church friends, as they post messages about how they're getting along.
HOW TO REACH US
In the event that any of you are aware of anyone the church may need some help recovering from the storm, please feel free to email me, or call me either on the church line (732-899-0587) on our landline at the Manse (732-899-4858) or on my cell phone (908-910-5360). Associate, Linda Chase, may be reached at the church number or on her cell (732-232-5007).
FEMA INFORMATION
FEMA's local relief center is at 270 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick.
Registering with FEMA is the first step to receiving the services and help the government provides. The application deadline has now been extended to MARCH 1, 2013. Register today, even if you're not sure what help you may qualify for. You'll be glad you did!NEW JERSEY 211's RELIEF AND RECOVERY ASSISTANCE GUIDEThe downloadable New Jersey 211's Hurricane Sandy Relief and Recovery Assistance Guide is the place to go for all manner of Hurricane Sandy recovery resources.PERSONAL COUNSELING SUPPORTCall one of our pastors, or the Mental Health Association of New Jersey's Hurricane Sandy Hope and Healing hotline: (877) 294-HELP (4357)OPERATION HOPE, FEMA-APPROVED FINANCIAL COUNSELINGCall toll-free: (877) 592-HOPE (4673)
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