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Hurricane Sandy Update #40
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Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church
| June 17, 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!
 We've been aware for some time that one of the obstacles to the Jersey Shore's recovery is a State law that prevents young people under 18 - even volunteers - from being within 30 feet of a construction site. Such stringent laws are not common in other parts of the country. Yes, construction sites can be dangerous places, and workers need to be vigilant - but the State can't consider them all that dangerous, because the same law permits an exception for non-profit organizations renovating "affordable housing" (in other words, Habitat for Humanity projects). The housing our volunteers are working on is generally not "affordable" (in other words, subsidized), as regular Habitat houses are. While the vast majority of volunteer workers staying in our Volunteer Village are adults, many groups do want to bring some young people ages 16-18 with them. This is a very common thing at other PDA Volunteer Villages around the country. If the youth are unable to find meaningful work as a result of the legal issues, often the whole group decides not to come to New Jersey, choosing another work site elsewhere in the country. We are wondering if perhaps our State officials don't fully understand the urgency of this situation with respect to volunteer-group recruitment, even though we have tried hard to communicate it to them. I've written about this in a recent blog posting on the Point Pleasant Patch website. Much the same text also appeared in a letter to the editor this week in the Ocean Star. If you haven't seen either of those, I encourage you to click on the link to the Patch site, above, and familiarize yourself with the issue. There are some concrete action steps suggested, in the form of contacting our State legislators. Thank you for your support!
In Christ's love,
Carl
The Rev. Carl Wilton, Pastor
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Lend A Hand Is Here Again This Week
Our Volunteer Village workers this week are from the Lend A Hand organization of Carlisle Presbytery, based in the Harrisburg area. Lend A Hand has been here on a monthly basis since a month or so after Sandy, and continues to bring workers here on a monthly basis.
This week's contingent is 24 people. Many of these highly-skilled workers have been here several times before.
THANK YOU, Lend A Hand!
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New Flood Zone Maps Are Now Out
A new round of flood zone maps was due to be published today, but actually came out a day early. These maps are key to recovery for a great many people who have found that their home is located in an "A" or "V" zone.
These latest maps will replace the advisory maps FEMA released in December and which were subsequently adopted by New Jersey. The maps coming out today are known as "preliminary working maps." They're slated to be the last round of maps before the final versions are released.
The word is that the new maps will have significantly fewer homes in "V" zones - as many as 50% fewer. "V" zones are of course the areas where properties could be subject to wave action in a future storm, as opposed to just rising water. Homes in "V" zones will face the most stringent requirements with respect to house-raising, and will be subject to higher flood-insurance premiums eventually.
The new flood zone maps can be viewed using this online tool. |
FEMA Flood-Mitigation Hotline
FEMA has established a telephone help line for New Jersey residents with questions about the National Flood Insurance Program and mitigation techniques.
You can use the number to call with questions about flood insurance, flood maps and other mitigation topics and issues. Flood insurance policyholders with questions or concerns about their claims may also speak with NFIP specialists.
The number is 1-877-287-9804. It is staffed Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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OCC Receives Grant to Help Sandy Survivors Re-Tool
Recent news reports tell of how Ocean County College (OCC) has been awarded a $250,000 grant by the State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD). The grant, known as a Recovery New Jersey Talent Network Grant, will provide resources to people who have lost their jobs as a result of Hurricane Sandy, and who are needing to move on to new employment.
"The Recovery New Jersey Talent Network will serve as the primary workforce contact for the revitalization efforts needed to recover from Superstorm Sandy, helping to connect employers and jobseekers in communities most affected by the storm. RNJ will make successful connections with businesses, jobseekers, and workforce partners including the LWD, Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), One-Stop Career Centers (OSCCs), educational institutions, social media, and the existing Talent Networks to identify needs and opportunities for businesses, jobseekers, and dislocated workers."Need more information? Contact Michael Forcella, Project Director for OCC's RNJ Talent Network Grant, at 732-255-0400, ext. 2157, or mforcella@ocean.edu |
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Progress Being Made on Shower Construction
 There's real progress being made on the four shower stalls being constructed on the stage in the Education Annex. Workers arranged for by our general contractor, ESB Contracting, have now roughed in the wooden frame of the shower enclosures, run the pipes under the stage, installed the fiberglass walls of each shower, installed the shower fixtures, mounted the gas-powered on-demand hot water heaters (including pipes for the natural gas connections) and vented each shower stall through the roof. Volunteer Village workers assisted with many stages of the construction. Work continues this week, including further carpentry work on the shower stalls, and - we hope - the electrical work, which is of key importance at this point in the project (Jersey Shore electricians are very busy these days).
Each shower stall has an individual dressing-room in front of it, allowing for the showers to be unisex (which the privacy provided by the individual dressing-rooms makes possible).
The volunteer workers, who have been going to Meridian LIFE Fitness and to the Live Fitness gym for their showers in the late afternoon, will be very glad to see this work completed! We're grateful to these two community-minded organizations for opening their doors to the volunteer workers during the transitional period.
The shower construction is being made possible by the $25,000 grant PPPC has received from the Robin Hood Fund. ESB Contracting is doing this work at cost.
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"Dining for Dollars" THIS WEEK To Help Belmar Presbyterians
The only church in Monmouth Presbytery to suffer serious damage to their building from Hurricane Sandy was First Presbyterian, Belmar. Their basement - which contains their church hall and kitchen, as well as the machinery for an elevator they installed several years ago - was completely flooded during the storm. Damage to the building is substantial, and it appears that the church will need to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to complete repairs that were not covered by insurance (because the damage was due to flooding).
Our friends at Brick Presbyterian are planning a fun - and delicious - way to raise a little money to help our fellow Presbyterians in Belmar, and have invited us to join in with them. They have arranged with Simko's Restaurants (both locations, in Brick and Brielle) for several "Dining for Dollars" days, June 18th, 19th and 20th. If you eat lunch or dinner at Simko's on any one of those days - and BRING THE SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL FLYER with you, Simko's will donate 20% of your check to this cause.
You MUST bring a copy of the flyer with you in order to participate. Copies will not be available at the restaurant, but you may click on the link, above, to download a copy. Thank you!
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Our World-Conquering Lord
"I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace.
In the world you face persecution. But take courage;
I have conquered the world!"
John 16:33
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