Rotary District 7210’s Response to Hurricane Sandy (Aired January 11, 2013)

Larry Palant (Suffern Rotary), Disaster Response Chair for Rotary District 7210, discusses the District’s immediate and generous response to helping victims of Hurricane Sandy. Previously the Rotary District in 2005 provided quick relief to victims of Hurricane Katrina, and Mr. Palant learned from that experience. This time, with generous donations from District 7210 and neighboring Rotary districts, Mr. Palant was able to buy 47 electrical generators, extension cords, gasoline containers, and other necessary items. As with Katrina, only with great difficulty was Mr. Palant able to locate generators, eventually finding them in Chester, New York. A volunteer donated his time and tractor trailer to deliver the supplies to the affected areas in New York and New Jersey, starting with police and fire departments. Mr. Palant also describes a “Go Bag” suggested by experts that people should have ready for immediate evacuation. Much more needs to be done to help those who lost everything.