TDR Physical Response to crisis: Any ideas??

[David_VT]

CONSTRUCTIVE IDEA:



Anyone have any ideas how we (East Coast or whatever) TDR members can organize and do something significant to help out in NYC and/or Washington.



I am talking about using our rigs to do something. Collect stuff, Deliver stuff, move food, supplies, people, anything to help out.



For example there must be disaster service workers who can't use the normal airlines to get people into NYC or Washington.



I am not really talking about promoting blood drives, that is being done quite well from other places.



David Covell

(David_VT)

---- --- --- -- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

I posted this elsewhere on a Vermont local site:

=== === === === === === === === === === === === ===

While I truly love living here in rural Vermont, I find it frustrating trying to find a REAL way to assist with the horror in NYC and Washington.



Having been in the Coast Guard in Boston incharge of a search and rescue boat, having been an ambulance EMT in Boston, having been in Red Cross disaster services, here I sit watching the horror but no longer having any connection to these outfits which would allow me to help.



My sister's family lives in NYC. She is quite OK but still stuck in New Jersey, kept apart from her husband and young son in Manhattan. Fortunatly her husband was home caring for my nephew as his office was too close to the WTC for comfort.



I want to get my hands dirty helping, how can I?



IDEAS? ANYONE ELSE?

=== === === === === === === === === === === === ===



Related: A nice volunteer site: http://www.helping.org/index.adp



Also, I've posted two of the Avatars I've been working on at my website, feel free to use them:



http://www.vtlink.net/users/joespond/images/usa-clear.gif



#ad




http://www.vtlink.net/users/joespond/images/usa-clearweagle.gif

#ad




http://www.vtlink.net/users/joespond/images/usawtcweagle.gif

#ad




Hint, click on the link and then copy the address from your browser into the avatar http address box in your edit profile other menu. If you copy directly from here you might get those dots which are not part of the real address

 

[tntway]

i like it

dave--i love your idea!! don't know except maybe to call the red cross, salvation army, etc. if you get a response, count me in from outside hartford. hell, i really want to go help dig. i'm a former voluteer FF and my brothers are in there.

 

[David_VT]

Then you know where I am coming from. So frustrating having to just watch.



Our small trucks can get places the beasts can't or are too busy to be able to.



IDEAS??

 

[tntway]

???

dave--can we connect with some local places that are doing

supply drives? i'm also a nurse and would at least like to help these guys rehabing so they can go back in and dig some more.

 

[Murle]

How many here will be willing to give their rebate check to Bush and say here use this against the SOBeeees.

 

[Amianthus]

Call your local Red Cross.

The best thing you can do is call the local Red Cross. If you tell them what you want to do they may be able to put your skills to use. Most likely, the only things we'd be able to use our trucks for is to move medical supplise, dry goods, etc. Transporting people may be another use, but not likely. Perhaps as a shift changeout, or moving equipment like jack hammers, generators, tools, etc. If you are medically trained or have had past training, that WILL be very usefull. In a mass casualty like this, that's where the help is really needed.



Give the Red Cross a call and see what they can do.

 

[americana]

how do i do it????

alright... . i tried yesterday to no avail... . how the heck to i get a waving flag avatar? more to the point how do i get multiple ones with the flag, eagle etc. thanks.

 

[Patrick McKinley - Gale Banks Engineering]

One idea...

I heard a good idea on the radio yesterday. They suggested that people could bring food (fast food or whatever) to the workers and volunteers at the blood drives since they are probably too busy to go and get food for themselves. I’m not sure if that’s along the lines of what you guys had in mind, but I thought I’d throw it out there.

 

[americana]

what i think will help most

i think donating blood and $$$ to the red cross will help most if you are far away. be careful of long fingered motherf#(&3rs trying to profit off this tragedy.



i HATE needles and the thought of giving blood. but since i'm not less than 110lbs (pipe down fireman dave!) and don't have any diseases... . well, i can't hide behind my fears anymore.

 

[Lurch]

I've been on the red cross volunteer list for transport services since I bought my truck and enclosed trailer. Unfortunately I'm too far away to be any use at this point. Give blood, give money, do what we can.



Lurch

 

[Power Wagon]

Call the Salvation Army. As good as the Red Cross is, the salvation army are the people who take care of others one-to-one with daily needs. While i'm sure they can use cash, I'm sure that you'll find that they need people as well.



1-800-SAL-ARMY



Offering transportation and personal assistance will be helpful, i'm sure



You can offer help to ADRA, which is the relief agency for my church. They are based in Silver Springs MD, but have hundeds of offices nationwide.



1-888-237-2367

They are one of the most effective aid organzations in the world, often supplying aid to the Red Cross, but have almost no publicity organization.





Of course, if you are not comfortable with working with faith-based organizations, the American Red Cross is in your phone book, as they have offices everywhere.





Just think carefully. THOUSANDS of parents, siblings, children of someone died in that horrific event. There are children without parents, or with one parent left of two. There are people who are simply devastated by loss in thier family.



Then there are the rescue workers - be they police, paramedics, firemen, and so on, who have families that lost thier mother, father, brother, sister, and so on.



Some of them, too, need help.



There are going to be THOUSANDS of people who are injured and sadly, i belive thousands dead. They need to be transported out of NYC to whereever thier funerals, if any, will be, and thier burial.



No matter how long we stop to think, we'll never run out of certain needs. If you can go and help, may God bless and protect you. If you cannot, you can pray for those who do and are.

 

[sonorakitch]

I haven't been able to give blood! The Red Cross here has a 2 week backlog on appointments. I heard there will be mobile units deployed soon.



Wish I was closer to NY and DC, I would be happy to help.



~Chris

 

[Amianthus]

The Red Cross does more than you might think.

The Red Cross and the Salvation Army are the two organizations that will get the most done. Support them.



When we have a knock-down drag out fire where people are dislodged. The Red Cross comes to offer food to the rescuers and victims, shelter (or assistance for a motel), clothing (or assistance there also), medical supplies, grief counseling, etc. They are a wonderful organization that does things beyond just blood drives. Give those organizations a call. They'd be able to put you to use if they need it.



Anyone with a testamonial on them? Post it here.

 

[tntway]

note to Dave_VT

dave--east hartford, ct. fire dept is running a t-shirt and sock drive. this is so that the guys can change shirts and socks when they take a break. they're asking for new stuff in adult sizes.

driving the stuff down on monday. just a thought for your area.

if you need more info contact me or Asst. Chief Brian Rykowski,

East Hartford, Ct. Fire Dept.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Why, americana, whatever do you mean?



I'd like to be in there helping move the pile, but from here, it's probably more practical and helpful for me to donate some money. My donation will be going to the firefighters' families, but anyone affected by this tragedy is certainly worthy of assistance - including the volunteer workers. The basics of food, clothing, etc... for the workers is an excellent idea.



Dave

 

[JConley]

There has to be a big backlog of things that need shipped around the U. S. I know U. S Flags are hard to come by here in Austin since they ship out of New Jersey. It might take a week or two to get mine.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Collect for the Red Cross

One of our local radio stations had set up today for collecting cash donations. For ten dollars, they would give you a two liter bottle of Coke (donated by the local Coke distributer). They have given thousands of flags, exhausting their supplies. A good number of local businesses matched their employees collections and forwarded the money to this station's efforts.



Within my area, there are many people who commute to New York to work. Naturally, many others have vollenteered their services. It sounds like for the moment, help is plentiful.



You might hold up on your efforts to donate blood until this current onslaught eases up.

 

[Wheaties]

good idea Dave

Dave,



This is a great idea--God bless you guy for thinking of it. If I can lend help with my truck or in any practical way, please email me.



At our last blood drive, I donated both platlets and whole blood. Coincidentally, I was called over the weekend by the NY Blood Supply with a request that I donate platlets again. I'm scheduled for next Tuesday.



I have also called folks I know to offer my support and assistance if they happen to need anything.



Do the East Hartford guys have enough vehicles to move those shirts & socks?



Matt

 

[Ram4Sam]

Other ways to help

I found this on another site:







HOW YOU CAN HELP: How to contact the Red Cross, other agencies to assist victims of attacks (thanks to That's Racin' for the list and info):

AMERICAN RED CROSS

The American Red Cross is accepting blood donations. For donation sites, call 1-800-GIVELIFE (1-800-448-3543). Or you can log on to the Red Cross web site: www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross can accept cash donations through 1-800-HELP NOW. Medical personnel who wish to donate their services should contact their local American Red Cross office.

SALVATION ARMY

The Salvation Army is also providing emergency relief to the NYC and DC areas. To see what you can do to help their efforts, please go to www.salvationarmy.org. The Salvation Army can accept financial contributions through 1-800-SAL ARMY.

AMERICARES

The international disaster relief organization has created a fund to help victims. Donors can call 1-800-486-4357 or log onto www.americares.org to contribute to the "Aid for Terrorist Attack Victims. " Much of the money will be used to provide medical supplies.

AMERICA'S BLOOD CENTERS

Call 1-888-BLOOD-88 to learn the location of the nearest ABC blood center and schedule an appointment.

HELPING. ORG

For more information on helping victims of the U. S. attacks, please visit Helping.org. Helping.org is an easy-to-use, one-stop online resource designed to help people find volunteer and giving opportunities in their own communities and beyond. This site has donation links set up for the Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and other charitable organizations seeking to help victims of the tragedy.

FIREHOUSE. COM

Firehouse.com, Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse Expos announced tonight a partnership with the International Association of Firefighters in a major fundraising effort to support the many children, spouses and family members left behind by the firefighters and emergency medical personnel who perished in the World Trade Center tragedy. (9-12-2001)

AND been informed there are MANY other ways to help out, many Deptartment stores are accepting donations to various charities, some fanatsy leagues are donating their weekly pools to charity, so there are many ways folks can help out(9-13-2001)





Sam

 

[tntway]

don't know matt

matt i'll try to get hold of Brian today and find out