Fwd: Brandon Chaney

-----Original Message-----
From: Popichak, Robert <rpopichak@pa.gov>
To:  'Alexander Popichak'
Sent: Thu, Nov 8, 2012 7:36 am
Subject: FW: Brandon Chaney

Alex,

        Is there any way you can post this on the website?  Brandon is a Troop 831 Eagle and I think he went on the NYC adventure with us.

        It's a great read…thanks!

                Dad

 

From: LARRY JONES [mailto:banksville@msn.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 12:13 AM
To: People
Subject: FW: Brandon Chaney

 

I recieved this email from one of our Eagle Scouts.  He was was on a special FEMA team for mega emergencies and was activated. I just wanted to pass along his story and the devestation he must be witnessing first hand.  Needless to say, I, and I'm sure his fellow scouts and scouters, are very proud of the work he is doing!
 
Please keep Brandon, his team, and all those devestaed by the storm in your prayers and thoughts.
 
Larry Jones
 
Hello,

 

Well as many of you may know last Thursday I was deployed with FEMA in response to hurricane sandy. Time is limited and I just wanted to give everyone a quick update. The last I had heard was that we were not going to be deployed, and then as per the old stand by "FEMA FLEXIBLE" I got a call to serve. I packed up and was en route to the NPSC in Hyattsville MD by 5pm Thursday night. By Friday I had my office up and running, and was making good headway by Friday night. Saturday morning when I arrived to work I had immediate field transfer papers on my desk. We were to deploy a team to New York City to begin the Applicant Services Process for FEMA Aid. By 1pm Saturday I had my 5 team members ready to go. We were briefed that we were going to deploy to an unknown location to assist applicants with Intake, Lodging, Transitional housing, Non Insured disaster assistance, and vehicle claims. By 8pm we still did not know where we were going and were to to stand by until 4am Sunday. Sunday the entire day was spent in the NPSC attempting to find lodging in New York. With lodging being so scarce in New York our team got a hotel in Ben-Salem Pennsylvania. We traveled 2.5 hours at 10pm Sunday night to our hotel. Tired was an understatement at this point. We held another briefing at the hotel that night and were told that we were going to Jamaica Queens and were to deploy at 5am. Monday morning we got ready and had 5 FEMA SUVS on the road to our site, little did we know that we had a 3.5 hour drive ahead of us due to weather and NYC drivers. When we arrived there was plenty of devastation. Mind blowing was a complete understatement, it was as if we were in a 3rd world country. Security was a Major concern because we were the first FEMA team on the ground in this community. The people were bombarding our convoy looking for assistance. We set up our mobile command and office in a Community College in Jamaica. Most of the applicants had nothing left at all and some of the stories would bring tears to my eyes. Something that I found unbelievable was the resilience of the people and how many of them could still smile after all they had been through. We have over 600 applicants at our shelter location with another 150 coming into the shelter due to more incliamate weather. With those numbers and the need for the College to reopen the Red Cross relocated many of the victims to other locations and even other states. We stayed at that location until Tuesday Night. Today were were not deployed and got a day off due to dangerous weather. This was much needed after working 12-18 hour days the last 7 days. Today's Estimates have the  number of people effected in the tens to hundreds of thousands with no reasonable end in sight. Headquarters stated today we could be here for up to 3 months and overall federal operations 1-3 years.  FEMA inspections along with the Army Core of Engineers are saying that some towns in New Jersey's barrier islands may never be rebuilt do to the extensive damage and the cost to rebuild. Tomorrow we will go to a new location in New York to scout out a JFO, and then work on opening up a DRC and DAC. Once that's complete, we will be calling that home until we have exhausted all efforts to assist and reach out to each individual that was effected or needs assistance. If you are able or are looking to help out with Food, Clothing, Toys, ETC... please email me and I will send a list of the Items needed. I miss home very much but the need for me and my team here is much greater. Please keep in touch and look out for updates from me as I get the chance. God bless Everyone and I will be in touch soon. 

 

P.S If you feel the need to pass this email along please do so. 

 

Brandon J Chaney