With Hurricane Sandy, one of the largest storms of the last 30 years, bearing down on the Eastern Seaboard, Best Friends is assisting local rescue groups faced with protecting animals in harm’s way and will be on call to help local authorities and national groups engaged in the effort.
Our work on Hurricane Sandy began late last week when Jamie Rubin, who heads up our work in New York, began communicating with and supplying information to NMHP Network partners and local rescue groups via our New York Face book page. We will continue to post and re-post information as it becomes available to help concerned animal welfare organizations throughout the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) for the duration of the storm.
Meanwhile, Best Friends has sent a small rescue team to the New York area. On arrival they will assess the situation on the ground and assist the National Animal Response and Sheltering Coalition, which will coordinate the work of animal rescue groups. Best Friends will be in contact with our NMHP Network partners and other local animal rescue groups who may need help.
We’ve also been in touch with the Mayor’s Alliance in New York City, New York City Animal Care and Control, and other local groups to learn of their disaster plans.
Sandy is a Category 1 hurricane (the highest is Category 5), but with winds today pushing 90 miles per hour, there is a chance that it could reach Category 2 later today. Weather experts, state and municipal governmental leaders and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are monitoring the storm’s progress, cautioning that the main concern of this particular storm will be its size, duration, heavy rains and storm surge that will produce considerable coastal flooding. With tropical storm-force winds out to 520 miles and hurricane-force winds out175 miles from its center Sandy is second only to Hurricane Olga in 2001.
As the situation develops, we will keep you informed as to just exactly what Best Friends’ will be doing to help animals in distress.
While it is too early to define specific post storm needs, please check back here for updates and action alerts as we know more.
Read more:
Hurricane Sandy: Pet preparedness and how to help
To help, you can donate directly to the Best Friends Emergency Relief Fund.
If you are a rescue group in need after Hurricane Sandy, click here for information on applying for a No More Homeless Pets Network micro-grant.