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July 17, 2006
Flood Picture Essay Part 2
The town pulls togethor. With no out side help, the Village of Sidney pulled togethor to help those in trouble. The local small businesses effected or not by the flooding pooled togethor to provide. People who were not effected and many that were donated to the shelter what they could. The school opened up their food reserves and local stores donated food, water, soda, etc. Local resturants provided us with hot meals. Drug stores donated medicen for those that left it home during the evacuation. There was a steady stream. With up to 250 of us there it was a blessing.
It wasn't until Monday the 3rd that anyone from the Red Cross showed up in town. And FEMA didn't show up until Saturday the 8th. On the 13th along with United Way and the Salvation Army, the social workers started to make the rounds.
On the Saturday before, the National Guard took over the center but they were cool and worked with us, especialy after I and Dawn had a long talk with the Captain in charge and the School's Super. This was a very good thing because it was just ealyer that day that some lady from the NYS Board of Health had stopped by and effectivly told everyone off, with one very nasty chip on her sholder about how the volunteers were running the shelter.
She tried to put prison rules in place, and when a few of the evacuees and volunteers stood up to her about it, she had them arrested and removed. She put in place rules like the Firemen get hot meals, even if its the ones donated by the local businesses for us and we get sandwitches. No leaving the center, doors are locked at 6PM, we're to be locked into the gym at 9PM with only the bathroom accrssable. No outside food was to be brought in by evacuees. And other stuped rules.
Thank goodness she never returned, and when one Fireman asked about the duel line for dinner, the next day it was disbanded. Monday when the Red Cross took over the center it became a prison camp. And things that hadn't been happening like theft and fights started to occure. Wednesday they moved everyone to Bainbridge, then that night to Walton. I don't know how many went, we left Monday morning to go home.
No power, bad water, and a 6PM curfew. But at least we were out of the now prison camp that used to be an evacuation center.
I've lost what little respect I had left for these orginazations.
I'll admit we were in a bit of a pickle, being an island of sorts. With views like this downtown and bridges out.
Car Dealer Parking Lot
Main St.
Every road around us looked like this if you could get across the bridges to see it.
The reason for the town curfew was to stop theft. Of course you want to stop people from stealing ruined junk, right?
This was the view of the town. Junk every where. People lost their whole first floors. And it all ended up out by the street.
The other reason for the curfew was to know who was and was not supposed to be in the village proper.
Hoses in the streets were a common site for weeks.
But I'm getting a head of myself here. I need to take a step back and finish the story.
More to come:
Flood Picture Essay Part 3: Saturday 7-1-2006 The flood waters crest on the Susquhana River.
Flood Picture Essay Part 4: Monday 7-4-2006 Clean up starts.
Flood Picture Essay Part 5: Aftermath and life goes on.
Posted by derstaffo at July 17, 2006 01:39 PM
Comments
Those organizations didn't help at all, I agree with that. but the National Guard wasn't that bad at all. In fact, they seemed to be the most laid back with the rules. They even had a snack table set up outside where we were sleeping.
Posted by: Gina at August 6, 2006 02:10 PM
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