Open Thread: Superstorm Sandy Relief Efforts

A shot looking toward Brooklyn, NY, after Superstorm Sandy’s arrival Monday night. Photo by Michael Tapp via newyorkheadshotphotographer.co, Creative Commons licensed.

The National Weather Service said Monday night that Sandy the “Frankenstorm” is officially not a hurricane anymore, but whatever its designation, the impact is still being felt.

As of Tuesday morning, millions of people in several U.S. states are without power, with at least 10 fatalities reported due to the storm. Another 66 people were killed before Sandy reached the country, including 51 in Haiti alone, where hundreds of thousands of people are still living in tents following the 2010 earthquake there.

With that in mind, we’d like to invite readers to list any resources for help on this thread, such as:

• The Red Cross has started relief efforts for both U.S. residents and the Caribbean countries affected by Sandy, and is taking donations. Red Cross shelters can be found here.
• FEMA is asking anyone looking for a shelter to text SHELTER + their zip code to 43362 to find the one closest to them.
• Google has set up a crisis map for the storm as it continues to plow through the eastern U.S., including power outage zones.
• If you or someone you know wants/needs to use Twitter — which, once again, has been a go-to information source — without having an internet connection, this is a quick guide to set yourself up.
• A group associated with the Occupy Wall Street movement has formed Occupy Sandy Relief NYC, a volunteer group to help New York City residents in need of assistance.
• AmeriCares is working with 130 partnering agencies in U.S. states affected by Sandy, and has already sent cholera treatment and prevention supplies to Haiti.
• The International Medical Corps has been working with the Haitian government to coordinate relief efforts in the wake of Sandy’s arrival there.

Again, if you have any localized efforts to recommend – or red-flag – please use this space to let everyone know. And everyone stay safe, please.

Photo by Michael Tapp, Creative Commons licensed