Very close to home, Super Storm Sandy showed us again the strength of Nature and it’s elements. Walking down the ocean beach in my area displayed a warning sight. The natural sand dunes have taken a much bigger toll then I personally have ever seen. The autumn and winter storms have their impact every year, but this storm just ripped a very important natural protection layer away, not only exposing the summer residences of the super wealthy, opening weak spots for future storms to flood the back land and its communities, but causing loss of life and devastating damages further west on Long Island and in New Jersey. My heart goes out to all who suffer from this natural disaster and I would kindly invite you all to help the hardest hit areas by supporting the causes of your liking to ease the difficulties of the people and their communities by donating generously your time and or money. Here some links to donate to: AmeriCares, Occupy Sandy, Gray Beards, ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States, New York Blood Center, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Water for Waves.

If you’re interested in volunteering in areas hit by Hurricane Sandy, FEMA’s website has listed multiple organizations with opportunities, such as Team Rubicon, Recovers.org or learn how to volunteer in your area.

 
I grew up with North Sea Storms violently flooding the low lying fertile agricultural lands of North Friesland, Germany and over time almost the entire length of Friesland from Holland to Denmark got protected by dikes and levees. Following are examples of coastal protection programs in the Tri State area: Wetland restoration in all 5 boroughs, the 17-foot sea wall constructed in Stamford, Connecticut, the beach fill project in Avalon, New Jersey. In NYC, there are far too few coastal protection programs being implemented due to the lack of funding and governmental follow through that keeps projects in a state of study and research. However, at least after Sandy more people are conscious of the necessity for NYC to have protection from the stronger storms to come, it’s something that effects us all.