Two of the at least three people who – at the time of this writing – died in New York from Hurricane Irene were Orthodox/Hasidic Jews.
One was a forty six year old from Spring Valley NY. It started when a six year old boy went Sunday 11:00 AM to a gate that separates his corner lawn and a low-laying sidewalk where a small puddle has formed. The boy didn’t know that a live wire was lying in that puddle. He stepped into it and waves started hitting him. A passing father of four drove by; pulled over across the street and ran to help. He got electrocuted and died there on the side of the road, while the boy was left in a critical condition with diminished hope that his hands will be usable (H”Y). The boy’s father – also there trying to help his son – was taken into hospital for a few hours due to burns on his left arm.
The story actually started hours earlier at 3:00 AM when a transformer at that corner exploded into a massive fire ball. The local utility company “Orange and Rockland” and local FD arrived to assist. After O&R apparently and according to local elected officials assured the Fire Department that all was safe, they left and the rest is history.
The other tragedy took place at the Valkyrie Motel in Fleischmann’s New York. Vacationers were stranded in five-ten foot deep water for hours upon hours with limited rescuers in site. National Guard and other personnel were indeed there for hours just as they were over New Orleans a few hours after the Hurricane hit. But the work today – just as after Katrina – didn’t seem to fit the need: A seventy year old woman passed away Sunday afternoon while many others were traumatized from being besieged in Katrina-like conditions until late Sunday afternoon in or surrounded by water.
The Fleischmann’s incident reminded me of what took place eight weeks ago when my mother was trapped in flash-flood, four-five deep water in her then-apartment in Monsey, NY. Her multiple calls to 911 didn’t yield any results. It was only the brave work of volunteers of Chaverim of Rockland who swam into the deep water when they got the call that saved her life. (Insurance, of course didn’t cover any losses. When DO they cover anything? It was up to private contributions and help – not a dollar of government assistance – that put my mother back on her feet.)
While rabbinical leaders will ask that Jews repent from their sins, the Jewish Community will be waiting for answers since we know that no one should rely on miracles. Yes, prayers are a first but actions by humans need to follow. If a local utility company is clueless despite all the costly government regulations and if state/federal governments are poorly organized to handle a disaster despite all the hype, tragedy is destined to happen.
contact: yossi@yossigestetner.com
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