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Super Storm Sandy- One Year Later
Friends,
I
look back on the past year since Super Storm Sandy devastated the
northeastern states especially those of New Jersey and New York and I
can't help but reminisce about the beginning of my mission to help make
America great again.
You see, I founded the International Green Energy Council when I was standing in the Lower 9th
Ward of New Orleans days after the flood waters from Hurricane Katrina
subsided there and could not believe that Americans had lost their lives
because we couldn't seem to find a way to get them water or get power
back on after that "100" year Super Storm. The Federal government could
not seem to facilitate substantial aid to the affected families and
businesses and people were being drowned in "paperwork". Local and state
leaders were paralyzed and did not "lead"
Three
years later people were still displaced in other states. Some even
still living in disease causing FEMA trailers. Still to this day, the
poorest area of New Orleans, the Lower 9th Ward is still not rebuilt.
In
the days and months and now eight years that followed Hurricane
Katrina, I began traveling the World to educate people about the effects
of Climate Change,Sea Level Rise and the economic impact they would
have around the Globe.
While
I traveled and the International Green Energy Council grew to 111
nations, more natural and man-made disasters came and went and our
organization responded to all of them. The International Green Energy
Council presented technologies that could get power back on and water to
the masses. We presented disaster response technologies and rebuilding
technologies and processes. We did this after Hurricane Gustav hit the
Gulf Coast of the United States three years to the day of the third
anniversary of Katrina.
We
responded to disasters both natural and unnatural such as the
earthquakes in Haiti and Fukishima, Tsunamis in American Samoa in 2009
and the Philippines, the BP Oil spill in 2010. All the while I and the
organization I founded was learning that more needed to be done than
just the temporary assistance to those affected by providing water and
energy but that what was really needed was a global strategy of
resilience...
In
Haiti we presented Earthquake and storm proof sustainable housing,
water creation technologies powered by the wind and sun and making fresh
water from sea water..all within hours of the devastation. These same
technologies were presented and implemented in New Jersey and New
York..progess...
The
International Green Energy Council presented a disaster relief tool box
in 2008 after Hurricane Gustav and began implementing the technologies
globally. In 2010, we began speaking about rebuilding more sustainably
and resilient after these massive storms and disasters and an amazing
thing happened, people and governments started listening but not
responding. We suggested that new Ministries of Resiliency be
established in all nations, today most European Governments have
them..our organization is still petitioning the Obama administration and
Congress to create a new cabinet position of Secretary of Resiliency,
but alas it has fallen victim to deaf ears while all of our government
concentrates on Obama Care and our National Debt instead of being a
government "for the people"
In
some areas basic education was accepted, for instance, after the
earthquake in Fukishima, the World started looking at possibly never
building new nuclear facilities so close to the Ocean that sustains us.
Why?? Because today, the nuclear plants in Fukishima continue to pour
radioactive waste into the Ocean and now that contaminated water is
poisoning fish populations and marine life in California and people are
still eating it and our government is doing nothing about it.
Similar
situations exist after the BP Oil Spill, dispersant and oil
contaminates have poisoned the entire water column down 1.6 miles
beneath the surface and shrimp and fish populations are laden with
cancer causing contaminates that our people are consuming!
You
see, whether you believe in Climate Change or not, you cannot refute
the facts that natural disasters, "100"year storms, large scale forest
fires, tsunamis and other anomalies are happening more frequently and
with more intensity.
The
currents and wind streams in the Atlantic Ocean are changing and making
states like Florida more susceptible to Hurricanes that used to lose
steam by being ripped apart in the Caribbean.. new wave heights that are
coming in the not too distant future that will no longer be subdued by
the Bahama Islands barrier. Both making future storm surges almost
cataclysmic to Florida, a state that because of baby boomers is
increasing its population by 1000 people per day, all of them wanting to
live on or near the water..Do you see where this is going???
After
eight years traveling this Planet, I have realized that mankind must
make a plan to live on a different kind of Earth. One that is changing
at an exponential rate.
But change is not coming fast enough..
FEMA
is still broken and broke, the insurance lobby is positioning itself
smartly after the losses of Super Storm Sandy to reduce coverages or
make rates so unaffordable that people and businesses cannot afford to
be by the water and Americans are in the dark about the plays being
negotiated behind closed doors.
Wealthy
prospectors are already offering the suffering cheap buy outs of their
waterfront properties..later they will build super hotels, change the
landscape and build to the same old inadequate codes and small towns who
lost so much property tax revenue will be forced to approve all this
new development because they are broke and the future holds limited
federal subsidies that helped them fend off bad development in the
past..why...because America is broke..we cant afford to pay the federal
governments bills let alone subsidize a small town like Lavallette, New
Jersey..
The
fact is that the Federal governments of the World "KNOW" how bad it
will get over the next 80 years. They know that sea levels will rise,
that more and more large scale cities will be decimated by "Super
Storms". Places here in America like Miami, Florida,
Boston, New York City and New Jersey will be hit again more regularly
and with more powerful storms like Sandy.
Counties
in Florida and their leadership are beginning to speak about long term
issues that they will face due to rising sea levels and storm surges.
Each having Climate Adaptation plans in place for future development and
disaster relief.
But
our Federal government is still ignoring the reality of the sleeping
giants waiting to hit our nation. Super Storm Sandy changed all
that........
Two
economic Super Powers of states of New York and New Jersey with strong
political leadership said "not on my watch". They sent a clear message
to the federal government that they wanted aid, coordination and
collaboration. Our organization collaborated on opening the New Jersey
Storm Recovery Center in Toms River, NJ utilizing our gained knowledge
and partnerships over the last eight years.
The
Storm Recovery Center is continuing to assist families and business to
rebuild more sustainably and more resilient. Building homes that are
stronger, more energy efficient and with renewable energy systems. Our
hope is that every major coastal city in America will have a Storm
Recovery Center in the not too distant future, a place where those
affected and those helping in recovery can come together at one common
place that gets it "all" right..
But the more things change the more they stay the same....
It
seems in my experience that when the news crews leave the areas
affected, the recovery slows to a halt.....Thanks to NBCs Nighty News
Reporter Brian Williams, a New Jersey native I might add, he makes sure
that NBC news has constant coverage on Super Storm Sandys recovery
efforts..more progress..
In
New Jersey and New York, 23,000 people are still without homes. FEMA
hotel vouchers have ended and families are living in homes that still
aren't rebuilt and winter is coming. I have witnessed situations where
families are living in one room with their children and pets, showering
in a bathroom with no walls, with kids going to school and moms and dads
going to work as if this were the new normal; all the while fighting
their insurance companies to pay out on their claims. A travesty!
People
and businesses moving out of state just because of the fear of going
through this again with the next storm. Some to frustration, some to
fear and some because of work. Some even just walking away from their
properties..prospectors like vultures preying upon the weak and
broken...
We
even have a case at the New Jersey Storm Recovery Center, a women dying
of cancer whose insurance company is just waiting until she dies to not
have to pay out the claim....disgusting.
We
see new mandates scrambled by the insurance lobby, FEMA and the Federal
government mandating new flood elevations, meaning homes that were
destroyed by the storm need to be rebuilt at 7-11 ft higher than they
were but FEMA and the insurance companies are only giving $30,000 per
home. This will allow only 7% of homes in the affected area to be able
to afford to raise their homes...now towns are mandating that these
storm victims now have to get variances for the new building heights and
lot setbacks. All along the Jersey Shore, thousands, yes thousands of
permits and insurance claims are being held up because of local town
officials and their ignorance to the needs of their people. The lack of
government to move fast or at all to help its people...
This
new "height" policy will disallow rebuilding in areas now deemed below
sea level. Why you ask? Because the Federal government realizes that
through NOAA and Army Corps. Of Engineers studies and modeling that the
areas of New Jersey and New York that were ravaged by Super Storm Sandy
will continue to get bombarded and destroyed on a more regular basis due
to the science of actual Sea Level Rise and now experience. Don't
believe me..research recent meetings in the Netherlands seeking their
assistance on Sea Wall and Gate designs for the Northeastern United
States..Mind blowing..both the need and the cost, but more importantly
the calculations on economic loss if we don't look at this
opportunity..Realize this, New York City is the financial capital of the
World. Super Storm Sandy shut down Wall Street and destroyed the New
York City Subway System..
In
New York and New Jersey utility companies are rebuilding energy
infrastructure by replacing overhead transmission instead of using our
guidance on rebuilding that power infrastructure to be more
resilient...underground, storm and flood proof so the next time a Super
Storm hits; power won't be out for 3 weeks, but only hours...One storm
brought down 30,000 "wood" utility poles in New York and New Jersey. Why
are the utility companies not reacting like FPL in Florida after
Hurricane Andrew and at least replacing the wood utility
poles with concrete poles??? More importantly why is the Federal
Government not mandating that Con Edison, Jersey Central Power and Light
and PSE & G replace the new infrastructure this way?
Myself
and Storm Recovery Center leadership, one a licensed NJ Electrical
Contractor warned state of New Jersey officials that insurance companies
were paying out claims and allowing homeowners and business owners to
rebuild while not properly remediating mold issues and more importantly
electrical issues. We urged the state to make insurance companies pay to
replace antiquated wiring in older homes and businesses due to salt
water corrosion issues on old fabric and paper bound wiring. No one
listened and several weeks ago 1/3 of the Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Boardwalk burnt to the ground!!
But
as I said, there are great strides being made after Super Storm Sandy.
Two Governors from different political parties are working together
planning for tomorrow.
Pressuring the federal government for aid and more resilient
infrastructure, expediting Executive orders and reaching across the
aisle to get laws passed to help New Jersey and New York recover. They
are both in the trenches with residents and business owners..battling
insurance companies..they are paying out aid money as fast as it comes
in..a very different situation that what is still happening in the Lower
9th Ward of New Orleans and the lack of political leadership
by Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal, a guy who really thinks he has a
shot at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave...comical..
But
this new effort is still embryonic..and we need all levels of
government to move faster, make better plans for aid in disasters,
better power and water supply solutions. We need to take natural
disasters in account when planning all new development; we need to build
sea gates to keep storm surges from decimating cities like New York and
Boston. We need to set up disaster relief technologies at Army National
Guard bases all over our nation, we need to elect government officials
on the local, state and federal levels that "get it" ,that are true
leaders like Governors Christie and Cuomo. We need better building
standards. New digitized power grid infrastructure. All of it has to change NOW!
The
alternative is unacceptable and frightening. More and more powerful
storms decimating our nation, more loss of life, less insurance coverage
to homeowners and businesses, increased insurance rates, loss of prime
real estate, loss of economies and more inadequacy in our governments
response and rebuilding to these storm ravaged areas.
My
resolve is stronger than ever before that the International Green
Energy Council will continue to lead the charge for change. To ask the
right and hard questions of our leaders, to influence and facilitate
change...real change.. I am committed to keep circumnavigating the world
discussing, caressing, nurturing, demanding and pressuring change..not
for the accolades, not for the attention, but because someone has to do
it..and I thank God almighty I have accepted this yoke...we are making a
difference...
Whether
you believe in Climate Change or not, the economic impact to our nation
from natural and unnatural disasters are bankrupting our nation. We
cannot afford to continue to respond and rebuild the same old way after
these events. We need a plan. A plan to make American great again..
I
have written a book called the Great Green Revolution™ that will be
released early next year. The book is a path to make America great
again. Stay tuned.
Thanks for listening to what some may call a "rant".
God bless you and may he continue to bless America, the greatest nation on Earth.
Ralph Avallone,
President, National Green Energy Council
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