Although it is being restored, many of us in Westchester are still living without power. Local governments, houses of worship, and the Red Cross are all working to ensure that everyone who needs a warm place to stay over these cold nights can find one. Patch has a “Hurricane Sandy Hub” for your town, village, or city, and through that hub you can find your municipality’s website with information about your nearby shelter options. With temperatures dropping below freezing and a Nor’easter on the way, please do not try to “tough it out” at home. Look in on any elderly folks living on your block. For their sake and yours consider that many needless, entirely avoidable deaths occur when folks try to stay in a house with no heat. Please review these following lifesaving safety tips:
Never use a gas range, oven, or dryer for heating: During combustion carbon monoxide gas is produced quickly. CO poisoning occurs from breathing this colorless, odorless gas, and is the leading cause of fatalities after a power outage. Never use your gas stove-top burners, oven, or dryer for heating.
Keep generators outside: Gas generators produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas, and should never be used inside a house, a garage, or within 25 feet of a door, window, or vent.
Be careful of electric space heaters: Do not use older models; do not use while sleeping; do not run more than four hours at a time; make sure you have three feet of empty space all around the unit; in no case should a space heater be used with an extension cord (the high amount of current they require could melt the cord and start a fire).
Please also read the following message from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy…it is important for citizens to remember the following information to protect your life and health and that of your family:
* DRINK CLEAN...SAFE WATER AND EAT SAFE...UNCONTAMINATED FOOD
* KEEP GENERATORS OUTSIDE AT LEAST 25 FT FROM DOORS...WINDOWS AND VENTS
* DO NOT GRILL INSIDE YOUR HOME...THE FUMES CAN KILL
* NEVER TOUCH A DOWNED POWER LINE OR ANYTHING TOUCHING ONE
* USE 1 CUP OF BLEACH FOR EACH GALLON OF WATER TO REMOVE MOLD
* NEVER MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA...THE FUMES CAN KILL
* WASHING YOUR HANDS PREVENTS ILLNESS
* SEEK HELP IF HAVING TROUBLE COPING
For more lifesaving health related information call the CDC at 800-232-4636… TTY 888-232-6348. http://Emergency.CDC.gove/Disasters/
Finally, for those in a position to help, here’s an update from UJA-Federation on their Hurricane Sandy “Westchester Community Mobilization” effort:
There will be two locations for food and supply drop-off:
UJA-Federation of New York in Westchester
701 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, New York
Monday, November 5th through Friday, November 9, 2012
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.and
UJA-Federation of New York in Northern Westchester
27 Radio Circle Drive
Mt. Kisco, New York
Monday, November 5th through Wednesday, November 7, 2012
10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.Needed Food Items:
baby food • boxed milk and coffee creamer • canned fruits and vegetables • canned meat and fish • cereal, cookies, and crackers
coffee, teas, and hot chocolate • pasta, rice, and instant potatoes
ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise • soup and tomato sauce
vinegar, oil, and salad dressings • raisins, prunes, dried fruit and nuts, and peanut butter
Needed Personal Care Items:
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, toiletries, diapers, wipes, baby formula, hand sanitizer.No glass containers or expired items please. Kosher food is appreciated.
For more information on how you can help, or to make a donation to the Hurricane Relief Fund visit www.ujafedny.org.
You may also contact Donna Divon at divond@ujafedny.org or 914.761.5100 ext. 130.
"The material needs of another are my spiritual concern" - Rabbi Israel Salanter, founder of the Jewish Mussar movement.
Rabbi Mark Sameth is the spiritual leader of Joyful Judaism: Pleasantville Community Synagogue an inclusive, progressive synagogue – with members from twenty towns, villages and cities all across Westchester and “A Hebrew School Your Kids Can Love.” Read The New York Times article. Follow Rabbi Mark on Twitter . Weekly meditation at the synagogue every Saturday morning at 9 am is open to the public; everyone – without exception - is welcome and warmly invited. OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE IS ON. See “Top Ten Reasons to Join PCS” at www.ShalomPCS.com.
