New York National Guard Brig. Gen. Ray Shields, director of the joint staff, and IDF Maj. Zerit Gershkovitch, director of public guidance for the Israeli Home Front Command, listen to NYS Commissioner for DHSES Jerome Hauer during a Hurricane Sandy roundtable discussion. Eight Israeli members of the Home Front Command met with New York National Guard and emergency managers here Jan. 31 to discuss best practices. Photo by Col. Richard Goldenberg

DVIDS
Story by Col. Richard Goldenberg

Eight leaders from the Israeli Defense Force learned how the New York National Guard did business during Hurricane Sandy from Guard leaders who oversaw the month-long response operation.

The IDF delegation met with New York National Guard Brig. Gen. Raymond Shields, the director of the joint staff for the New York National Guard, and Lt. Col. Robert Mitchell, deputy director for New York National Guard domestic operations on Thursday, Jan. 31.
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Even weeks after the hurricane the people of Breezy Point continue to clean up debris. Photo by Mike Dale, DMAT FL2, Strike team #1

Here are a number of recent videos showing some of the recovery from Hurricane Sandy. Please support the blogburst for Hurricane Sandy on February 6. On February 6, it will be 100 days since Hurricane Sandy struck the coasts of New Jersey and New York. Let’s get together as bloggers and new media mavens and make that day a blogburst for Sandy relief. Tens of thousands of Americans are still suffering and they deserve out help as much as the people of Haiti or Japan or Indonesia.
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Col. Michael Addison (far left) speaks with firefighters during an award presentation ceremony at the Air Force Academy’s Fire Station 3 Dec. 19, 2012. More than 50 firefighters were recognized with Air Force Achievement Medals or Air Force Civilian Achievement Awards for their efforts in containing the Waldo Canyon Fire, which burned 12 acres of the Academy in June but did not cause any injuries or destroy any structures. Addison is the 10th Mission Support Group commander. U.S. Air Force photo by Elizabeth Andrews

U.S. Air Force
by Don Branum
Air Force Academy Public Affairs

More than 50 firefighters with the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron here received Air Force Achievement Medals and Air Force Civilian Achievement Awards in a pair of ceremonies Dec. 19-20 for their efforts in containing the Waldo Canyon Fire, which burned 12 acres on the Air Force Academy in June but did not destroy any structures on base.

The 18,247-acre fire was the most destructive in Colorado history, killing two and destroying nearly 350 homes in the city of Colorado Springs while damaging more than 450 others.
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After Hurricane Katrina left so many homeless, the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided trailer homes for many. Yet, 45 days after Hurricane Sandy struck the New York and New Jersey areas, the tens of thousands of homeless have not seen a single trailer. Where are the FEMA trailers?
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Funds for Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery continue to lag the Katrina effort. The money raised is going to several types of entities, and some questionable ones, at that. Is this disaster just another way for politicians to bolster systems of financial rewards and punishments?

Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City
The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City pre-existed Hurricane Sandy. It is, ostensibly, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit and donations to the group are tax deductible. It is, for all practical purposes, an arm of New York City government. It is featured on the city’s website. Fund donated for Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery are being disbursed to meet needs identified by the city. The website states:

Currently, the Mayor’s Fund partners with 38 City Agencies and Mayoral Offices to support over 85 different programs. Several of these collaborations are informing the efforts of cities across the country and are helping to shape national policy.

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