Windsorites rally to help Sandy victims

by Sarah Ryrie

Windsorites are helping to clean up the aftermath, caused by Hurricane Sandy.

On Oct. 28, Hurricane Sandy hit the Eastern coast of North America. Hardest hit states include New Jersey, New York and Virginia. Although much of Canada was affected by the weather, Windsor managed to avoid the brunt of it.

Barbara Peirce-Marshall is the manager of corporate communications and public relations of Enwin Utilities. She said she believes Windsor was lucky.

“We actually were very fortunate in Windsor proper not to have very much damage at all. We had one tree come down that took out service to one house.” said Peirce-Marshall.

Enwin sent out six employees in four utility vehicles to Bethpage State Park, Long Island. Enwin employees are working with Long Island power authorities to help repair power lines and damages.

“There are actually something in the neighborhood of 7,000 line staff working on the power lines from 46 different states and provinces who are participating,” said Marshall.

The Red Cross has sent 11 volunteers from across Ontario to help victims of Hurricane Sandy.  Six of the volunteers left Nov. 6 and the other five the previous weekend. They will be staying in Long Island for a minimum of three weeks.

“We deployed volunteers to assist with the relief operations with the American Red Cross,” Senior Communications Advisor  Colleen Lowe said.

Senior Climatologist for Environment Canada David Phillips believes preparing for these situations is vital for our future.

“We have to prepare for these suckers and be ready for when they come,” said Phillips.

Phillips said part of the reason this storm was so severe was due to the fact it was late in the season, when the warm air humidity bumps into the cold air. This energizes the storm and makes it more powerful.

“It hit the most vulnerable area in all of the United States,” said Phillips. “It affected people from Windsor, Ontario to Sydney, Nova Scotia.”