Huge “Muck-Out Day” March 30
Hundreds of Bergen County homes
experienced severe flooding from Hurricane Sandy. Some still
need tear-out of soggy walls, flooring and other debris to prevent the
growth of dangerous mold.
Cleaning out can be a daunting –
and expensive -- task, especially for seniors and people with disabilities, so
volunteers are needed to complete this work.
The Bergen County VOAD (Voluntary
Organizations Active in Disaster) is hosting a Muck-out Training on Tuesday,
March 12th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Central Unitarian Church, 156 Forest
Avenue in Paramus. The goal is to train volunteers to ensure
that all work will be done safely, correctly and effectively.
To reserve a spot at the training, call Tess at the Volunteer Center of
Bergen County, 201-489-9454, Ext. 114, or email ttomasi@bergenvolunteers.org.
The instructors for this training
will be Dale and Jean Peercy, nationally known as the “Go-to Folks” for
rebuilding in long term disaster recovery. They are
construction and volunteer coordinators for Lutheran Disaster Response,
and have directed nearly 100,000 volunteers in disasters across the country.
The Muck-out Training will cover
such topics as how to properly clean out a home after a storm/flooding; health
and life safety issues (mold, cleaning solutions, etc.); debris separation,
handling and disposal; proper communication and interaction with homeowners.
Attendees of the Muck-out training
will become Project Leaders for the Bergen Muck-Out Day, on Saturday, March
30th, at various locations in Moonachie and Little Ferry, the hardest hit
towns. Each Project Leader will be assigned a team of
volunteers to perform the necessary removal of debris, to allow families to
return home without fear of respiratory distress or infection.
Hundreds of volunteers will be
needed on March 30th. To sign up, call Dave Skoblar of
Project 195 at 1-888-410-5122 or email info@project195.org.
Muck-out work is not appropriate
for individuals under the age of 18, or individuals with health conditions such
as asthma, heart complications or bone/joint pain.
The VOAD’s Long Term Recovery
Committee is a consortium of community organizations that have banded together
to bring relief to residents affected by Hurricane Sandy. The
group is coordinated by the Volunteer Center of Bergen
County.
