Marylanders Hit The Road To Help Those Affected By Sandy
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Getting help to the areas hit hardest by Sandy has put Marylanders on the road.
Alex DeMetrick has a look at the aid our state is providing.
It's only been a week since Sandy roared ashore, striking hardest at New Jersey and New York, but for many, it's been a very long week. Some neighborhoods are burning fires for heat and light; the worst off have no neighborhoods left.
"People dealing with the lowest of lows and dealing with things most people can't comprehend," said Maryland State Police Cpl. Gregg Harrington.
So when New Jersey called out for extra law enforcement help, 26 Maryland state troopers volunteered and left Sunday evening. They joined fire paramedics from Baltimore and throughout the state who left as soon as the storm passed.
"They need some medics to transport patients from hospital to hospital to get out of harm's way," said Dale Blackwell, Baltimore City Fire Department.
Red Cross volunteers from Maryland have also gone north to help.
"They're mostly literally driving around neighborhoods that are the hardest hit, distributing food, water, blankets--anything people need. Our entire fleet of Red Cross vehicles is dispersed now in the northeast," said Red Cross spokesman Douglas Lent.
After working around the clock to restore power in Maryland, BGE has now sent crews and equipment to New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
At the receiving end, there's a common goal.
"Try to get the help we need to start rebuilding," said one Staten Island resident.
"My hope is, if this ever happened here and we needed some extra help, that people would be willing to do the same for us," said Kristy Brinn, Baltimore City Fire Department.
"These people need help and it doesn't matter what we expect. We're there to help with what they have and give back what they need," said Maryland State Police Sgt. Christopher Davala.
Along with fire and police units, doctors and nurses from Maryland's Disaster Medical Assistance team are working in New York.
