Catholic Charities assess Sandy's damage

Executive director predicts there will be 'a tremendous need' for food

An aerial view shows destroyed homes Oct. 31 after Hurricane Sandy came ashore
in Seaside Heights. Steve Nesius / Reuters / CNS.

Catholic News Agency reports that Catholic Charities on the east coast of the U.S. will be springing into action to help victims of Hurricane Sandy:

Kevin Hickey, executive director at Catholic Charities of Camden, N.J., told CNA on Oct. 31 that while there is significant flooding and damage throughout the six southern counties that make up the diocese, “the main focus is the coast.”

“The devastation there is enormous,” he said, especially on the barrier islands of Ocean City and Atlantic City, which took a direct hit from the storm. Because access to the two sites is restricted, emergency workers cannot get there and do not know when they will be able to do so.

Hickey added that Catholic Charities has an office in Atlantic City, but said that he is “fairly confident that is underwater.”

New Jersey is one of several states that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy, a massive storm that made landfall in the U.S. on Oct. 29 and proceeded to sweep through the northeast, killing dozens and leaving some 6 million people without power.

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.