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Virginia Capitol Connections , Winter 2013
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Hurricane Sandy became the largest Atlantic hurricane on record
with winds spanning 1,100 miles. Its damage has been estimated at
more than $70 billion with more than 250 lives lost and we have
now developed a profound respect for Atlantic hurricanes. While
Hurricane Isabel in 2003 represents our literal and figurative high
water mark with a big storm, we have learned that much smaller
storms can have a tremendous impact.
Our storm related preparations have become institutionalized
in our General Orders and participation in the state Incident
Command System. We have become practiced in responding to
natural disasters and we benefit from a well coordinated statewide
effort.We know that hurricane impacts to state parks often require
teams from around the state to pitch in to help with clean up and
recovery. As you might expect, the paper work alone related to
any Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) claim is
exacting and time consuming.
Virginia was braced and ready for Sandy and we were
blessed this time to have less than $200,000 in damages to state
parks. On the other hand, it was clear that Maryland, New York
and New Jersey would not be so fortunate.
When the threat to Virginia had passed, several staff posed
the question “would it be possible for us to send response
teams out-of-state?” We got a green light up line and when
we contacted New Jersey State Parks, they were ecstatic to
accept our help. We had teams of certified sawyers and skid
steer operators ready to go. Virginia’s team, consisting of nine
individuals was deployed to Stokes State Forest on Sunday,
November 11th. When our team arrived, the New Jersey State
Parks staff appeared to be exhausted and dejected. We were
driven around the park and shown the damage and where we
would begin our work. As the week progressed, the emotional
tide began to turn. By Thursday afternoon it was visible on
the faces of the NJ park staff that they now believed that they
would recover. Witnessing this shift in confidence was easily
one of the most rewarding experiences.
A common trait that runs deep through the Virginia
State Park family is the desire to serve. In this case we were
helping our northern neighbors get a campground open, a
place where people go to find that special therapeutic tonic for the
mind, body and spirit in the great outdoors.
Virginia park rangers join New Jersey hurricane Sandy recovery effort.
Being a Good Neighbor Can Be Very Rewarding
By Joe Elton, State Parks Director and Chip Kramer, Parks Maintenance Manager
V