SGT Dallas Robinson:
Nick is attached to the New York National Guard 1156 engineering company in Kingston with luge athlete Joe Mortensen, and I am attached to the Kentucky National Guard. None of the three of us were actually mobilized after Hurricane Sandy hit because we are in the World Class Athlete Program, and our job this time of year is to be ready for our upcoming season. However, once I heard Nick and Joe were going to voluntarily drive six hours to the city to help with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, I immediately put on my uniform and hopped in my truck to follow. I caught up with them a couple of hours later at their unit in Kingston. Regardless of our training, we are Soldiers first and always eager to jump at any opportunity to serve our country. We are honored to be Soldiers, and we know that the small sacrifice we made pales in comparison to the true heroes who are serving overseas protecting our country.
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| SGT Cunningham and SGT Robinson visit the FDNY |
We knew there were hard hit areas, but most of the city was in pretty good shape due to the swift cleanup efforts of New York City workers. Even though the subways weren't working, trees had fallen and power was out, the people of New York City didn't seem to have an ounce of fear in them...they just kept moving on like any other day. I think it's amazing how hardworking city workers like the NYPD and FDNY are. There was not a corner in the city where we did not see a police officer guiding traffic or helping someone. I'm certain many of them haven't slept in days, and for that reason I already feel guilty being back at the Olympic Training Center writing this. It's also amazing how resilient the citizens of New York City are; they cannot be shaken.
SGT Nick Cunningham:
Wow, that was an experience I'll never forget. SGT Robinson and I wanted to do as much as possible and help as many people as we could in the short amount of time that we had. We first stopped by Tom Santagato's house in Astoria, N.Y. Tom is competing in the skeleton selection races in Park City, Utah and had no way to get home, so we wanted to put him at ease knowing that his family was safe. We then moved into the heart of the damage.
SGT Robinson:
SGT Cunningham and I got a tip and headed to an area that was hard
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| Boats battered and scattered in the road |
hit and in need of aid. As we drove into this region the traffic slowed on each side of the road. There wasn't a traffic jam, but there literally weren't any civilian vehicles in working order! Eventually the majority of the vehicles actually moving were painted in some type of camouflage or had lights attached to the roof of them. As we traveled further into the area we were driving alongside a FEMA convoy, but eventually even the lights and FEMA trucks were no where to be found. Upon entering the devastated area we quickly noticed it was completely different than the rest of the city we had already been to. Trees had fallen and the power lines were lying all over the place leaving residents in the cold and dark, but the overall devastation was far worse than we had ever seen. Cars were strategically placed in yards and smashed into road medians from the outgoing tide. We saw 40-foot boats lifted vertically and resting against buildings, and large 100-year oak trees swimming along as driftwood.
We drove for a while weaving in and out of obstacles until the road stopped. The road was blocked entirely and the only way out was the way that we came. We had not come all the way from Lake Placid to not jump in and do what we could. So Nick and I parked our truck, stepped out into shin-deep water and put on our work gloves.
SGT Cunningham:
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| Clearing debris from homes |
We parked our truck at the end of the street and just started helping everyone we could. By the time we arrived the floodwater had receded and residents were returning to their homes to see the absolute destruction. Once SGT Robinson and myself cleared the block of houses and made sure everyone was safe and in no immediate need or danger we just began helping by clearing debris, moving ruined furniture and just listening to everyone's stories. Many of these families had just finished their renovations from Hurricane Irene a year ago.
SGT Robinson:
Every single person we spoke to was unified with a sad but thankful heart. They said they were so appreciative of "what they still had" and were just anxious to "fix it and move on." Many said, "Help my neighbor first"- in a sharp New York accent of course. One old man said "Ehh, I'm fine- I'm 71 years young and don't need anything. Maybe my neighbors do though, go check on them. Unless you want for me to make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich". He said it in a joking way, but I know with the bread and peanut butter next to him on the porch he would have made us one heck of a sandwich if we had taken him up on it.
I was greeted by an elderly couple at the next house, and as we walked through the door the lady just put her hands over her face and started crying. I could tell she had been holding in her tears for some time prior to that. I couldn't do or say anything at that moment, so I just hugged her and she hugged me. In about 30 seconds she was ready to start telling us her story and where the water came to and also which items of heavy water logged furniture needed to be taken to the curb.
SGT Cunningham:
Clearing homes and watching the residents open drawers and find
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| Grateful residents in a hard hit community |
ruined priceless possessions was absolutely devastating to watch. Some just cried while others wanted to clear out as much as possible before their family returned home to see the destruction. Several times I was just taken back by everyone's attitude. Nobody was mad, pointing a finger or looking to place blame. Everyone was helping everyone. Neighbors were helping each other; strangers were helping move ruined cars from the roads. I have never been more proud to be American.
SGT Robinson:
We only spent about two days in the city and visited a couple dozen homes. We didn't get to jump into the ocean and lift someone crying for help to safety and never found a cat in a tree to save, but we did get to come into contact with and help some amazing people. When we started our journey on Tuesday to New York City we were anxious to make a difference. As we traveled back this Thursday we felt somehow older, and the five-hour trip seemed to take twice that time. I know I speak for both Nick and myself when I say we have heavy hearts for the families in the devastated areas and we wish we could head back tomorrow to help further. I think Nick and I have a new perspective on life and are so much more appreciative of what we have. Please keep the people of New York City in your prayers.
SGT Cunningham:
In the past 48 hours we focused on what was important. It wasn't about bench press, squats, or power cleans. It wasn't about the Olympics, looking for funding or trying to find that fast line. It was all about giving these people their lives back. To give a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. It definitely put everything into perspective and really made me realize what is truly important to me.
