SigEps Welcome in Victims of Sandy

From the SigEp "Sound Bite"...
SigEps Welcome in Victims of Sandy

Bryan Baranyay, Stevens Tech '14

When Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast, brothers at Stevens Tech put in a total of 787.25 service hours in a five-day period, doing everything from cooking for shelters, cleaning hard hit areas and taking emergency calls. Resident Scholar, Polina Pinkhasova said, "The brothers brought a positive attitude to these shelters when there was none before." The outpouring of brotherly love that these men showed made Pinkhasova, "proud to live under the same roof as these selfless and considerate men." Chapter President, Bryan Baranyay, Stevens Tech '14, shares his chapter's experience.

Hurricane Sandy hit New York and New Jersey hard when she arrived, but the brothers of New Jersey Alpha RLC were fortunate.  The Stevens Tech Chapter house was on one of four blocks in Hoboken, N.J., to have power, running hot water and basic amenities that everyone suddenly needed. We were just one of a few dots of light in a city of 50,000. Nearly half the city was underwater for several days and Stevens Institute of Technology was closed for a week. The entire New York Metro area was suddenly shutdown and few people had an inkling of what to do next.

The day after the hurricane hit, our brothers realized how blessed we were since our house went un-flooded and still had electricity. We were determined to make a positive impact during such a trying time, especially since our house was suddenly Ground Zero of our campus as well as our neighborhood. Along with our resident scholar, Polina Pinkhasova, we went to Hoboken City Hall to see how we could help. "Once at city hall, the brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon took immediate action," Pinkhasova said. "They started organizing themselves so brothers were at the shelter continuously for 24 hours." Brothers were providing simple items that everyone usually takes for granted: a Gatorade jug to supply a shelter with water, lamps so volunteers could see what they were doing at night, cooking utensils for food, board games for children and blankets for neighbors.

Community members rest and charge their electronics outside of the New Jersey Alpha chapter house.

As a chapter, we were honored to supply things that would make this horrific experience all the more bearable for others. The most precious of these commodities in the wake of Sandy was electricity. We placed extension cables from our house to the front patio near the sidewalk. We connected three power strips to share what so many greatly needed to charge cell phones, laptops and tablets.  We also set up a table and chairs so neighbors could relax and try to take their mind off what was currently happening.

Polina had an especially moving experience while helping out. "One woman brought tears to my eyes as she explained her situation. She arrived at the shelter saying that she had never asked anyone for anything but was in desperate need of food for her three children," Polina said. "Without hesitation my SigEp boys worked with the shelter to package up boxes of food for her. I will forever remember the scene of her graciously accepting food from my boys in order to feed her family."

Lehigh's campus reopens; students can return to residences - SigEp still closed

Lehigh University, in Bethlehem PA, is one of many colleges affected by hurricane Sandy. Apparently the SigEp house was more damaged than some others. If anyone has information about this chapter or any of the other SigEp chapters that were in harm's way last week, please let us know with a comment. Thanks.

Lehigh's campus reopens; students can return to residences | lehighvalleylive.com:

Students received an LU-ALERT at 10 a.m. today that announced campus' reopening. The message said all but four on-campus residences have had power restored and students can move back in.

Broadhead House, Delta Gamma sorority and Delta Upsilon and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternities are not open to their residents. Alternate accommodations can be made by calling 610-758-3500 before 4 p.m. today and tomorrow.

'via Blog this'

Stevens Institute SigEps cleaning Hoboken parks of debris

If you have seen the news in the last few days you know that Hoboken NJ is not a fun place to be right now. The SigEps at Stevens are helping out as they can.

Stevens Institute students cleaning Hoboken parks of debris | NJ.com:

Some Stevens Institute of Technology students are helping Hoboken clean up after Sandy left the city flooded and largely without power.

At Stevens Park, about 20 Stevens students were raking leaves, placing them in bags and cleaning up debris and broken branches that are littering the park.

Michael Carrano, 23, a computer science student, said students received an email from Stevens officials asking them to help out where they can.

Though the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house, where Carraro lives, has power and internet, he and some of his fraternity brothers decided to pitch in.

"It's almost like we didn't get affected by the storm," he said. "But Hoboken did."

Carraro added there are at least three city parks that Stevens students are cleaning.

Taylor Race, 19, an engineering major, lives at Jonas Hall at Stevens, which does not have power. Race has been staying with friends who do have electricity, but they decided to come out to clean up Stevens Park anyway.

"It's something to do besides sit and stare at each other," she said. "It's fun ... we're having a good time."

TX Delta Chapter Counselor Checks in

This report from TX Delta(Univ. of Houston) CC Don Heard to Bill McCausland(DG) is a few days late in posting, but then we have been "otherwise engaged." It is still timely though and has good information.

Mark --

The Brothers of Texas Delta are fine, all of the Brothers spent the hurricane with their families or with other Brothers and their families during the storm. The chapter home has no damage in reports from one University staff member. The Greater Houston area (16 counties) , 95% of it is still without power as of Sunday morning. Major transmission lines from the ERCOT grid from the power plants are down. We are hoping to have power back in the next few days, but that is a day by day matter.

Some Brothers parents homes have sustained damage. Our AVC Treasurers parents home in Seabrook, Texas had two feet of water. The water is going down. There is a curfew from 9 PM until 6 AM until next Saturday. Once power is restored, the service stations will open... that will be a huge step back to normalcy.

I have been in regular communication with the chapter leadership. Recruitment will take a major hit since the economic impact of this to a huge portion of SE Texas. The University was not flooded like it was in TS Allison in 2001 that closed the University for months ala Katrina to our Brothers to the east.

Brothers wishing to donate should donate to the American Red Cross for Hurricane disaster relief. Our scholarship needs will be substantial based on the people that may be without work (STUDENTS). Donations may be directed to the Texas Delta "Chapter Fund" in the SigEp Educational Foundation.

We know we will be providing scholarships to our students that need some financial assistance. The University has pledged to work with students who have financial aid, but that is so limited.

The Brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon did so much to help out our neigbhors in New Orleans after their devastation in 2005. If you can make a donation to the Red Cross or the Edcational Foundation... you will be helping.

Our Brothers in Beaumont may have damage also. They had received substantial damage from HURR RITA in 2005 that followed shortly on the heals of HURR KATRINA. I have tried to reach Brother Lamar Roach without success. I hope he and our Brothers at Lamar University are safe and well.

Great news sources about the recovery operations can be seen on:

• http://www.chron.com/ Houston Chronicle,
• http://www.ktrk.com/ ABC affiliate,
• http://www.galvnews.com/ Galveston newspaper,
• http://www.khou.com/ CBS affiliate,
• http://www.thedailycougar.com/ U Houston campus newspaper,
• http://www.uh.edu/ University newspaper.
• http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/ Beaumont newpaper,
• http://www.kfdm.com/ Beaumont TV station.

Thanks everyone for your prayers.

Keep tuned to the www.sigepblog.org Red and Purple Blog for updates locally through our on the spot blogger, Brother Bryce Giesler of TN Alpha once his power is restored. Funny thing he works for the power provider for most of the Houston area. I bet he is working in the field with the other thousands of employees. Reliant and Texas New Mexico employees go to the field when an incident like this happens... accounting, finance, etc are out in the field do things to provide support to the crews in the field. They also work at night for long shifts trying to get our power back on. They are indeed angels as was described by one Houston resident on the web broadcast.

In Phi,
Don Heard, Houston 93
Chapter Counselor, Texas Delta RLC

Actually Don, You really do not want me working in the field. The entire Gulf Coast could be blacked out if that were to happen!

Eek - Ike!

Hurricane Ike is taking aim at Houston as I type this. We may have to suspend updates from "Blog Central" for a few days while we wait for things to get back to normal. There are, however, other contributors who are not in any danger who should be able to step up and keep information flowing.

The UH chapter (TX Delta) is in the path, but chapters as far away as Beaumont(Lamar), Austin (TX A), San Antonio and Dallas (several chapters) could possibly be affected.

Here is a look at Ike's progress.

The embedded map is from "Stormpulse", a very cool site if you need to know about tropical activity.

As we did for "Gustave", this post will be "pinned" to stay at the top of the list for the next several days. Let's hope The results are no worse than before.

T.S. Hanna - priorities, priorities

Students at Duke took the threat of TS Hanna as an opportunity for 'social interaction.' They apparently don't have the same respect for Mother Nature as our brothers at Tulane, Loyola, and Lamar.

"But in Durham, T.S. Hanna did not seem to deter students from going out over the weekend. Students left the safety of their dorms en masse for parties thrown by fraternities Delta Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Phi Epsilon along with selective living group Maxwell House held on West Campus Friday night.

'I think the brunt of the storm arrived late enough that it did not affect attendance,' said Maxwell House President Owen Gehrett, a senior. '[It was fortunate because] people on the fence could come [to our party].'

But as the storm picked up, residence coordinators called the gatherings to a close to ensure that party-goers from Central and East Campuses returned to their dormitories safely.

By Saturday afternoon, the sky was clear and typical game-day festivities resumed on campus. Kickoff for the football game against Northwestern University went on as scheduled, as did Tailgate."

Hey, as long as you can make it to the tailgate party, how bad could it be?

Hanna's local effect less than anticipated - News:

New Orleans - Here we go again?

Note:
We have "pegged" this post so it stays at the top of the postings for the next several days. Please use the comments to add messages of support, updates from the path, cries for -or offers of- help for your self or your chapter, and anything else related to the storm.
Thanks

Another hurricane may be approaching the Louisiana coast in a few days. The Colleges in New Orleans are taking no chances this time around. Our HQ staff also is following all the developments. Lets hope this time it turns out to be 'just a drill.' However I am sure I speak with the voice of all SigEps when I say we'll be their to offer assistance if it is needed.

All-
I have been notified of the following:

What: Hurricane Evacuation in effect at Loyola University and Tulane University.
When: Classes are canceled beginning Friday, Aug 29 through Wednesday Sept 3.

Students are required to evacuate New Orleans by Friday evening. Classes are tentatively scheduled to resume Thursday, Sept 4 in the event that the storm does not hit the area.

Chapter Response Plan: Both LA Alpha and LA Gamma are implementing an Evacuation Response plan. I have been in contact with both Jeff Schiffman, Chap Counselor at LA Alpha and Bill Hydrick, Chap Counselor at LA Gamma. Both chapters have contact info for all brothers and will be sending out updates to the chapter and HQ during the evacuation.

Jeff Schiffman of LA Alpha is in contact with Dave Lourie, AVC Pres about storm preparations for the chapter house. I will forward any updates that I receive.

There are no plans to evacuate at LSU at this time. I spoke to John Allen, Chap Counselor at LA Beta, and he said that he will be monitoring the storm's progress as well.

I conveyed to all chapters that we are willing to help in any way possible. I will continue to monitor the storm's status as well as stay in touch with the chapter volunteers through the weekend. Again, I will forward any updates.

Thanks,
Matt

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Matthew S Parrish
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Regional Director - Deep South
310 South Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 310-0035