Rebuilding and Recovering After Ida

A Call for Help from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards:
HEART 9/11 Hurricane Ida Response Team Begins Repairing Homes
Sunday, March 6 and Monday, March 7, 2022

ELMHURST QUEENS - HEART 9/11 worked in East Elmhurst, Queens, to help residents affected by Hurricane Ida flooding this past September. Members from the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, New York City District Council of Carpenters, Local Union No. 3 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and Plumbers Local Union No. 1 volunteered their time and expertise to repair/install sheetrock, flooring, and other various home rebuilding needs. Elmhurst Queens was one of the hardest hit areas where 13 people died, more than 1,400 cars needed to be towed from floodwaters, and thousands of tons of debris were hauled away in the aftermath.

“Whether it was working the rescue recovery following September 11,
rebuilding New York City after Hurricane Sandy, or retrofitting hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York City Building Trades are proud to partner with HEART 9/11 to help our brothers and sisters in Elmhurst affected by Hurricane Ida’s destructive flooding rebuild for the future. When one New Yorker falls, it’s on us as a community to lift them back up. We thank all our hardworking tradesmen and tradeswomen for their resolve and commitment to service and community.”
Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council
of Greater New York

“The New York City District Council of Carpenters and its volunteer carpenters are no stranger to helping entire communities rebuild after disasters, having joined forces with HEART 9/11 to rebuild following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and locally after Hurricane Sandy. We’re more than ready to help families rebuild their lives in East Elmhurst Queens: where there is work to be done, the NYC Carpenters Union is there.”

Joseph Geiger, Executive Secretary-Treasurer
of the New York City District Council of Carpenters

“Local 3 IBEW, our members, and our signatory employers know the importance of supporting the communities in which we live and work. Through our partnership with
HEART 9/11 and all the supporting groups, we have volunteered our skills to help rebuild after numerous disasters, and we look forward to assisting again close to home here in Queens.”
Christopher Erikson, Business Manager

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Last September when President Joe Biden and NY Governor Kathy Hochul visited HEART 9/11 and Local 79 volunteers were helping those devastated by Hurricane Ida in Flushing, Queens.

HEART 9/11 volunteers also assisted families impacted by severe flooding from Hurricane Ida in Staten Island, NY.

HEART 9/11 Rapid Response team members initially deployed to Baton Rouge and worked with the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) to assist with emergency operations, debris clearing, damage mitigation/assessments, muck-outs, and clean-up.