US Gujaratis unite to take on Hurricane Sandy

As 5 crore US citizens on the country’s east coast brave the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy, the national government has launched massive efforts to minimise damage to life and property. Not one to be left behind in extending a helping hand during a disaster, the Gujarati community has also opened its doors to the affected people and is providing them food and shelter.

The Asian American Hotel Owners Association, which is dominated by the Gujarati community (particularly Patels), has asked its members to provide shelter to as many people as possible.

“We have issued an advisory to all our members asking them to provide shelter to people affected by the hurricane.

Temples have also been thrown open for people at risk of injury by the hurricane,” Alkesh Patel, chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, told DNA over the phone from Washington.

The massive hurricane has triggered storms in many cities and has crippled transportation, including air travel. Patel said he was to go to Philadelphia but had to cancel his trip because of adverse weather conditions. New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland are among the states worst-hit by the storm, said Alkesh Patel.

Shankarbhai Patel, a hotelier in Washington DC, said that the US government had taken many precautionary steps for rescue and relief. 

“People living in the coastal areas have been badly affected. Here in Washington DC, there is heavy rain and powerful wind but the Gujarati community is safe as most members of the community live away from the coast,” said Shankarbhai.

A resident of Philadelphia, Mital Mehta, told DNA that routine life had been hampered. All government offices, banks and shops were closed after an emergency was declared in five states including New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, she said.  “Hurricane Sandy is expected to reach Philadelphia between 8 pm and 9 pm. We are prepared with ready-to-eat food and water supply for at least three days,” said Mehta.

She further said that the local Gujarati Samaj and other Gujarati organizations are offering help though no emergency had arisen in Philadelphia so far.

Subhash Shah of Galloway, which is 12 miles from New Jersey City, said that it was already 2 hours but a storm was yet to hit their area.

“There are no lights as electricity supply has been affected. Many people have been shifted to state government shelters. We have found from our Gujarati friends that the whole of Atlantic City has been evacuated. All affected people have been shifted to safe locations. We have also called up our friends and asked them to shift to our houses. We have stored grocery, water and food in quantity to sustain 10-15 people till the hurricane blows over,” Shah said.