In the US, the federal Department of Homeland Security announced that Monsignor John Brown, Walgreens drugstores, and the New York Mets have been awarded the 2013 Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience, marking their work in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in the eastern United States.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Rand Beers said: โThe Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience recognizes outstanding response to a catastrophic incident and leadership in fostering resilient and prepared communities. The devastation and destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy impacted millions of families, and today many are still recovering from the storm. But this storm also produced many heroes who rose to the challenge and assisted those in need. The three recipients of this yearโs award truly exemplify this spirit of resilience and strength, serving as models for communities across our nation.โ
On the evening of October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in southern New Jersey, with impacts felt across more than a dozen states. The storm battered the East Coast, particularly the densely-populated New York and New Jersey coasts, with heavy rain, strong winds, and record storm surges. In the aftermath, Monsignor John Brown of Belle Harbor, New York State, Walgreens drugstores and the New York Mets all worked to help their communities recover from the storm.
Under Monsignor Brownโs leadership, St. Francis de Sales Parish became the largest relief center on the Rockaway peninsula, providing hot food, medical care, mental health care, trauma counseling, clothing, cleaning supplies, pet food, veterinary care, and more. At the height of the effort it served between 4,000 – 10,000 people per day.
Walgreens drugstores implemented business continuity plans before the storm made landfall, enabling the company to continue providing for basic human needs. In the aftermath of the storm, Walgreens drugstores quickly dispatched mobile pharmacies and constructed temporary pharmacies, continuing to provide much needed services throughout the region. The company also shipped in 25,000 blankets, three semi-trailer loads of water, and other items that governmental organizations were lacking.
The New York Mets, working with the Cityโs Office of Emergency Management, opened their facilities to be used as a Logistics Staging Area for more than three and a half months to receive, stage, and distribute unassigned resources prior to or following the storm. The Mets also supported first respondersโ daily efforts by providing housing for up to 600 workers a night and distributing over 1,500 meals per day during the peak recovery period following the storm.
About the Rick Rescorla National Award
In 2011, DHS created the Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience in memory of Richard “Rick” Rescorla, who on September 11, 2001 led a massive evacuation of Morgan Stanley’s 2,700-person workforce located in the South Tower, saving the lives of all but six. After the 1993 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Rescorla – originally a Cornishman, and a Vietnam War veteran – regularly drilled his Morgan Stanley employees in disaster preparedness and response, especially evacuation, ensuring that employees knew how to evacuate and where to go on 9/11. Given that disasters put millions of Americans in danger every year and destroy billions of dollarsโ worth of property, Rescorlaโs example of preparedness is especially important. The Rescorla Award is the Department of Homeland Securityโs first national resilience award for superior leadership and innovation by a non-governmental individual or organization who exemplifies the qualities and achievements of Rick Rescorla, emphasizing leadership in effective preparation, response, and recovery in the face of disasters.
