The global pandemic crisis took a toll on many of us. The need to isolate ourselves from others in order to flatten the curve and protect people at high risk, required us to stay home. While some of us were able to adjust and re-invent their working and study habits, for many others, their lives had changed for the worse. For homeless people who are struggling to keep their personal hygiene and get food on a regular basis, it became even more challenging. The welfare services are interrupted and there are just not enough people out who would show random acts of kindness. 

On Sunday I joined my friends Michele Smith-Wiemer and Barry Richards on their 7th donation drive. As mentioned in my previous article, the preparations for the weekly drive are being operated from Michele’s boat docked at Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City and supported by the local boaters community. Michele is collecting food donations and cooks at her boat galley, and together with Barry they are driving around every Sunday to deliver the meals. In addition to meals, Michele and Barry are also supplying masks made by seniors – Michele’s mom, Susan Smith, and her Eugene, Oregon retirement community. 

Michele & Barry made 45 meals – this week the recipients had a choice between chili or mac & cheese with a yummy cupcake for dessert – made by Barry’s daughter. We drove around Jersey City looking for homeless people in known spots. It was important to us to find those who prefer to be on their own rather than to congregate where other homeless people do. Eventually we arrived in Journal Square, where typically many homeless people hang out. At Journal Square we were welcomed by Louis – a resourceful and kind young man who Michele & Barry met on previous drives. Louis organized a line, making sure the homeless are keeping a 6’ distance between each other and wearing masks. For those who didn’t have masks, or had disposable masks – we provided one of the hand made masks we brought with us. 

Michele was handing out the main course along with a piece of bread and a spoon, and I handed out the cupcakes. The people were polite, grateful, friendly and patient for the most part. We apologized to those who came back for seconds, explaining we wanted to make sure everybody is getting a meal, and their reaction was nothing but understanding and appreciating. I felt that the simple acts of acknowledgment and interest in them, like asking for their names and introducing ourselves, along with a bit of humor – that made the bridge over our metaphorical and physical social distancing. 

After supplying meals to all the homeless in Journal Square, we still had another dozen meals left. We then drove to Hoboken’s train terminal, where we found several other homeless people who were excited by the gesture. We even got a few thumbs up from non-homeless passerbys. 

Over the last few days I’ve been covering this story, I learnt from Michele & Barry that the biggest challenge they are facing is getting the mask supplies. While the Oregon’s seniors community is making them in a relatively good pace, it is hard to rely on USPS to get the shipments on time. They also found it hard to get elastic for the masks. To that extent, and in order to enable remote support of their effort, they started a Go Fund Me Campaign to help raise funds to pay for mask making supplies and expedited shipping services. They are also trying to get more local mask makers, who they are hoping to be able to pick up ready made masks from. 

Interested in getting involved and contributing to this effort? Here are ways you can do so:

1. Donate elastic and fabrics for mask making
2. Any connection to postal or shipping services that can provide a quick delivery to Jersey City – as shipments from Oregon seem to take way too long….
3. Donate money through Go Fund Me
4. Of course, any food donations from individuals or restaurants are welcome! 

If you are interested in helping out or have any contacts who might be helpful – please contact Michele at: [email protected]

The post Doing Good Sunday – Sailors And Seniors Helping Jersey City Homeless During Corona Times appeared first on New York Harbor Channel.

One day, while driving around Jersey City running errands at the early days of the Covid-19 crisis, Michele Smith-Wiemer and Barry Richards saw many homeless people out on the streets. They decided to take action and help them, especially during the time where there are very few people outside and welfare services are either shutdown or overwhelmed. For the first drive, Michele – who owns a Carver 36 trawler in Liberty Landing Marina – cooked chilli and tortillas at her boat galley. They shared their story and plan with their local community of boaters in the Morris Canal via Facebook and invited other boaters to join them and contribute. 

Over the past 6 weeks the donation drive became bigger and bigger and they were able to feed almost 50 of Jersey City’s homeless each Sunday. In addition to food donations they received from their fellow boaters, they started a Go Fund Me campaign that is raising funds to get masks for the homeless as part of an effort to educate them as well as protect them from the pandemic. The masks are being made by seniors, of which are Michele’s Mom Susan Smith and her Oregon retirement community working on sewing masks. Funds raised are helping getting materials – specifically elastic for the masks as well as to cover shipping costs. 

The donation drive is happening for the 7th time this coming Sunday, and I will be joining Michele & Barry to collect and distribute food and masks. The goal for this week is to supply 60 meals for the homeless, as well as get more masks supplied.

Interested in getting involved and contributing to this effort? Here are ways you can do so:

1. Donate elastic and fabrics for mask making
2. Donate food – since many homeless have bad teeth – it’s best to donate soft and creamy foods such as: pasta, chilli, curry (not too spicy), rice, chips, bread, cupcakes, canned goods, chocolate and other soft candy
3. Contact local restaurants or catering services that are willing to donate meals (we are willing to facilitate coverage of the cost of produce and man power)
4. Any connection to postal or shipping services that can provide a quick delivery to Jersey City – as shipments from Oregon seem to take way too long….
5. Donate money through Go Fund Me

If you are interested in helping out or have any contacts who might be helpful – please contact Michele at: [email protected]

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USNS Comfort sails under the Navy’s Military Sealift Command.  The joint assembly of civilian and Navy doctors, nurses and medical technicians began receiving a few non-infected patients within days of arrival.  But with infections rising in April, the greater demand for Covid-19 ICU admissions around the metropolitan New York area suddenly transitioned Comfort from a trauma-only medical facility to a full fledged Covid-19 treatment center.  The 180 degree turn was smoothly and efficiently handled.

As the media covered politicians and CDC officials crying.  “Test, test, test!”, Chaplain Bravo was quick to attest the Navy world is all about “Train, train, train!”  Comfort swung into action.  Ventilators were uncrated, Personal Protective Equipment was unwrapped and skids of full-face respirator gear were lowered on deck by the Nightdippers helicopter squadron.  All the while, Comfort hospital staff carried out a mission that required flexibility and precision.

Comfort has a cadre of nurses that are specifically trained in accepting and admitting new patients onto the ship, a stressful and difficult task wielding the heavy ventilation equipment that accompanies the patient when they are transferred from the ambulance. Then, it is a long procession down the long corridors into the ICU.

A MIRACLE OR JUST ANOTHER DAY OF NAVY PREPAREDNESS?

USNS Comfort received official U.S. notification that it will no longer be required as a backup hospital facility here in New York Harbor.  Comfort treated 182 Covid-19 patients in total.  Twenty nine patients were released over the past two weeks.  The remaining patients were transferred back to local hospitals in New York and New Jersey.  The last recovering patient was transferred yesterday.  There were no Covid-19 deaths aboard Comfort.

Today, the ships’ medical rooms are silent, the blood laboratories have no new samples to test, and the Chaplains & doctors have no rounds to attend to.  Chaplain Bravo did have the opportunity to answer a few questions while the rest of the ship continued readiness for its departure later this week.

A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY

Today’s interview with Chaplain Bravo revealed his personal feelings about his service.  We learned of his constant use of PPE and following all CDC guidelines.  He encouraged patients and crew members to use the Zoom mobile app for Easter and Passover celebrations.  In the absence of a brick and mortar church, temple or mosque, he has no qualms practicing individual religious faith through any medium available.  Ultimately, Chaplain Bravo was happiest accompanying his recovered patients off the ship and walking them onto the Pier toward solid ground.

As he spoke from the ship, New York Governor Cuomo and NYC Mayor DeBlasio both announced plans to slowly re-open facilities and businesses as Covid-19 hospitalizations and mortality rates decrease.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

As Comfort leaves New York Harbor, it will pass Governor’s Island.  On the port side, there will be a lone sailboat in an empty Brooklyn Marina.  The sailboat is called The Turning Point.  On a path similar to Comfort’s just three weeks earlier, it journeyed up the Easter Seaboard from Virginia.  But this time, the ship was occupied only by a husband and wife team.  It was Easter weekend.  Rachel Hartley, an ICU nurse who is working a 60 day stint at NYU Langone Hospital in Sunset Park Brooklyn will now take over where Comfort left off.  Along with a galley full of hospital workers, this crew will be living on the sailboat to fulfill their mission to aid New York’s Covid-19 patients.  As Comfort passes, the Chaplain will include Rachel and her crew in Comfort’s prayers.

A native of the Bronx, Johnny Bravo is a die-hard Yankee fan.  Uncertainty is hitting home in the heart of New York baseball.  He mulls over the reality that the season may not be up to speed until much later this summer.  It must be tough being a Yankees fan on this ship having a thousand other crew mates from the rest of the country who are baseball fans of other teams.

CHAPLAIN BRAVO’S BLESSING OF NEW YORK HARBOR

Johnny Bravo is a Comforter Aboard The Comfort.  Danielle Petito joined him in prayer for his blessing of New York Harbor.  He leaves behind a bitter sweet memory, but offers a positive message to all of us.

The hospital ship may leave as early as this Thursday, April 30th. A Sandy Hook Pilot will make the controls on the bridge as the McAllister tugboats help maneuver the ship out into open waters just beyond the Verrazzano Narrows.  The New York State flag will be lowered, folded and re-crated. Destination Norfolk Naval Station before it is dispatched to another region of the world where it is needed once again.

CAN YOU SUGGEST THE MISSION NAME FOR USNS COMFORT’S DEPLOYMENT TO NYC?

When Danielle interviewed Commander Amersbach and asked him if Comfort’s mission to NYC had a name?  Chaplain Bravo said he knows what name he would use but deferred divulgement.  “I believe it is either up to the Captain or up to the public to give it a name.” he said.  From what we can gather, it is our understanding the Captain is also open to suggestions.  If you would like, we invite all of our readers to offer a name of your own.  NYHC will pass it along and see how far it gets.

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The Nightdippers have an interesting history of missions since the squadron was first established in 1956 when the craft would lower its submersible sonar-equipment for Anti-Surface Warfare campaign in nighttime activities.  Hence, the creation of its name. Over the years, the majority of the Nightdipper missions have been Search and Rescue. Most memorable was its service in the 2005 Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans when more than 40 people airlifted to safety.  Delivering thousands of pounds of food, water and medical supplies has been a hallmark of local U.S. civilian authority support.

The Nightdippers has been deployed to dozens of aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean performing hundreds of sorties and hundreds of hours.  The squadron received the 2013 Battle Efficiency Award as a result of their effectiveness in Helicopter Sea Combat out of Norfolk Naval Station.

So the mission to deliver hospital supplies from Norfolk to USNS Comfort in New York Harbor was assigned to carry the Navy’s stock of specialty full-face mask respirators with an air-filtration system.

“The safety of patients and crew about Comfort is our highest priority,” said Capt. Joseph O’Brien, mission commander, Task Force New York City. “We use full personal protection equipment precautions in accordance with CDC recommendations.  We are receiving these items now due to the shift in patient acceptance and to ensure we maintain safety of all aboard Comfort.”

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The Comfort is fully equipped with over 1,100 personnel on board, as well as an ample amount of medical equipment and supplies. Commanding Officer Amersbach states “We are working with the New York State and local health departments, the department of health & human services and FEMA who’s setting up communications to help us make sure that we have the appropriate patient population to bring aboard the ship. There won’t be any walk ups, we are not going to be an emergency department for EMS to drop patients off to us, it will be like a hospital to hospital transfer.”  

The USNS Comfort will provide care for patients who do not show symptoms of Covid-19. If it is determined a patient on the ship has Covid-19 they will be transported to a local hospital. This is the first time the Comfort will ever deploy on a mission for an infectious disease outbreak and C.O. Amersbach assures us they are following DOD and CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of their crew and civilians.  When asked how long the Comfort will stay in NY, Amersbach said “we’re going to be there as long as we are needed.” Those sure are some reassuring words, in a much needed time!

Itinerary for the USNS Comfort

You can track the Comfort live on New York Harbors Live GPS Tracking Map.

The post Onboard Interview With Commanding Officer of the USNS Comfort Military Treatment Facility appeared first on New York Harbor Channel.

The USNS Comfort will be making its way to New York Harbor in order to help control the influx of crowded hospitals due to Covid-19. On Wednesday, President Trump ordered the Comfort, and its sister ship USNS Mercy to help states affected by overpopulated hospitals. Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, stated the Comfort would allow local NYC hospitals to transfer trauma patients to the ship, allowing the local hospitals to free up much needed quarantine ICU space.

The Comfort’s Background History

The last time the Comfort was here in NY was 3 days after the September 11th, 2001 terror attacks. The mission was called ‘Noble Eagle.’ It helped aid the injured. NYC will greatly benefit the Comforts arrival. It offers 1,000 beds, 12 fully equipped operating rooms, a helicopter landing pad and up to 1,200 medical staff. The USNS Comfort is just under 3 football fields long and 10 stories high, making it the worlds largest hospital ship.

USNS Comfort will bring civilian doctors and hospital technicians to New York.  Similarities to other USNS vessels where the U.S. Navy is responsible for the operation of the ship, and civilian experts perform on-board missions.

USNS Comfort is one of the Military Sealift Command ships of the U.S. Navy.  Aside from the hospital ships, other specialty vessels such as those operating under the Navoceano division assign civilian scientists to map and gather data of ocean floor topography.  During Fleet Week 2018, NYHC interviewed the USNS Maury and learned about Navoceano’s unique missions.  In 2010, USNS Comfort was deployed to Porto Prince, Haiti after its devastating earthquake.  But, before Comfort was able to enter the port, Navoceano scientists searched for underwater debris in the harbor channel, allowing safe entry.

With its massive size, red defining crosses and solid white exterior, the ship is soon set to station in NY.  It will definitely be an amazing site to see. “The Comfort is currently in for maintenance in Norfolk, so they are going to expedite the maintenance if they can and prepare it.” Jonathan Hoffman, assistant defense secretary for public affairs, told CNBC. Presently the ship is at the Naval Operation Base in Norfolk, VA.

Live GPS Tracking USNS Comfort

You can track the USNS Comfort on New York Harbors Live GPS Tracking Map. Simply type in the vessels name and it will tell give you a live view of where it is.  Look for the uncharacteristic large, long, white object.  In addition, the NYHC countdown clock will advise on when the ship will be passing under the Verrazzano Bridge.

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