More Upstate Flooding Shifts Relief Efforts

Volunteers in Southampton who have for families in Schoharie County in Upstate New York who suffered devastating losses due to Tropical Storm Irene are shifting relief efforts after aid areas had to be evacuated again.

“As of 12:45 today, the remnants from [Hurricane] Lee made it up there,” David Falkowski said Wednesday. “The towns are re-flooding and have been re-evacuated.”

Falkowski and fellow volunteers started collecting donations of food, water, clothing, furniture and appliances this week at his farm on Butter Lane in Bridgehampton to send to the towns of Middleburgh, Blenheim and Schoharie. But he said with the new evacuations, the main focus now is food, water, medical supplies and monetary donations to be sent to relief centers.

Falkowski said families have been sleeping in gymnasiums, jails — wherever there is dry housing. “I’m a farmer and a lot of them are farmers, and their livelihoods have been destroyed, at least for this year,” he said.

Furniture, clothing and appliances will continue to be accepted at a cargo unit at 720 Butter Lane, Falkowski said. “That’s going to be ongoing but we’re shifting our focus to the people that have been evacuated.”

For cash donations, checks may be written out to with the memo “Flood Relief,” and mailed to David Falkowski, 7 Fordham Road, Sag Harbor, NY 11963.

A fundraiser is planned Friday at in Sag Harbor. Williamsburg musician Gregory Morgan will perform beginning at 8 p.m., and donations of money, food, water and medical supplies will be accepted at the door. “He’s extremely humble and a very giving spirit,” Falkoski said of Morgan. His music can be heard on his website.