Harvey Grossman MANALAPAN — More than a month after a devastating tornado ripped through Alabama, people in the hardest hit areas of that state are struggling to rebuild their lives .
When officials at the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) asked employees to volunteer to travel to Alabama to help the people face that daunting task, Harvey Grossman’s hand was one of the first to go up.
Grossman, a resident of Manalapan, said when a disaster strikes elsewhere in the world the United States quickly comes to the aid of people who are facing hardships. When a disaster strikes this nation, he said, the response from other countries is not as swift.
“I thought it was a great chance to help our own. America comes first,” Grossman said when asked why he volunteered to head down south.
When the DOBI volunteers made it to Alabama, they worked in mobile service centers set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and offered technical assistance to residents who were filing insurance claims for damages they suffered from the tornadoes that struck in April.
Staff members worked 12-hour shifts for seven consecutive days.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners coordinated the effort and paid the transportation and lodging expenses for the DOBI employees — and all other states’ insurance department employees who participated — while they stay in Alabama, according to information provided by DOBI.
In a press release, DOBI Commissioner Tom Considine said, “Our hearts go out to all of those who suffered loss of loved ones and property in Alabama. I am very proud that our employees will be assisting residents in their time of need and I hope their efforts provide some relief to the people of Alabama. I also want to thank all of the DOBI employees who volunteered for this effort. They exemplify public service at its best.”
Grossman, who is an insurance analyst with DOBI, was part of the second wave of employees who assisted the residents of Alabama. He left New Jersey on May 29. While the haunting images and videos of the destruction have been seen in the media, Grossman said nothing is the same as seeing the damage in person.
He described how the devastating winds from the tornadoes destroyed things in what appeared to be a random fashion.
One street had three homes in a line, with the middle home having sustained hardly any damage, while the two homes flanking it were destroyed by a tornado.
Another home had one half obliterated while the other half remained intact, Grossman said.
Helping the residents with their insurance questions was a rewarding experience for Grossman, who related that one woman was having issues with her insurance agent.
He said he immediately called the company’s home office to have the issue sorted out. He said the woman was extremely grateful for the assistance.
Another group of DOBI employees headed down south on June 12, but the trips will eventually cease. Grossman said the groups are there as guests of FEMA, which is beginning to close some of its offices in the affected areas.
Grossman said even though the residents who had lost so much were going through a situation that would be difficult for most people to imagine, they were friendly and polite to the volunteers who came to help them.
He said he was pleased to be able to offer a smile and assistance to people who are attempting to rebuild their lives.