Over this past weekend, some crazy rains tore a path through a portion of the Mid-Atlantic, leaving entire areas without power or other utilities and forcing some residents to turn to hotels for shelter. But some people in New Jersey have accused local hotel operators of trying to cash in on area residents’ misfortune. [More]
natural disasters
When Disaster Strikes, Send Cash, Not Sex Toys
By 2.2.12 — Updated: 5.22.13
When we hear that fellow humans in faraway places are suffering, we want to help. Some of us write a check, sign in to PayPal, or make a donation using our phones. But there’s nothing quite as satisfying as sending tangible goods to people in need. The problem is that well-meaning people can waste resources and time on the ground in the disaster area by sending inappropriate items that will ultimately end up in the dump. [More]
Irene Expected To Wash $1.5 Billion Away From Taxpayers
By 9.6.11
Efforts to clean up the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Irene will charge a tab of $1.5 billion to taxpayers. The White House budget director released the estimate, which adds to $5.2 billion needed to mop up other disasters. The problem is that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s funds are tight until Oct. 1, when the new budget kicks in. [More]
Why No One Is Safe From Hurricane Irene's Fallout
By 8.30.11
Despite the destruction and death caused by Hurricane Irene, the disaster generally wasn’t as awful as advertised. But even if the storm didn’t harm you directly, it still just may mess with you by spurring insurance companies to hike their rates. [More]
Cable Company Explains Momentary Post-Tornado Insensitivity
By 5.25.11
After tornadoes struck Alabama, Charter Communications customer service reps told customers whose homes had been obliterated that they’d have to somehow find their cable boxes or face fines. Realizing the policy was insensitive, Charter decided to waive fees for lost and damaged boxes. [More]
Walmart Says Employees Chose To Remain In Store During Flood
By 8.16.10
Last week, we reported the story of more than two dozen Walmart who became trapped inside an Ames, Iowa, store by rising flood waters. At the time, it was unclear as to just why the workers were in the store — authorities had warned managers of the impending flood the night before — but now Walmart says it was the employees’ choice to stay. [More]
Virgin Atlantic Thinks Customer Is Making Up Pakistan Flood Disaster
By 8.3.10
You can’t expect every person to be up to date on the latest news cycle, especially not on a global scale. But there’s a Virgin Atlantic Airlines CSR who not only somehow missed that Pakistan just suffered its worst flooding in 80 years, but who kept insisting the Elisa, a customer trying to make her way back home to NYC, prove that the flooding happened. Elisa says the CSR “insisted that there were no indications in her notes that a flood had happened in Pakistan,” and that Elisa would have to prove the news or pay $933 for a “service change fee” to get back home. [More]
Land Rover Sends Film Crews To Real Natural Disasters To Shoot Their Cars As "Hero Cars"
By 6.21.07
Reader Mars tips us off to this Brandweek article about Land Rover’s soon to be launched commercial campaign where Land Rover sends film crews to the sites of actual natural disasters while they are in progress to get footage of the Land Rovers “in action” as “hero cars.”
