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Red Cross Bill at One ‘Upscale’ NYC Hotel to Hit $181,000 Post-Sandy

Nov. 14, 2012 3:49pm
Wall Street Journal: FEMA, Red Cross Aid Workers Spent $181,000 in Manhattan Hotel

(Getty Images File Photo)

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross rented out more than 45 hotel rooms at New York City’s Soho Grand Hotel while providing relief after Superstorm Sandy.

Even with the discounted nightly rate of $310, they report, by the time the relief workers check out on Friday the bill for just the Red Cross will be a shocking $181,000.

Surprisingly for some, the Red Cross actually rented out 45 of the rooms at this particular hotel, and FEMA only rented out 3.

The Wall Street Journal adds in an article titled, “In a Pinch, Aid Workers Go Upscale”:

The hotel, noted by Time magazine in 2010 as a “favorite of the city’s entertainment and fashion elite,” is one of 40 hotels where some of the 6,000 relief workers sent to the area have been staying, [Red Cross spokeswoman Laura Howe] said. Most are staying at midlevel hotels such as the Hilton Garden Inn or the Hampton Inn.

The spokeswoman said other Red Cross staff are staying in shelters or with family and friends, and some 200 are on a Navy vessel off Staten Island.

[...]

“Every effort is made to house employees where government rates can be procured and when that isn’t possible, to move them as quickly as possible to places that meet those requirements,” FEMA said in statement.

The agency dispatched more than 7,700 personnel in response to Sandy, Mr. Watson said. Some 1,500 workers have been staying on government-owned ships, with others are scattered at hotels across the region.  [Emphasis added]

New York City is a notoriously crowded and expensive city, and the workers obviously have to stay somewhere (additionally, so many hotels were filled post-Sandy that beggars really couldn’t be choosers). But it is certainly an interesting side-note to where hundreds of thousands of dollars go when disaster strikes such a crowded area.

Moreover, FEMA’s statement — that they make “every effort” to house employees where federal rates can be procured — would presumably apply to upscale hotels like the Soho Grand, since they received a discounted rate of $310 per night.

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Comments (59)

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  • Advection
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 7:36pm

    If all other nearby rooms were occupied, which is likely, and if workers shared the rooms, then this is normal in an emergency.

    Report this comment

    Advection  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 5:49pm

    Unless the world ends on DECEMBER 21st 2012…….. We are SCREWED……..

    Report this comment

    Detroit paperboy  
    • staythecourse
      Posted on November 15, 2012 at 3:51am

      The prophecy isn’t that the word will end. It is that “an age” will end. That prophecy may be more accurate than anyone could have foreseen a few years ago. The “age of freedom” may be coming to an end if things “progress” as they are going.

      Report this comment

      staythecourse  
  • Larry E
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 5:15pm

    Which is why I don’t contribute to the Red Cross. Mercury One and The Salvation Army don’t waste their charitable contributions on expensive hotels. If they ever do they won’t get my money either.

    Report this comment

    Larry E  
    • starman70
      Posted on November 15, 2012 at 9:11am

      That’s the very reason I donated to Mercury One. I watched the Salvation Army people sleep in their trucks and cars after Hurricaine Hazel hit Charleston, SC. I know that the Salvation Army is a dedicated organization. Their feeding unit fed all of us who worked after the storm.

      Report this comment

      starman70  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on November 15, 2012 at 10:45am

      In WW2 THE REDCROSS sent a bill-to-be-paid to all soldiers “healed” or doctored-by them, after the war was over, esspecially if they had to be taken to the REDCROSS HOSPITAL SHIP!! During WW2, REDCROSS-DONATIONS were more than enough to payfor these “services” , yet they wanted to charge each one for a 100%-cost over and above the donations!! Back then, WETHEPOPLE said NO!! …and congress also said NO!! The REDCROSS quickly recanted!

      Report this comment

      G-WHIZ  
  • jungle J
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 5:11pm

    The red cross is a useless agency designed to make the useless look important.

    Report this comment

    jungle J  
  • GA-TEApartymom
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:43pm

    This is why I don’t contribute to Red Cross anymore. So little of the donation goes to help actual people. It pays exorbitant salaries and expenses, you know, kind of like the federal government. I’ll donate to Salvation Army or Samaritan’s Purse and that’s about it. Besides local or church.

    Report this comment

    GA-TEApartymom  
  • kangaroo
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:41pm

    One thing I did notice is only the red cross was advertised over all the net works,,, papers net, not one other charity was. Seems like every disaster is a revenue raiser for the red cross but they can’t even be on the ground the day afte

    Why didn’t the networks advertise or give a shout out to every church in the area that really do end up helping everyone??

    Report this comment

    kangaroo  
  • Cadisasterrelief
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:37pm

    I find myself posting comments to stories like this every time there is a disaster. I don’t work or volunteer for the Red Cross but have been active since 1994 for the 3rd largest disaster relief organization. When there is a disaster motels and hotels fill up very fast. Most people won’t pick a higher end place and they are usually the hotels with vacancies still available. Also, there are 3 to 5 people in each of these rooms on a regular and rotating basis. And yes, the Red Cross CEO makes around $600k a year controlling a $3billion+ budget, more than 650 chapters and 36 blood services regions, a million volunteers and 30,000 employees, relief to people affected by more than 67,000 disasters, train almost 12 million people in medical skills and exchange more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military personnel. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products. Now try to imagine how VERY little our U.S. government agencies do with $3.5 billion a year. The Red Cross provides aid 24 hours every day of the 365 in a year including during catastrophic events. Haiti is still in shambles to this day and the largest donations for Haiti aid did not go to the Red Cross. I was in Haiti in the month of February of 2010. And with true love in my heart I encourage you to get trained to respond with a disaster organization and see for yourself the incredible service(s) The Red Cross, Salvation Army, and The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief offer to victims.

    Report this comment

    Cadisasterrelief  
    • Eaglestarr
      Posted on November 14, 2012 at 7:56pm

      Thank you for your time to tell us the facts. The Red Cross has volunteers that devote their lives to helping those in need (without pay). People who want to criticize the good things people do for each other should be ashamed. Where are the critics when disasters happen? They are sitting on the side lines being lazy and skeptical. For all those who don’t like the Red Cross I challenge you to volunteer and do something for your community and then make your opinion.

      Report this comment

      Eaglestarr  
    • Wolf
      Posted on November 15, 2012 at 9:28am

      So why does a volunteer organization have an executive who needs to be paid $600K a year? How about they show their volunteerism by living with a reasonable salary commensurate with the ideals of the organization?
      Salaries like that indicate tremendous irresponsibility with other people’s money given out of good heart to help those in distress… and wasted on lavish salaries for ungrateful thieves.

      Report this comment

      Wolf  
    • Eaglestarr
      Posted on November 15, 2012 at 7:26pm

      Hey Wolf, This is America. If you got the intelligence to run a multi-billion dollar organization, than you deserve to make a high paying salary. If you are just a complainer wanting everything what the successful have, you need help. First: build your character. You can do this by volunteering. Second: Consider others before yourself. This is the secret to success. And Third: Get a job that you can grow into. Learn everything you can about that job. College can help you with this. You will find yourself on a highway of success. So work hard and quit being lazy. Hard workers seldom complain. Lazy people complain all the time. The Red Cross is a good organization. Take a class on how to save lives. This helps to be optimistic.

      Report this comment

      Eaglestarr  
  • 65Mustang
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:36pm

    I will continue to donate blood at my local Red Cross but they will never see a dime of my money…to hell with them.

    Report this comment

    65Mustang  
  • Nevermind
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:33pm

    I have stayed in hotels in MYC many many times and can tell you finding a decent room for less than $400 a night is pretty hard to do. There is a comfort inn in time square and the room is about the size of a closet and costs you over $300 a night. On average with discounts ( i go there alot and i get rewards form hotel i stay at) it still costs close to $500 a night and it isnt very upscale in relative terms, just an average room.

    Report this comment

    Nevermind  
  • kangaroo
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:30pm

    Maybe Disney should of donated one of their cruise ships for accomodation for the shysters. I don’t like the red cross, I mean a mil a year for one of the higher ups who can’t organize themselves out of a wet paper bag. And many of the poor buggers that went through the storm are waiting for some assistance.

    Report this comment

    kangaroo  
  • MDDAWG
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:28pm

    This is why I never contribute to the Red Cross, Unicef, or any other “relief” agencies. They are inefficient with the money contributed. And, by law, a charitable foundation only needs to contribute 5% per year of their revenue to maintain their “charitable” tax exempt status. (this is my understanding though I am not an expert.)

    If you want to contribute for relief of disaster vicitims, go to this web site where 100% of contributions go to relief of the victims. The overhead costs are paid by the tithing of the church memebers.

    http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/humanitarian-services/funds/humanitarian-general-fund.html

    Report this comment

    MDDAWG  
  • meisterman41
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:27pm

    FEMA Trailers not good enough for them?

    Report this comment

    meisterman41  
    • Eaglestarr
      Posted on November 15, 2012 at 8:12pm

      Who needs FEMA? Government is too big. Private organizations are much better.

      Report this comment

      Eaglestarr  
  • meisterman41
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:25pm

    That’s why they will never see a dime from me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report this comment

    meisterman41  
  • caleejr
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:24pm

    If only more people would give through Mercury One – Glenn’s picking up all the operational cost so that ALL the money given will go directly to Relief. Search for Coney Island story on the Blaze.

    Report this comment

    caleejr  
  • MeteoricLimbo
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:14pm

    Self serving agencies abound!

    Report this comment

    MeteoricLimbo  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:11pm

    I do not have a class warfare attitude toward anybody who is wealthy and has earned it. But, the Red Cross begs for money to be “given” to them while claiming to do charitable acts with said money. Yeah, they will make loans to those victims in need, and maybe with a sprinkling of grants to a very few. These victims have told horror stories about the packaged food presented by the Red Cross, and about how moldy and inedible it has been. Super thin blankets, etc, etc. But, they use the charity of others to live high on the hog. Makes me wonder which is the best job out there in this kind of market? Work for the Federal GAO, or the Red Cross?
    I have certainly not given funds to the Red Cross since about ’81 when they were financially working over one of my troops and his family. Have advised a good number of others to stay away from the Red Cross since.

    Report this comment

    RJJinGadsden  
  • Hoax And Chains
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:10pm

    Now, now people… let’s not be too hasty. There probably wasn’t a Motel 6 anywhere to be found. I’m sure they just looked and looked for the “common person’s” accommodations… What are the chances of finding a room for less than $310 a night? Give them credit; it WAS discounted. I mean, when have we ever heard of the Red Cross or government staff wasting money or living well at donor and tax payer expense?

    Report this comment

    Hoax And Chains  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:34pm

      That’s about right. Just heard Cavuto as he went to commercial report that some of the hotels in NYC are now kicking out survivors of Sandy so they can house the FEMA employees! Talk about being kicked when down and out!

      Report this comment

      RJJinGadsden  
    • Eaglestarr
      Posted on November 15, 2012 at 7:40pm

      What if we had no “PRIVATE” organizations that took care of people in need? No blood to give when needed. I can picture all the little “Obamanites” pitching in so they can increase your tax bill. You think 35% is high. Just do away with private charities and you will increase your taxes. C”MON MAN….think! You ever saved a life before? Leave the private charity groups alone, they do more than any government can. You complainers sound like a bunch of socialist, makes me sick.

      Report this comment

      Eaglestarr  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:09pm

    this why i don’t donate to red cross i use to until i found out that they spent money on stuff like tis while the money is suppose to help victims of tragedies,as for fema well i would never help them, my tax dollars are already being wasted enough, i help by either mercury 1 or i give to the families direct,if i am close enough i give labor,my own equipment,money,i live in Texas and we have had our share of tragedies and i have help out more in last few years than ever before, i will continue to help in the future,but not with any of these groups, anyone who uses the money for anything but the victims will never get another penny from me.the government does not reimburse people who use their own equipment but they sure use it to live up the good life instead of helping those in need,neighbors helping neighbors,communities helping communities,states helping states, but never let the government help with anything,there are also strings attached.the red cross and fema should be embarrassed and all of them should be arrested for theft,because they used donated money for their benefit, that is theft.

    Report this comment

    commonsenseguy  
  • repairsea
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:05pm

    My father was a veteran and said never give the Red Cross, They charged our veterans for pencil and paper to write home during several wars. They also charged them for basic supplies. Shameful.

    Report this comment

    repairsea  
  • Disabledvet
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:04pm

    That is why I always check who I give money too, just like the United Way their operating cost eat up half of everything donated. If the economy was worth a crap the people could have had their savings to survive on but not with this idoit in office.

    Report this comment

    Disabledvet  
    • Hoax And Chains
      Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:11pm

      Remember that many of the affected people voted for Obummer… says a lot… they’re probably blaming Bush for Sandy

      Report this comment

      Hoax And Chains  
  • GhostOfJefferson
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:02pm

    Remember kids, if we secede, we won’t be treated to FEMA swooping in and taking our hotel rooms at $300+ a night! How ever will we survive!?!

    Report this comment

    GhostOfJefferson  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:01pm

    Come on, it’s hard work for those FEMA guys, writing checks out of the taxpayer’s checkbook all day can wear you out.

    Report this comment

    Gonzo  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:14pm

      GONZO, Don’t forget the ones who have to go back and demand the return of that money after it was spent on their home repairs. Then come the threats of federal courts and the IRS as the collection agency.

      Report this comment

      RJJinGadsden  
  • toiletclogga
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:00pm

    They must serve Grey Poupon at this hotel!

    Report this comment

    toiletclogga  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:17pm

      TOILETCLOGGA, More like Dom Perignon by the crate. But, I’m sure there are little jars of Grey Poupon included in the fruit and cheese baskets.

      Report this comment

      RJJinGadsden  
  • Bluefish49
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:58pm

    This is why I will never give to the Red Cross again…made the mistake after the Haitian Earthquakes but will not make it again…..the Red Cross is one big scam….if you don’t believe do some research and see how much money their top managers make.

    Report this comment

    Bluefish49  
    • SocialistSlayer
      Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:05pm

      Most Charities are nothing but scams, they steal the money and the people that need it never receive any help! Yes, Why didn’t they pitch tents to stay in?

      Report this comment

      SocialistSlayer  
    • Eaglestarr
      Posted on November 15, 2012 at 8:26pm

      Hey guys you want free stuff? Get it from Obama. Or do you want a strong, responsible country like we had 200 years ago? We should try giving and sacrificing more often. You sound like a bunch of socialist in Europe. C’mon Man…Think! “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”…..who said that?

      Report this comment

      Eaglestarr  
  • HUGGINGMYBABIES
    Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:58pm

    What’s wring with camping out with evacuees in school gyms and YMCAs? I bet those beat a federal hotel discount rate any day!

    Report this comment

    HUGGINGMYBABIES  
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