Aiding NJ Flood Victims

Two days after Hurricane Irene made its way up the East Coast, newsmedia pundits are debating whether or not the media’s extensive coverage of the storm was “overhyped.” Critics citing the nonstop weekend coverage on the 24-hour news channels say that the media went overboard; one called it a “media hyped non-catastrophe.”

Meanwhile, here in New Jersey it is Wednesday and there are still entire towns underwater. Businesses are drowning, homes have been flooded, roads have collapsed, trees have rendered travel a hazard. This “media hyped non-catastrophe” certainly seems pretty catastrophic to the thousands of displaced New Jersey residents that are still suffering, still trying to piece their lives and businesses back together after this non-event whipped through their lives and pounded them with 12 hours of wind and water.

And that’s not to mention what’s going on in Vermont, Upstate New York, and parts of every state that Irene blew through on her way north.

TV Newscrews set up their cameras in Manhattan, waiting for the 100-year storm that was going to destroy buildings and flood entire neighborhoods. When they didn’t get it, many of them packed their shit and went home, shaking their heads over the non-event.

Meanwhile, in suburban and rural towns, and even in some of New Jersey’s more urban areas, trees fell and waters rose, slowly picking up strength and swallowing downtowns in every corner of the state. Even today, nearly 200,000 people are without power and 10,000 evacuees have been unable to return to their homes. Many others are faced with the herculean task of rebuilding.

These aren’t big, corporate losses. These are human ones; folks like you and me. These are small houses and small businesses in small towns that just aren’t equipped to handle this kind of destruction. This is going to take a long time, and it’s going to be expensive.

We need to help.

If you’ve ever considered buying one of our records, now is the time. Beginning at midnight tonight and extending right through September 30, for every full-album download or CD purchase you make directly from our website (www.dromedary-records.com), we will donate $5 to the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey. The money we donate will be used to provide relief to those who are dealing with the effects of this natural disaster.

I have no idea how many records we’ll sell. I hope it’s a lot. But even if it’s not, every little bit makes a difference. Here’s what the Red Cross says:

• Every $25 (5 CDs or downloads sold) buys five blankets.
• Every $100 (20 CDs or downloads sold) feeds and shelters a person for one day and one night in a local motel.
• Every $500 (100 CDs or downloads sold) feeds and shelters 75 people for one night in a mass care unit

Every little bit helps.

If you don’t want to buy a CD or a download, that’s fine. Go here and make a donation on your own: http://www.redcrossnnj.org/general_calltoaction.asp?CTA=5&SN=1900&IDCapitulo=KQO9J7H3L2

And if you don’t have money to buy a CD or download, that’s fine too – you can still help. Just share this post on your Facebook wall, or point people directly to the Red Cross website. We need to help our neighbors. That’s what we do. We’re human beings.

Thanks,
Al / Dromedary

Please note that this includes every release in our catalog EXCEPT “Shine” by Speed the Plough (we’re already donating a portion of the proceeds from “Shine” to Roots & Wings of NJ) or the compilation “Make The Load Lighter: Indie Rock For Haiti” (proceeds of which we accumulate and donate to Vwa Ayiti in Haiti). Also, please remember – this drive only applies to music you buy directly from dromedary-records.com – not from the other online music services or record stores.