Thousands of AFT members immediately volunteered in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy to help the affected communities in any way they can. AFT represents about 365,000 workers in the area damaged by the storm, and many members who felt Sandy's impact still jumped in to help out others in need.
Many of the volunteers helped set up and staff the evacuation shelters in the region. The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) reports:

As Sandy raged through the city, residents of Coney Island, Red Hook and other coastal areas of Brooklyn sought shelter in the John Jay High School building in Park Slope.
Teachers from nearby P.S. 321 were registering arrivals. A teacher from P.S. 10, also in the neighborhood, arrived at John Jay High School on Saturday and still hadn't left by Thursday….A school psychologist from P.S. 217 in Ditmas Park was being used as a “floater,” moving from one room to another as needed.

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