White House Author

Erin Daly sprang into action after Hurricane Sandy struck her hometown of Breezy Point, New York. Erin, a Florida state prosecutor, immediately began her relief efforts by collecting donations of generators, sump pumps, tools, food, and water and arrived at the disaster zone with a truckload full of supplies and gasoline. The next day, Erin and off-duty FDNY firefighter Kevin Adams pitched a tent in a field and offered to pump and gut houses for free. Operation Breezy Gut and Pump was born. Kevin recruited fellow FDNY member Phil Pillet, and soon volunteers began showing up by the hundreds. Over the next 36 days, Erin and her crew worked tirelessly day and night, coordinating the integration of federal, state and local resources and matching victims with volunteer groups and relief organizations. Thanks to Operation Gut and Pump’s tremendous efforts, over 600 homes in Breezy Point were pumped, gutted, and cleaned out free of charge.