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Hurricane Sandy Recovery Resources
| Posted on: www.cb14brooklyn.com |
To read the Mayor’s Report on Hurricane Sandy Recovery Efforts on the 1-year anniversary of the storm, CLICK HERE. For the latest Hurricane Sandy Recovery Information for Brooklyn Community District 14 and beyond, including important information regarding federal, state & citywide services, programs and available resources,
September 30, 2013 is the deadline for the Build it Back Program. HRO is also in the middle of an aggressive registration outreach drive to ensure everyone has had the opportunity to register for the BiB program. Homeowners can do this online or by calling 311 or visiting one of the Build It Back Centers in Brooklyn listed below. There will be a Borough wide outreach event on Saturday, September 28th, from 11am-7pm and we are looking for volunteers. Any assistance you can provide between now and September 30th, would be greatly appreciated.
There are now two Build it Back Centers in Brooklyn listed below. The hours of operation are Monday-Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday 10am-2pm.
- Coney Island
- NYC Human Resources Administration Center. 3050 W. 21st Street between Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk.
- Mill Basin
- Community Board 18 Office. 1097 Bergen Avenue. Enter DEP Paedergat Facility at Bergen Avenue and Avenue K
If any of your constituents are not sure where their meeting is, we recommend they call 1(888) 273-1112 to confirm their meeting location and time. Please note that walk-in appointments are not taken, they must have a scheduled appointment in order to be seen by a Housing Recovery Specialist.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Donate to the The Mayor’s Fund for NYC Hurricane Relief. Please CLICK HERE.
FEMA: Deadline for FEMA Disaster Assistance has been extended to 3/29/2013. Anyone affected by Sandy (homeowners, renters, and businesses) should apply for federal disaster assistance as soon as possible. Register at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362 (FEMA). FEMA applications for Sandy relief must be in by December 31. Residents are encouraged to immediately photograph all damage and to save receipts for any supplies or equipment purchased. Residents should first file a claim with their insurance companies and then immediately file with FEMA. Once a claim is filed, a FEMA inspector will be in touch within a few days to schedule a visit. Once an assessment is made, compensation will be mailed or direct deposited several days later to those who are eligible. FEMA has released a New! BROOKLYN RESOURCE FLYER for Brooklyn residents affected by Hurricane Sandy with contact information for important local & national disaster relief agencies.
Storm Debris & Special Garbage Collection Has Ended: Effective January 2, 2013, normal collection schedules will resume in the affected areas. Regular household bulk items will be collected during the normal scheduled collection days. Homeowners who are undertaking large projects must arrange for their own dumpster by contacting a private rubbish removal service. Bulk and construction debris generated by hired contractors or fee-for-service personnel on home repair or renovation projects is considered commercial waste and it is the responsibility of the contractor to arrange for appropriate private disposal. For more information, CLICK HERE.
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) Services: Residents living in 10 full zip codes and two partial zip codes of NYC most impacted by Sandy may be eligible for temporary food assistance (DSNAP). For more information, to find out if you qualify or to apply, click here.
Humane Society Emergency Pet Support Programs: The Humane Society (HSUS) has deployed more than 30 staff and volunteers to help pets impacted by hurricane Sandy to perform damage assessments and rescues in New Jersey and New York for animals left behind or stranded because of the storm. HSUS is currently helping to run two shelters, caring for nearly 200 animals—helping relieve many weary pet owners as they begin to rebuild their lives and homes. To make a donation to support these efforts, click here. Contact the Hurricane Sandy Pet Rescue Hotline for New York City at 347-573-1561.
CAR RECOVERY HOTLINE: If your car was towed or moved after Sandy, please call 1-800-244-5094 to find out where your vehicle is located.
RESTORATION CENTERS – All Restoration Centers in New York City have closed as of 2/23/2013. CLICK HERE to see current locations.
HOUSING ASSISTANCE – FEMA has created a Local Housing Portal website for storm-affected individuals and families looking for apartments or homes to rent temporarily or permanently. Renters can search by price, size and location. Many New Yorkers have generously offered free rooms and even entire apartments to people who have nowhere to stay after Hurricane Sandy through the Air B&B website which has partnered with the City of New York. CLICK HERE to see the hundreds of donated spaces available for free!
SHELTERS: While the Emergency Hurricane Sandy public shelter system program has been suspended, there are still overnight and daytime shelter options available if you are in need of a warm place to stay. If you are an individual or a family seeking shelter, you should go to the Department of Homeless Services’ intake site located at 30th Street (and First Avenue) in Manhattan. Click Here for more information.
FOOD, WATER, BLANKET & HOT FOOD DISTRIBUTION: Food distributions citywide is being organized by City Harvest, the NYC Food Bank and Red Cross. For the nearest food distribution location, call 311 or CLICK HERE.
SUPPORT HOTLINES – Providing immediate counseling to anyone in need. Call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 or Text “TalkWithUS” to 66746 (TTY: 800-846-8517)
INSURANCE: For individuals who need assistance contacting or dealing with their insurance company you can call the New York State Department of Financial Services (formerly know as New York State Insurance Department) at (518) 474-4567 or (800) 686-1526. There is also a storm assistance number, (800) 339-1759. For answers to questions regarding insurance policies and claims, check out www.iii.org.
VOLUNTEER: Volunteer with NYC Service (email nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov with your name, email address and borough.) You can also contact New York Cares and the Red Cross. The New York City Public Advocate’s Office is also organizing volunteers across the five boroughs. The Parks Department is also seeking volunteers.
Give Blood: Giving blood is incredibly helpful right now. For more information visit: www.nybloodcenter.org
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Property Tax Relief Initiative: New property tax relief initiatives to assist New Yorkers whose homes were severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy were announced November 29. To provide immediate relief, the Finance Department, with the authorization of the City Council, will issue an interest-free extension on the next property tax bill for residential properties damaged beyond repair or in need of extensive structural repairs before they can be re-inhabited. The grace period will postpone payments due on Jan. 1, 2013 to Apr. 1, 2013. For more information, click here.
Water Bills Suspended: Mayor Bloomberg and the Department of Environmental Protection announced on November 30th that the City will temporarily suspend water bills for customers whose properties were severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Residential and commercial properties that the Department of Buildings has tagged red or yellow will not have to make a monthly water bill payment until June 1, 2013. Click here to read more.
Benefit Information – Information for those affected by Hurricane Sandy about programs including SNAP, HRA Cash Assistance, Medicaid, Medicare, Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus, Unemployment Assistance & Insurance, WIC, NYCHA, NYSHCR & more. CLICK HERE for more information.
NY State Housing Choice Vouchers: NY State’s Housing choice vouchers are available to assist very low income residents who have been permanently displaced. For more information, click here.
FEMA JOBS – Full-time, temporary positions are available working with FEMA in New York City. Positions range from Community Relations Specialists providing outreach to the disaster-stricken communities, to administrative assistants. Individuals interested in applying for a job with FEMA should visit Governor Cuomo’s Jobs Express website at http://www.labor.ny.gov/jobs/regional.shtm
JOBS Available – New York State has announced that is has secured over $27 million in Federal Funding to hire workers displaced by Sandy to help with the clean-up and recovery efforts in New York City. Call 1-888-4-NYSDOL (1-888-469-7365) or CLICK HERE for more information.
JOB OPENINGS: Con Edison has 900 IMMEDIATE job openings available for Safety Site Inspectors, whose duties to include placing yellow safety tape around areas with downed trees ensuring that the public stay away from trees or downed lines. Con Edison is also seeking Bi-Lingual Interpreters fluent in English plus any other language. CLICK HERE to see flyer and job details. Email resumes or letter of interest to: dsullivan@winstonstaffing.com
Grants for Nonprofits and Individuals – See an updated list of foundations that are giving emergency cash assistance grants to nonprofits and individuals in need in the metro NYC area directly related to Hurricane Sandy.
UNEMPLOYMENT (Due to Sandy) RESOURCES – FEMA is now offering Federal Disaster Unemployment Insurance for people who do not normally qualify for unemployment, including self-employed individuals, who have lost work and/or income due to Hurricane Sandy.
Rapid Repairs Program – This new and unprecedented program will send teams of contractors and City inspectors into neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Sandy and quickly and efficiently make necessary repairs to damaged homes. Homeowners can sign up for the NYC Rapid Repairs program by going to NYC.gov, calling 311, or visiting one of our Restoration Centers. To apply, you must have a FEMA ID number and a green placard from the Department of Buildings, indicating that the home is structurally sound. (*Homeowners still have the option of having repairs made through their insurance company or with a standard reimbursement from FEMA.)
Landmarks Conservancy Post-Sandy Support – The New York Landmarks Conservancy is offering technical help, emergency grants & loans for individual landmark buildings and properties within historic districts that suffered damages during Hurricane Sandy.
PERMIT FEES WAIVED – The Dept. of Buildings has approved the waiving of plumbing and electrical work permit fees for all buildings damaged by Hurricane Sandy and has waived all permit fees for red-tagged buildings which require complete reconstruction. Plumbing & electrical permits for damaged homes will be waived through January 30, 2013 & building owners will have until October 30, 2014 to take advantage of the additional fee waivers for red-tagged buildings. CLICK HERE for a list of helpful documents from The Department of Buildings related to repairs and power restoration.
LOANS AVAILABLE – Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, Inc. (NHSNYC) is offering assistance with loans for emergency home repairs for both single-family homes & residential, mixed-use buildings. Owners of storm-damaged homes & businesses can apply for various loans available to assist with recovery efforts. The US Small Business Association (SBA) offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to non-profits and small businesses to assist with working capital needs. The business need not have suffered any physical property damage to qualify. The City of New York is providing $10 million in emergency loans to help New York City businesses damaged by Hurricane Sandy. NYC Business Solutions and the New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC) will administer loans of up to $25,000 (interest-free for six months, 1% for following 24 months) to small businesses in need of emergency loans to recover from business interruption.
Financial Support for Non-Profits – Did your non-profit organization provide emergency services to storm victims? You may be eligible for supplemental financial assistance, pro-bono legal assistance, briefings regarding federal reimbursements and filing procedures and more. CLICK HERE to find out more information about available assistance for non-profit organizations.
Small Businesses: For information about services to assist small businesses in recovering from Hurricane Sandy visit: www.nycedc.com/backtobusiness
TRANSPORTATION
MTA: Train, subway and bus service is operating normally on nearly all lines; some routes may be rerouted to allow work to continue in order to restore full service system-wide. Access-a-Ride is providing regular service in all five NYC boroughs.
WEEKLY TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Check this link regularly for traffic alerts detailing road construction and other events that will affect the flow of traffic this week.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
FREE LEGAL SERVICES – Low-Income disaster victims are offered free legal advice, counseling and representation from the Young Lawyer’s Division of the American Bar Association. Legal assistance is available for help with insurance claims, landlord/tenant issues, consumer protection matters, replacement of legal documents and more.
REPORT STORM DAMAGE: We encourage all New Yorkers to report damage from the storm. This helps the City determine need and estimate the storm’s total effect. Be prepared to answer questions about the extent of the damage.
HEALTH EFFECTS: The Health Department urges residents to clean up properly to avoid health hazards, beware of carbon monoxide dangers, be safe with portable generators and keep food safe in the aftermath of Sandy. CLICK HERE to for important NYC health information.
SERVICES & UTILITIES
PARKING: Alternate Side Parking Rules and meter regulations can be checked by clicking here.
SCHOOLS: Schools are operating. Some schools continue to be relocated, and others are returning to their buildings after needed repairs. For information about your school, click here.
GARBAGE: There is regular garbage and recycling pick-up today citywide. The Department of Sanitation continues to clean up debris from Hurricane Sandy. Please note: Due to the presence of Asian Long Horned Beetles, homeowners, building managers and superintendents are reminded as they clean up from Hurricane Sandy to bundle yard waste. Do not to place wood, tree trunks, tree prunings, etc. in bags set out for collection. Bundled trees, branches, etc will be collected by the city for wood chipping.
NYPD: Click the link to read the latest statement from the Commanding Officer of Brooklyn’s 70th Precinct with local safety information, tips and more.
LIBRARIES: The majority of New York Public library branches have resumed their normal hours of service. View a list of closed libraries. Many Public Library branches are collecting donations of food, supplies & winter coats for Hurricane Sandy Victims. To see which libraries are accepting donations, CLICK HERE.
PARKS: The majority of NYC parks and playgrounds are open. Due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy and the recent snowstorm, some properties will continue to be closed as conditions in the parks are addressed. Avoid New York City’s beaches and boardwalks, which have suffered extensive storm damage and remain closed. View the list of all park and facility closures.
CON-ED: Con Edison has restored electricity to nearly all those without power and is working with the New York City Buildings Department to expedite the restoration of the remaining customers in Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens whose electrical equipment was damaged by flooding and cannot be safely re-energized without repairs and an inspection by an electrician. CLICK HERE for information about how to hire your own electrician to inspect your house & CLICK HERE to find out how to schedule an appointment for a city inspector visit your home. To report a downed power line or an outage, or to check on service restoration timetables, call 1-800-75-CONED. Please be careful around downed lines– they may be live and very dangerous.
NATIONAL GRID: To report outages or wires down, visit this report an outage page or call 1-800-867-5222. For general inquiries, call 1-718-643-4050 in the NYC area. National Grid has crews continuing to assist with recovery in devastated areas. For information about ongoing weather conditions & effects, visit National Grid’s Outage Central webpage.
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE: For the latest updates on USPS service, click here.
Resources to Stay Safe in NYC during Hurricane Sandy
Map of Hurricane Sandy’s 2012 path over NYC.
For information regarding weather or other events, New York City residents should always check NYC’s Website for the most current updates and information from city, state & federal agencies.
NYC STORM ZONE MAP: Much of CB14 is located in Zone C. Be advised that this means that there is a chance of flooding during a Category 3 or 4 Hurricane. To see what zone you live in, CLICK HERE and type your address into the search bar at the top of the page.
An additional Map of Flood Zones with an address locator is located here: CLICK FOR MAP
STORM SANDY MAP: For a map & information about the regional effects of Hurricane Sandy, CLICK HERE (map provided by Google.) Click on links provided to view post-Sandy imagery, agency damage assessments, youtube videos and more. Visit NYC’s Severe Weather website for information on current weather conditions and recovery efforts: CLICK HERE.
Topics: Community Environment, Latest News, Safety