FEMA Continues Innovations to Meet Access and Functional Needs Integration

NEW YORK – Five tools new to help people who are deaf, hard of hearing or blind are being used for Hurricane Sandy disaster response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

At New York disaster recovery centers, survivors who are blind or have low vision are using text-to-speech software and a variety of magnifiers to access FEMA information. Survivors who are deaf or hard of hearing are offered enhanced listening devices, iPad 3s with real-time-video remote sign language interpreting apps, and captioned phones to get disaster recovery information accessible to them.

These five assistive technology tools are part of a kit that costs FEMA less than $4,000. For price comparison, a single sign-language interpreter at one disaster recovery center can cost more than $400-a-day. (Federal law mandates that equal access to effective communication be available the entire time that a recovery center is open, usually eight hours daily.) On-site interpreters are available upon request, but for immediate access, interpreters are provided via on-line Wi-Fi and cellular connections, similar to the use of Skype. 

“The tools were selected after considering many options that would work in the aftermath of a disaster,” says Marcie Roth, director of FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and Coordination.

“We’ve been engaging the real experts, people who use these tools on a regular basis, as our planning partners,” she explains. “We are so far ahead of where we were, even a year ago, but that doesn’t mean that we’re there yet. We’re in a position where we’re using for the first time some of the most advanced technology in one of the worst disasters. This is a great teachable moment, but we have to make sure no one falls through the cracks in this learning curve.”

The five new tools at each disaster recovery center are:

  • iPad 3 – this device has many apps to provide enlarged text for people with low vision, picture symbols for people with low literacy or communication disabilities, immediate access to sign language interpreters for people who are deaf and many other tools for immediate communication access
  • Magnifying Readers – Enlarges text for people with low vision
  • Enhanced Listening Devices – improves the clarity of sound for people who are hard of hearing, especially helpful for older adults in noisy settings like a Disaster Recovery Center.
  • Live Video Interpreting – provides immediate access to sign language interpreters standing by at a remote location to provide access to people who are deaf.
  • Captioned Phones – provide real-time voice-to-text for people who can speak on the phone but cannot hear the caller on the other end.“We’re not working for people with disabilities,” adds Marcie Roth, “we’re working with people with disabilities.”
  • Accessibility Tools in a DRC: http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/7188
  • Assistive Technologies at Disaster Recovery Centers: http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/9367
  • Disability Integration (Use of Interpreters in the DRC): http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/7506

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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FEMA Continues Innovations to Meet Access and Functional Needs Integration

For Sandy, a Huge Response from the New York Community

NEW YORK – The Met Council distributed 170,000 pounds of food and prepared 85,000 meals.

A rock climbing gym in Brooklyn became a staging ground for first responders.

Taxicabs in New York are displaying disaster assistance information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

All over New York, the whole community is responding to those who lost homes, cars, possessions and a sense of security after Hurricane Sandy swept over the region.

“New York is made up of neighborhoods,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne, a New Yorker himself. “Every neighborhood is distinctly different, with different traditions, dialects and sense of community.”

That sense of community, in this case, is greatly expanded. It involves FEMA, other federal, state and local agencies, the private sector, voluntary groups and faith-based organizations.

“FEMA is not the team,” Byrne said. “FEMA is part of a much larger team, one that represents every aspect of the community. Individuals, groups and government agencies all came together to respond and begin recovery. This disaster was so immense that it required a massive effort by thousands of people. Those people are still at work, and will be for a long time.”

Some examples of the team effort:

  • Russian-speaking storm survivors in Brighton Beach and Coney Island came to FEMA
  • Disaster recovery centers to seek assistance and wound up volunteering to stay and translate for other Russian-speaking survivors.
  • A woman lost her job and her basement apartment after the storm. She found another job as a caregiver and was sleeping on her client’s couch. She came to a recovery center and was able to get transitional housing and legal assistance with the help of the American Red Cross, FEMA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  • The American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division is operating a hotline
  • (800-699-5636), coordinating with FEMA and the Legal Services Corporation to provide information and help to Sandy survivors.
  • Sandy survivors are being given priority for 2,500 vacant apartments by private landlords in New York City, under an agreement between property owners and government officials.
  • The Humane Society of the United States partnered with the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, Nassau County SPCA, the North Shore Animal League and the Pet Safe Coalition to care for nearly 300 pets daily in an emergency shelter on Long Island.
  • More than 500 survivors with access and functional needs are being assisted by FEMA specialists. Some Disaster Recovery Centers are using iPads to help survivors with speech disability or hearing loss. The iPads have a Skype app that can provide video relay to help the survivor with the assistance process.
  • The private sector displayed FEMA disaster assistance information on large screens at Times Square, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, movie theaters and taxicabs, increasing public awareness of disaster assistance information.

More than 500 voluntary organizations have participated in the effort, including NY Cares, NY Disaster Interfaith Services, National Latino Evangelical Coalition, American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and Mennonite Disaster Services, among others.

Federal partners have involved FEMA, Small Business Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Homeland Security, General Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy and Department of Justice, to name a few.

In many cases, it requires a coordinated effort by several organizations to deliver assistance to people in need.

After the storm, a Five Towns family lost their home to fire, caused by a candle when the power was out. They registered with FEMA and were staying in an aunt’s living room on the floor. The wife gave birth and, with three other children, the family needed a place to stay. The father found an apartment but had no money because he was out of work.

A FEMA Community Relations team directed the family to a distribution center, where they received blankets, cots, baby formula, food and water. The FEMA team contacted a faith-based organization and a community center, both of which provided rent money. The family found an apartment and was being processed for FEMA assistance.

To join the whole community effort, FEMA encourages volunteers and donors to work directly with our nonprofit partners to ensure that survivors’ needs are addressed in the most effective and efficient way. For online links to those organizations, visit:

www.fema.gov/hurricane-sandy-donate-and-volunteer

www.serve.gov

www.nycservice.org

www.newyorkcares.com

Storm survivors who need assistance can register with FEMA online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. They may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day seven days a week until further notice.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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For Sandy, a Huge Response from the New York Community

Debris Removal on Track

NEW YORK – The partnership between New York State, New York City, other municipalities, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has made significant progress in removing the massive amounts of debris left by Hurricane Sandy. To date, along with private contractors, they have removed in excess of four million cubic yards of debris from New York City’s five boroughs and Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester counties.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program has approved more than $17 million to reimburse Nassau County for 75 percent of the costs of overtime for 270 employees and the rental of heavy duty wood chippers to reduce the volume of the debris. Approved this week is a $2.2 million reimbursement to supplement the $15 million approved for the county in November. More Public Assistance funding is anticipated to offset county costs for debris removal and disposal.
 
Strong winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Sandy brought down trees, tree limbs and power lines throughout the New York area. Collecting and clearing out piles of debris has been one of the most difficult and time-consuming challenges of the recovery. But despite this, the debris piles are disappearing.

After collection, debris is trucked to staging areas where it is inspected, separated into categories and disposed of in the safest manner possible. To reduce the amount of material going into landfills, the Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the New York City’s Sanitation Department, is looking at alternate ways of using the vegetative debris (wood, tree branches, leaves and other organic matter) that will be of benefit to the communities.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program reimburses state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations 75 percent of eligible debris removal costs. The remaining 25 percent is provided by non-federal funds. The state forwards the federal funds to the eligible local governments or organizations that incurred costs.

For debris removal to be eligible, the damage must be direct result of Hurricane Sandy, and the work must be necessary to:

  • Eliminate an immediate threat to lives, public health and safety,
  • Eliminate immediate threats of significant damage to improved public and private property when the measures are cost effective, or
  • Ensure the economic recovery of the affected community to the benefit of the community-at-large.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Debris Removal on Track

NYU Langone Medical Center Approved for $35.5 Million FEMA Grant

NEW YORK – New York University’s Langone Medical Center in Manhattan has been approved for two FEMA grants totaling $35.5 million to defray costs associated with Hurricane Sandy. These FEMA grants are in addition to an award of $114 million for the facility that was approved earlier in December for emergency repairs, patient evacuations and other disaster-related expenditures. This brings the total FEMA has awarded to the institution to $149.5 million.

The grants are for $9.2 million and nearly $25.9 million. The first represents 75 percent of the expected costs associated with removal and disposal of wastewater from seven of the center’s buildings along with cleanup of the fuel oil that leaked throughout the flooded area. It will additionally cover the cost of removing damaged equipment from the Smilow Research Center.

The second award covers 75 percent of the estimated outlays for relocating and replacing critical equipment like MRI and CAT scanners, setup of a temporary emergency room, rental of premises for classrooms and a kitchen, mobile data centers and relocating medical-research laboratories to newly leased facilities in the East River Science Park.

The funds are being provided under FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which defrays disaster costs incurred by certain nonprofit organizations. The NYU Medical Center is a private, nonsectarian, nonprofit healthcare and research entity at First Avenue and 34th Street.

Under FEMA’s authorizing legislation, known as the Stafford Act, private nonprofits can be eligible for federal disaster-relief funds if they provide critical services of a governmental nature.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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NYU Langone Medical Center Approved for $35.5 Million FEMA Grant

Don’t Wait for Insurance Settlement to Apply for an SBA Loan

NEW YORK – Survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance companies before applying for Small Business Administration disaster loan assistance. FEMA and the SBA encourage survivors of Hurricane Sandy in eligible New York counties to return their completed applications, even if they have not settled with their insurance company.

If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA will consider making a loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay their SBA loan. 

“Your insurance policy may not cover all the replacement, repair and rebuilding costs – and the disaster loan is available to cover the difference.  You don’t have to wait for an insurance settlement, though.  If the insurance money covers damage that you’ve borrowed for, the overlap can be used to pay down the loan,” said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East. 

Disaster home and business loans are available to repair or replace disaster-damaged property, including contents.  Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes having difficulties meeting operating expenses because of the disaster. 

Interest rates are as low as 1.688 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years.  Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. 

“Our partnership with SBA is very important because they are a key step in recovery process,” said New York Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “Survivors should make it a priority to return their application to SBA because even if they do not qualify for a loan, they may be eligible for other assistance.”

SBA customer service representatives are available to issue or accept low-interest disaster loan applications and answer questions at all New York State/FEMA disaster recovery centers and 19 SBA business recovery centers. To find the nearest disaster recovery center, check out the disaster recovery center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or, with a tablet or smartphone, go to m.fema.gov. You may also text “DRC” and your Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA). For example, if you lived in Staten Island, you would text: “DRC 10301.” If you use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. To locate the nearest business recovery center, visit www.sba.gov or call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339.) 

Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ELA. More information is available by calling the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center toll-free number, 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339.) Assistance is also available by sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or by visiting www.sba.gov.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, http://twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Don’t Wait for Insurance Settlement to Apply for an SBA Loan

Change Announced for Staten Island Disaster Recovery Center

NEW YORK – Hurricane Sandy survivors in Staten Island have until 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, to visit the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at Borough Hall.

The center is at 10 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. It has been open since Nov. 10 and has provided face-to-face information and help to more than 650 hurricane survivors since then. The center will be open until 6 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.     

The state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency closely monitor visitor traffic at all New York Disaster Recovery Centers. When traffic slows, a center may change its hours to reflect the fact that most information needs of storm survivors in the area are being met.    

Other Disaster Recovery Centers in Staten Island are located at:

Miller Field
600 New Dorp Lane
Staten Island, NY 10306
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon-Sat
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun

Kia in Staten Island
1976 Hylan Blvd.
Staten Island, NY 10306
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon-Sat

Additional options for hurricane survivors include: 

Individuals can register for help online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. They may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Change Announced for Staten Island Disaster Recovery Center

Governor Cuomo Announces FEMA Extends Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program in NY for an Additional Four Weeks

New York – Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, at the request of the state of New York, has approved a four-week extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, which allows eligible survivors from Hurricane Sandy, who cannot return to their homes, to stay in participating hotels or motels.

The new extension will allow applicants to remain in participating hotels during the holiday season. FEMA will call applicants eligible for the extension to notify them of the extended four-week period and the checkout date of Jan. 12, 2013.   

“This much-needed extension will allow families who lost everything in Hurricane Sandy to have a place to stay throughout the holiday season,” Governor Cuomo said. “We will continue to work together with city and federal partners to help those displaced by this devastating storm find housing solutions.”

This is a short-term program that places families in hotels in areas with significant rental shortages. Families can stay in area hotels for a short time while they work toward a housing plan.

“Our top priority is to help get people into rental units and longer term housing as fast as we can,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “We recognize that the holidays can be an emotional time for disaster survivors and this extension will provide immediate shelter through the season.”

To be eligible for TSA, survivors must first apply for federal assistance through FEMA by:

Registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov; 

Registering via smartphone or tablet by using the FEMA app or going to m.fema.gov; or

Registering by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 800-462-7585). For 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

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Governor Cuomo Announces FEMA Extends Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program in NY for an Additional Four Weeks

Know Your Risk Now to Build Back Stronger, Safer, Smarter

TRENTON, N.J. — Property and business owners affected by Hurricane Sandy along the New Jersey coast have new guidance for rebuilding stronger, safer and smarter to avoid the consequences of future floods.

The State of New Jersey and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have released Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) maps for 10 coastal counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union. 

ABFE maps are digital renderings of flood hazards maps that provide an updated depiction of flood hazards for communities affected by coastal flooding including those along rivers that are subject to tidal surges. 

To access the new maps, visit region2coastal.com and click on the Hurricane Sandy tab.

The advisory maps, which are based upon scientific and engineering assessments of storms like Sandy, will provide communities with recommended building elevations for use in reconstruction until more detailed data becomes available.

With the updated information: 

  • Property owners can understand where flood risks exist and make informed decisions about elevations or about taking other mitigation steps to protect the investment in their property.
  • State and local governments can site and elevate public buildings and facilities and guide new construction.
  • Architects and builders can design better rebuilding and rehabilitation solutions for property owners.

Communities are being encouraged to adopt the ABFEs because they provide a significant opportunity to mitigate their future flood risk. Communities can increase their resiliency against future disasters, and flood insurance policy holders may save on future flood insurance premiums.

Property and business owners should work with local building officials to fully understand any requirements for using ABFEs in rebuilding. Decisions made now can mean a safer, stronger, smarter future.

For information on flood insurance visit www.floodsmart.gov, call 888-379-9531 or contact your insurance agent.

Anyone who suffered damages as a result of Hurricane Sandy is encouraged to register with FEMA. Individuals can apply for assistance and follow up on previous applications by visiting   www.DisasterAssistance.gov  or by smart phones or tablets at m.fema.gov. By phone or 711/VRS, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585.

# # #

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Know Your Risk Now to Build Back Stronger, Safer, Smarter

Individual Assistance Added for Somerset County

HUNT VALLEY, Md. – Federal Emergency Management Agency officials today announced that Individual Assistance has been authorized for Somerset County under President Obama’s disaster declaration for Hurricane Sandy.

Homeowners and renters may be eligible for grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses, as well as low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA disaster loans also are available to businesses of all sizes and to nonprofit organizations.

Residents and business owners in Somerset County can register for Individual Assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA’s toll-free registration number 800-621-FEMA (3362).  The TTY number is 800-462-7585.  Smartphone users can go to m.fema.gov.

Survivors who receive SBA disaster loan applications, after registering with FEMA, must complete and submit them to SBA to be considered for assistance that covers the repair or replacement of personal property, including vehicles.  Applicants who do not qualify for an SBA loan may be eligible to receive Other Needs Assistance grants for medical, dental and funeral expenses. 

For more information about this disaster, go to www.fema.gov/disaster/4091.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

 

 

 

 

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Individual Assistance Added for Somerset County

Approved Funds for New York State Hurricane Sandy Survivors Tops $780 Million

Approved Funds for New York State Hurricane Sandy Survivors Tops $780 Million

Main Content

Release date:

December 14, 2012

Release Number:

NR-094

NEW YORK — Since Hurricane Sandy struck New York, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s mission has been to help individuals and families recover from the disaster and will continue to support residents until the mission is completed. As of today, FEMA has approved more than $784 million in individual assistance for New York Sandy survivors.

FEMA is reaching out to all 13 designated counties, focusing on the hardest hit areas of New York state. Assistance to the hardest-hit areas includes:

  • Bronx   $2 million
  • Kings   $169.1 million
  • Nassau   $257.8 million
  • New York   $11.5 million
  • Queens   $200.4 million
  • Richmond   $80.6 million
  • Suffolk  $57.9 million

FEMA provides the following snapshot of the disaster-recovery effort as of December 14:

  • More than 253,000 New Yorkers have contacted FEMA for information or registered for assistance with FEMA and more than $784 million has been approved.  More than 128,000 people have applied through the online application site at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or on their smart phone at m.fema.gov.
  • 26 Disaster Recovery Centers are open in the affected areas. These include mobile sites as well as fixed sites, and to date more than 94,000 survivors have been assisted at DRCs in New York.
  • 114 inspectors in the field have completed 160,986 home inspections – completing 98 percent of inspections.
  • 2 Points of Distribution or PODs remain open providing meals, water and blankets, both in Nassau County. 
  • 13 New York counties are designated for both individual and public assistance. These are Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved nearly $163 million in disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses. The SBA has staff members at every FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center and 19 Business Recovery Centers in the New York area to provide one-on-one help to business owners seeking disaster assistance.

Individuals can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day seven days a week until further notice.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4085, http://twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog

Last Updated:

December 14, 2012 – 16:32

State or Region:

New York

Related Disaster:

New York Hurricane Sandy

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Approved Funds for New York State Hurricane Sandy Survivors Tops $780 Million

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