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Altered Weekend Schedule for Knights of Columbus Disaster Recovery Center

NEW YORK – A Disaster Recovery Center at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Brooklyn will not be open for logistical reasons on Saturday, Dec. 15, but will reopen to help Hurricane Sandy survivors at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16.

The Knights of Columbus recovery center is located at 2882 Gerritsen Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11229. Its usual hours, which will resume on Dec. 16, are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Five other Disaster Recovery Centers in Brooklyn will maintain normal hours through the weekend. Their locations and hours of operation are:

Holy Family R.C. Church
9719 Flatlands Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11236
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Coffey Park
85 Richards St.
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Social Security Building
Gravesend
10 Bouck Court
Brooklyn, NY 11223
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Jewish Community Center
YM-YWHA
3300 Coney Island Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11235
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

MCU parking lot
1904 Surf Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11224
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Disaster Recovery Centers are one-stop shops where Hurricane Sandy survivors can obtain face-to-face help as they rebuild their homes and lives after the devastating storm. People may visit the centers to register with FEMA, apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration or seek assistance in a variety of other ways.

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.

Original source:

Altered Weekend Schedule for Knights of Columbus Disaster Recovery Center

New York Disaster Recovery Centers Change Operational Hours

NEW YORK – The State of New York and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are altering the weekend schedules of Disaster Recovery Centers throughout New York to reflect the fact that most information needs of Hurricane Sandy survivors are being met.

Effective immediately, six New York recovery centers will be open Monday through Saturday to provide one-on-one, face-to-face information and help to storm survivors. All other recovery centers in New York will have new Sunday hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Dec. 16.

The centers that will be open Monday through Saturday are located at:

Arverne by the Sea
68-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.
Arverne, NY 11692
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Fort Tilden Park
415 State Rd.
Breezy Point, NY 11697
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Storefront
1001 Beach 20th St.
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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

Coffey Park
85 Richards St.
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Social Security Building
Gravesend
10 Bouck Court
Brooklyn, NY 11223
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Another Disaster Recovery Center, at the Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave., White Plains, NY 10606, has always operated Monday through Saturday. Its hours on those days are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

County by county and borough by borough, Disaster Recovery Centers with new Sunday hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. are located at:

Nassau

Recreation and Ice Arena
700 Magnolia Blvd.
Long Beach, NY 11561
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Sacred Heart Parish
RR station parking lot
127 Long Beach Rd.
Island Park, NY 11558
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Mitchell Field Athletic Center
1 Charles Lindbergh Blvd.
Uniondale, NY 11553
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Cedar Creek Park
Merrick Rd. East
Seaford, NY 11783
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Marjorie Post Community Center
477 Unqua Rd.
Massapequa, NY 11758
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Young Israel (Gymnasium)
859 Peninsula Blvd.
Woodmere, NY 11598
Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fri.
Closed Sat.

Freeport Recreation Center
130 E. Merrick Rd.
Freeport, NY 11520
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Queens

Community Church of the Nazarene
1414 Central Ave.
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

American Legion
209 Cross Bay Blvd.
Broad Channel, NY 11693
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Richmond

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.

Borough Hall
10 Richmond Terrace
Staten Island, NY 10301
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Suffolk

Town Hall West
401 Main St.
Islip, NY 11751
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Mastic Recreation Community Center
15 Herkimer St.
Mastic, NY 11950
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Lindenhurst Library
1 Lee Ave.
Lindenhurst, NY 11757
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Kings

Holy Family R.C. Church
9719 Flatlands Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11236
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Knights of Columbus Hall
2882 Gerritsen Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11229
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

Jewish Community Center
YM-YWHA
3300 Coney Island Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11235
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

MCU parking lot
1904 Surf Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11224
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.

While visiting a Disaster Recovery Center is a convenient way to seek help from FEMA, it isn’t the only way.

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.

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.

New York Disaster Recovery Centers Change Operational Hours

Learn Rebuilding Techniques at Stores in East Haven, Fairfield and Orange

WINDSOR, Conn. – Outreach teams from FEMA will be at The Home Depot stores in East Haven, Fairfield and Orange this weekend to explain techniques that may reduce potential damage to homes, businesses and property from future storms and flooding.

Mitigation specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will offer “how-to” information for retrofitting buildings and elevating utilities. Specialists can also provide cleanup tips for removing mold and mildew from a storm-damaged home.

FEMA teams will be at the following locations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15, and Sunday, Dec. 16:

The Home Depot – 75 Frontage Road, East Haven, CT 06512
The Home Depot – 541 Kings Highway Cutoff, Fairfield, CT 06824
The Home Depot – 440 Boston Post Road, Orange, CT 06477

Information will include instructions on how to:

Relocate circuit breaker panels, outlets and switches above potential floodwaters;
Move washer and dryer hookups to a higher floor;
Elevate furnaces and water heaters; and
Prevent sewer backups with a backflow valve.

More information on ways to protect your home from future disasters is available at www.fema.gov/safer-stronger-protected-homes-communities.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362. For TTY, call 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.

Originally posted here:

Learn Rebuilding Techniques at Stores in East Haven, Fairfield and Orange

Financial Disaster Aid Available for U.S. Citizens, Non-Citizen Nationals and Qualified Aliens

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is committed to helping all eligible New York disaster survivors recover from Hurricane Sandy, including U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and Qualified Aliens.

“New York is a city of neighborhoods,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “We are reaching out to all neighborhoods in the disaster-designated counties, recognizing their diversity, their different traditions and dialects and their sense of community. We do not want eligible survivors to miss out on the opportunity for aid.”

FEMA Community Relations specialists are visiting neighborhoods, putting out the word in more than 20 languages that certain groups of Qualified Aliens may be eligible for monetary disaster assistance. They are encouraging Sandy survivors to register with FEMA.

Qualified Aliens who may be eligible for FEMA monetary disaster assistance include Green Card holders – individuals with U.S. government permission to live and work in the country permanently.

Others in the Qualified Alien category include those who have legal U.S. resident status because of:

Asylum;
Refugee status;
Parole (admission into the United States for humanitarian purposes) for at least one year;
Withholding of deportation;
Immigration from Cuba or Haiti; and
Severe forms of human trafficking, including persons with “T” and “U” visas.

Applicants should consult an immigration expert concerning whether or not their immigration status falls within the Qualified Alien category.

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program is available to disaster-stricken U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and Qualified Aliens in counties with a federal disaster declaration. Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs for owners, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for FEMA cash assistance or Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

However, in households with varying citizenship status, only one member needs to be eligible to qualify that home for FEMA aid.

An undocumented parent or guardian may apply for monetary aid on behalf of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or Qualified Alien. Although the adult will be expected to sign a Declaration and Release (FEMA Form 009-0-3) in the child’s name, no information will be gathered on the person signing for the child.

All individuals, regardless of citizenship status, affected by a major disaster may be eligible for other non-monetary, in-kind emergency disaster relief programs. These include search and rescue, medical care, shelter, food and water as well as Disaster Legal Services and Crisis Counseling.

People who don’t qualify for monetary assistance may still call the FEMA registration line for referrals to voluntary agencies.

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. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services 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.

More –

Financial Disaster Aid Available for U.S. Citizens, Non-Citizen Nationals and Qualified Aliens

Facts For Older Adults On Registering For Disaster Assistance

TRENTON, N.J. — If you had losses because of Hurricane Sandy you are encouraged to register for disaster assistance. You may be eligible for grants or assistance programs from federal, state, local or voluntary agencies. Here are several facts you should know:

FACT: A FEMA grant does not affect social security benefits or any government benefit, including Medicare, Medicaid or food stamps.

FACT: Disaster assistance has no bearing on decisions about a senior’s need for nursing home care. FEMA and its state and local partners work to keep survivors in their own homes.

FACT: Specially trained FEMA staff and volunteers are available to help anyone who has a physical limitation or other problems registering. You will not have to fill out a form. The telephone specialist will input your information for you when you call 800-621-FEMA or TTY 800-462-7585.

FACT: You can check the status of your application online or speak to a disaster representative in person at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). If you need assistance getting to a DRC call 800-621-FEMA or TTY 800-462-7585 and FEMA will arrange to have someone take you to the nearest DRC.

FACT: If English is not your first language, FEMA telephone specialists can speak to you in almost any language. For languages other than English or Spanish press option “3”. You will be able to choose from more than 250 languages available.

FACT: Registering with FEMA is a simple process. There is no paperwork involved. Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. By phone or 711/VRS, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585.

FACT: Depending on the information you provide, FEMA may ask you to fill out an application for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loan. You are automatically considered for other federal grant programs if the SBA application shows you cannot repay a loan. That’s why it is so important to fill out and return the SBA application.

FACT: FEMA funding is available to all eligible survivors who had disaster losses. Even if you have flood insurance you should register. FEMA may be able to help with losses your insurance does not cover.

FACT: Income is not a consideration when you apply for FEMA assistance.

FACT: Even if you received disaster assistance in the past, following Hurricane Irene, for example, you may be eligible for assistance if you suffered changes from Hurricane Sandy.

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.

More here:

Facts For Older Adults On Registering For Disaster Assistance

Tune in to a Weather Radio for the Holidays

WINDSOR, Conn. — With the holidays approaching, shoppers may want to consider a gift that can make a difference for the whole family — a weather radio.

Weather radios transmit alerts of severe weather and dangerous conditions. They broadcast National Weather Service forecasts, severe weather warnings and watches on impending natural hazards 24 hours a day over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radio network. Messages are also available in Spanish.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends that consumers purchase a weather radio developed by NOAA and the Consumer Electronics Association. Radios with the Public Alert logo meet certain technical standards.

Weather radios are available at electronics stores and online at prices ranging from $20 to $200. They can be portable or desktop models. NOAA recommends the following features:

A special alarm tone to alert you to severe weather even if the audio is off;

Specific Alert Message Encoding to allow you to choose alerts for your geographic area only;
The ability to select certain types of events and block others;
A hand crank, battery or solar-powered radio that will operate during electrical outages;
National Weather Service frequency tuning; and
External or wireless output for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or blind, allowing connection to an alarm or other attention-getting device, such as a personal computer or text printer.

More information is available online at www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr. The link has a list of frequencies used for NWS weather alerts.

Link –

Tune in to a Weather Radio for the Holidays

Guard Against Future Damage with Home Elevations; FEMA Can Help

WINDSOR, Conn. — Hurricane Sandy survivors along Connecticut’s coast are asking an important question: How can I protect my home from future flooding?

One of the most effective methods is for them to elevate their home.

“Elevation may be one of the best ways to protect your home, your family and your possessions,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis. “Home elevation isn’t simple or cheap, but it is extremely effective.”

The advantages of elevating homes include:

Reducing the flood risk to the house and its contents;
Eliminating the need to move vulnerable contents to areas above the water level during a flood;
Reducing the physical, financial and emotional strain that accompanies floods;
Providing additional parking and storage space at home; and
Decreasing flood insurance premiums by reducing the risk to a property.

Through the National Flood Insurance Program, local communities enact and enforce floodplain management regulations. Flood survivors should check on local code requirements before repairing or elevating their homes.

To get an idea of how home elevations are accomplished, view the following videos on FEMA’s website:

www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/1849

www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/2281

Related online FEMA publications include:

“Above the Flood: Elevating Your Flood Prone House” www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?fromSearch=fromsearch&id=1424

“Protecting Your Home and Property from Flood Damage” www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?fromSearch=fromsearch&id=4654

Homeowners also can get technical assistance by calling FEMA’s building science helpline at 866-927-2104 or submitting questions by email to FEMA-Buildingsciencehelp@dhs.gov.

Guard Against Future Damage with Home Elevations; FEMA Can Help

FEMA, State Join Forces to Kick Off Flood Insurance Education Initiative in Connecticut

WINDSOR, Conn. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in partnership with the state of Connecticut and the Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut, Inc., is kicking off a flood insurance education initiative this week.

The goal is to provide insurance agents with more in-depth knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program — its policies and processes — to better serve Connecticut property owners and renters affected by Hurricane Sandy.

FEMA is mailing an NFIP “Agent Tool Kit” to each member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut. The material is informative, practical and can be shared with policyholders.

The NFIP Flood Response Office is now open in Meriden. The office is staffed by a lead general adjuster and support staff with knowledge of policy provisions. They are capable of assisting insurance agents and their policyholders with any questions about NFIP claims.

The office is located at 1064 E. Main St., Meriden, CT 06450. Operating hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The office will remain open for as long as there is a need for the service in the wake of Sandy. The Flood Response Office can be reached at 203-634-1118.

The Connecticut Insurance Department has a number that policyholders can call if they are having issues with their insurance companies related to homeowners insurance claims or other insurance claims matters in the wake of Sandy. Call the Consumer Helpline at 860-297-3900 or 800-203-3447. Policyholders can also e-mail their questions or complaints to the Insurance Department at: cid.ca@ct.gov or visit the Department’s Web site at www.ct.gov/cid.

FEMA’s NFIP insurance specialists are meeting with all agents in the hardest-hit coastal communities to discuss procedures, claims and recovery efforts. These visits started the week of Dec. 2 and will continue throughout the recovery phase of operation.

FEMA is offering special NFIP informational webinars and agent training workshops to be held in Connecticut over the next two months.

Another goal of this initiative is to improve insurance agents’ working knowledge of how Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage, included in most NFIP flood insurance policies, can help policyholders pay the added cost of rebuilding to comply with local floodplain ordinances.

Continued –

FEMA, State Join Forces to Kick Off Flood Insurance Education Initiative in Connecticut

Bridgeport Disaster Recovery Center to Close Saturday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m.

WINDSOR, Conn. — The FEMA-state Disaster Recovery Center at the Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport, will close at 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 15.

When the center closes, FEMA will still be only a mouse-click or a phone call away. Disaster survivors may also go to any other Disaster Recovery Center. For an updated list of DRCs, go to http://go.usa.gov/g2Td on the Web or text the letters DRC and your ZIP code to the number 43362.

Homeowners, business owners and renters who had damage from Hurricane Sandy in one of the Connecticut counties designated for Individual Assistance have until Dec. 31 to register for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Survivors can register online anytime day or night at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or with a smartphone or other Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Survivors can also register or ask questions by phone anytime by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362. The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wait for the English message to finish to reach multilingual operators.

Registering for disaster assistance with other agencies or organizations does not register survivors for FEMA disaster assistance. Having FEMA flood insurance does not register policyholders for disaster assistance; flood insurance claims are handled separately.

If an applicant receives an application for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration as part of their registration package from FEMA, it is important this application be completed and returned. No survivor is required to take out an SBA loan, but completion of the SBA application may make the applicant eligible for further FEMA assistance.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Originally posted here:

Bridgeport Disaster Recovery Center to Close Saturday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m.

Public Assistance Mitigation Funds Can Help Break Cycle of Repetitive Loss

WINDSOR, Conn. — While the Federal Emergency Management Agency expects to help the state pay for repairing infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Sandy, FEMA can also help cover the costs of rebuilding critical infrastructure to a stronger, safer standard.

The work is known as mitigation, which is intended to break the cycle of damage and reduce repetitive losses.

“Studies show that every dollar spent on mitigation saves $4 down the road by preventing disaster-related damage and loss,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program helps local governments and certain private, nonprofit organizations pay for eligible disaster-related costs for debris removal, emergency protective measures and repair or restoration of public infrastructure. FEMA provides a minimum of 75 percent of the cost of repairs.

Generally, the PA program restores disaster-damaged infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions. However, where cost-effective and technically feasible, additional funding can be approved to restore the facility to a higher standard and make it more disaster-resistant.

Such projects can include:

Increasing the size of culverts under bridges and roadways to allow floodwaters to flow through without damage;
Armoring riverbanks with stone to forestall erosion; and
Constructing gated floodwalls to prevent the inundation of structures or neighborhoods.

Eligible applicants for Public Assistance funding and mitigation include state agencies, local and county governments, tribal nations and nonprofit agencies that provide essential services. As part of the federal assistance application process, FEMA and the state help applicants identify projects that qualify for mitigation funding.

FEMA and its state partners are encouraging applicants to take advantage of mitigation funding to help reduce repetitive losses from disasters.

Link to article:

Public Assistance Mitigation Funds Can Help Break Cycle of Repetitive Loss

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