FEMA Offers Rebuilding Advice at Area Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores

NEW YORK – People whose property was damaged or destroyed in Super Storm Sandy and are rebuilding can get advice from a FEMA specialist. Hazard Mitigation specialists who are knowledgeable in cleanup and building safer and smarter to avoid future losses will be dispensing guidance free of charge, compliments of FEMA.

FEMA will staff tables at Home Depot stores in Suffolk County at 10 Gateway Blvd, Patchogue; and in Richmond County at 545 Targee St, Staten Island; and at a Lowe’s in Nassau County at 253-01 Rockaway Blvd, Rosedale.

Beginning Thursday May 9 – Tuesday May 14:

• Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday and 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Advice and direction on the National Flood Insurance Program and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps, Flood Insurance Rate Maps, repair and rebuilding will be available to all, not just to customers who are registered with FEMA.

These specialists will be able to talk about elevating electrical services and appliances; installing sewer back-flow valves; removing and replacing drywall and insulation; channeling water away from foundations; repairing with water-resistant materials. They can also give guidance in the permitting process required by local authorities.

For every dollar spent on mitigation, FEMA officials say that nearly four times as much is saved when another disaster like Sandy hits.

More information on ways to protect your property from disasters to come is available at: www.fema.gov. Click on “Plan, Prepare and Mitigate.”