FEMA offers rebuilding advice at area home improvement stores

NEW YORK – People whose property was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Sandy can get rebuilding advice from a Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation specialist. The specialists are knowledgeable about cleanup and building safer and smarter to avoid future losses.

FEMA specialists will be in Suffolk County at Home Depot stores at 1881 Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore and 5025 Jericho Turnpike in Commack. They will also be available at the Lowe’s store in Suffolk County at 2796 Route 112 in Medford.

Mitigation specialists will be in the home improvement stores from Thursday May 16 to Tuesday May 21. Survivors can get rebuilding information at the following times:

• Thursday through Saturday (May 16 – May 18) 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Sunday (May 19) 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Monday (May 20) 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday (May 21) 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Information on the National Flood Insurance Program and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps,

Flood Insurance Rate Maps, repair and rebuilding will be provided.

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 as well as repairing with water-resistant materials.

More information on ways to protect your property from disasters to come is available at: www.fema.gov. 

For information about New York State recovery programs, visit www.NYSandyHelp.ny.gov or call: 855-NYS-SANDY. The phone line is available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.

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