NEW YORK – Hurricane Sandy survivors have until Tuesday evening, Dec. 4, to visit four Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Nassau and Suffolk counties.  

Cumulatively, the centers have provided one-on-one information and assistance to more than 4,370 storm survivors since they opened in early November.  Their locations and hours of operation are:

Nassau County

Nassau Community College
Student Union Building
1 Education Drive
Garden City, NY 11530
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Tuesday, Dec. 4

New Cassel Community Center Garden
141 Garden St.
Westbury, NY 11590
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Tuesday, Dec. 4

Suffolk County

H. Lee Dennison Building
100 Veterans Memorial Highway
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Tuesday, Dec. 4

Riverhead County Center
300 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Tuesday, Dec. 4

In addition to those centers, Hurricane Sandy survivors can visit any of about 30 other DRCs throughout New York.

The State of New York and Federal Emergency Management Agency closely monitor visitor traffic at all New York Disaster Recovery Centers. When traffic slows at a certain time, a center may change its hours or come under consideration for possible closure.  

Recovery centers are one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors to get face-to-face help as quickly as possible. More may become available as sites are identified and approved. Conditions at individual locations may vary and affect opening times.

To find the center nearest you, the following options are available: Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address. Also, check out the Disaster Recovery Center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Other help is available from roughly 1,000 FEMA community relations personnel who are blanketing damaged neighborhoods door to door, delivering information vital to recovery and encouraging residents to register for assistance when needed. These personnel can help refer survivors to the proper resources for any unmet disaster needs, but they do not assess or document damage. FEMA inspectors will contact survivors directly after they have registered.

Help also can be obtained by calling FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice, and assistance is offered in most languages. Individuals may register for help online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. 
If you have a speech disability or hearing impairment and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

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

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.

View the original here – 

Last Chance To Visit Four Disaster Recovery Centers

NEW YORK CITY – The Federal Emergency Management Agency wants storm survivors to know that Community Relations teams are back in the field and Disaster Recovery Centers have resumed operations after a one-day suspension of operations caused by inclement weather. 

It’s important to know that individuals do not have to go to a DRC to register with FEMA. Here are some alternatives:

They may apply for FEMA assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling the toll-free registration number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).  If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 1-800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.  They may also register online at: www.DisasterAssistance.gov or on their smartphones at m.fema.gov.

Hundreds of FEMA personnel are blanketing damaged neighborhoods, going door-to-door delivering information vital to recovery and encouraging those residents with damaged property to register with FEMA for assistance. They can help refer survivors to the proper resources for any unmet disaster needs, but they do not assess or document damage. FEMA inspectors will contact survivors directly after they have registered.

To find the DRC nearest you, the following options are available: Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address. Also, check out the disaster recovery center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by mobile phone at m.fema.gov.

Following are Disaster Recovery Centers where storm survivors can get help:

Nassau Community College
1 Education Drive 
Garden City, NY 11530
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mon-Sun

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

Recreation Center and Ice Arena
700 Magnolia Blvd.
Long Beach, NY 11561
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon-Sun

Sacred Heart Parish
127 Long Beach Road
Island Park, NY 11558
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mon-Sun

H. Lee Dennison Building
100 Veterans Memorial Highway
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Corner of Father Capodanno Blvd. and Hunter Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10305
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mon-Sun

Duane Reade
115-12 Beach Channel Dr.
Far Rockaway, NY 11694
Hours: 8 a.m.- 8 p.m., Mon-Sun

Town Hall
655 Main Street
Islip, NY 11757
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon-Sun

Our Lady of Solace Gymnasium
2866 W. 17th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11224
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Mon-Sun

Ikea
1 Beard St.
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Mon-Sun

Holy Family R.C. Church
9719 Flatlands Ave,
Brooklyn, NY 11236
Hours: 8 a.m.- 8 p.m., Fri-Mon
 
Community Church of the Nazarene
1414 Central Ave.,
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri-Mon

Town Hall
53095 RT 25
Southhold, NY 11971
Hours: 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues. and Thurs.
 
Mount Loretto CYO
6581 Hylan Blvd.,
Staten Island, NY 10309
Hours: 8 a.m.- 8 p.m., Mon-Sun

Mount Manresa Jesuit House
239 Fingerboard Rd.,
Staten Island, NY 10305
Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Mon-Sun

Riverhead County Center
300 Center Dr.
Riverhead, NY 11901
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Mon-Sun

Originally posted here: 

FEMA’S COMMUNITY RELATIONS TEAMS, DRCs RESUME OPERATIONS

BATON ROUGE, La. — Ninety-nine young adults from across the nation start serving Hurricane Isaac survivors in Louisiana today under their first post-graduate assignment with FEMA Corps, a new program aimed at enhancing the nation’s ability to assist disaster survivors while expanding career opportunities for young people.

FEMA Corps is an innovative partnership between two federal agencies that combines the disaster expertise of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with the service leadership of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and AmeriCorps.

The FEMA Corps members – ages 18 to 24 – will work alongside FEMA’s existing workforce in Louisiana in assisting citizens and communities impacted by Hurricane Isaac. Their assignments range from working directly with disaster survivors to supporting disaster recovery centers to sharing disaster response and mitigation information with the public.

“As new members of the whole community emergency management team, the work you do in the weeks to come will make a significant contribution to the recovery efforts of Hurricane Isaac survivors,” Mike Hall, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer, told the FEMA Corps members upon their arrival today at the State/FEMA Joint Field Office in Baton Rouge.  “Thank you for dedicating your skills and energies to the people who are still struggling to recover from the storm.”  

Established as a new unit within the existing AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), FEMA Corps engages young adults to provide ten months of full-time service on disaster response and recovery projects. FEMA Corps members in Louisiana received one month of AmeriCorps NCCC training at the AmeriCorps campus in Vicksburg, Miss., followed by FEMA position-specific training.

After completing 1,700 hours of service, each FEMA Corps member will receive a $5,550 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to pay for tuition or pay student loans.  Members will gain significant training and experience in disaster services that can serve as a pathway to employment in the emergency management profession.
To learn more about FEMA Corps or to apply (individuals aged 18-24), visit the AmeriCorps website at http://www.americorps.gov or FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow FEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gov/blog.

Originally from:  

FEMA Corps Members Begin Work In Louisiana

VICKSBURG, Miss.– A historic new collaboration between two federal agencies to strengthen the nation’s disaster response capabilities was launched today as the nation’s first 240 FEMA Corps members were sworn into service at an induction ceremony in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

FEMA Corps is an innovative partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to enhance disaster response and recovery capacity while expanding career opportunities for young people.

Established as a new unit within the existing AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), FEMA Corps engages young adults ages 18 to 24 to provide ten months of full-time service on disaster response and recovery projects.  Members will be deployed to assignments ranging from working directly with disaster survivors to supporting disaster recovery centers to sharing disaster response and mitigation information with the public.

At today’s induction ceremony, members of the inaugural FEMA Corps class took the AmeriCorps pledge to “get things done for America” and heard from agency leaders about the important work that lies ahead.  FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino and CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer were on hand to welcome the members and thank them for their commitment to service.

“When I visit communities devastated by disasters like Joplin, Mo., I always find members of AmeriCorps lending a helping hand to survivors,” said Serino. “Today’s inductees are taking part in an exciting new pursuit — combining the exceptional record of citizen service at AmeriCorps NCCC with FEMA’s specialized mission of supporting survivors with their recovery after a disaster. I commend and thank every member of the inaugural class of FEMA Corps for their dedication to helping communities in need.”

“I commend you for answering the call to serve and making a difference for people and communities in need,” said Spencer.  “As the nation’s very first FEMA Corps members, you are helping write a new chapter in the history of national service.  With your training, backed by your team, and inspired by your passion, you will bring much-needed hope and assistance to disasters survivors. As you help others, this year will help you – giving you skills, expanding your opportunities, and setting you on a lifelong path of service to others.”

Today’s induction ceremony marked the end of one month of AmeriCorps NCCC training and the start of FEMA position-specific training. After completing training this month, members will be deployed to their first assignments. FEMA Corps will supplement FEMA’s existing Reservist workforce in assisting citizens and communities who have been impacted by disasters.

After completing 1,700 hour of service, FEMA Corps members will receive a $5,550 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to pay for tuition or pay student loans.  Members will gain significant training and experience in disaster services that can serve as a pathway to employment in the emergency management profession.

FEMA Corps members will be based out of five AmeriCorps NCCC campuses across the country: Sacramento, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; Vinton, Iowa; Perry Point, Md.; and, Vicksburg, Miss.  The program will engage 1,600 members annually when fully operational next year.

To learn more about FEMA Corps or to apply (individuals aged 18-24), visit AmeriCorps website www.americorps.gov/about/programs/nccc.asp or FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov.

To view photos from the ceremony, visit the following links:

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.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, Social Innovation Fund, and other programs, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

 

Original post:  

Nation’s First FEMA Corps Members Sworn In to Begin Disaster Response Service

Workshop Participants Innovate to Increase Youth Preparedness 

Release Date: March 21, 2012
Release Number: R7-12-003

» 2012 Region VII News Releases

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Community leaders and educators filled the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Beacon Office Facility today to attend the first-ever Federal Emergency Management Agency-sponsored youth preparedness workshop in Kansas City.

The workshop provided participants with the tools and organizational how-to needed to build programs that teach young people about disaster preparedness so they can make the communities they live in more resilient.

Youth Preparedness experts from FEMA led discussions with attendees from the public and private sectors in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Leaders in businesses, not-for-profit organizations, state and local governments shared ideas and best practices about how to create curriculum for, implement and manage successful youth preparedness programs.

“When we think about how strong we want America to be in the future, we have to think about resiliency. As a nation, we’re as strong and able to recover from disaster emergency situations as each individual is, so preparing our youth is like taking an insurance policy out on the American way of life.” said FEMA Regional Administrator Beth Freeman. “When we educate young people about disaster preparedness they share it and spread the word to their peers, their families and on social media. They act as leaders and influencers and if we’re successful, they will transform American culture into a culture of preparedness.”

FEMA Region VII partnered with the American Red Cross and the U.S. Department of Education to host the event. Similar FEMA-sponsored workshops have been and will continue to be conducted nationwide.

If you would like additional information about youth programs, please visit FEMA’s Youth Preparedness (www.citizencorps.gov/ready/kids.shtm) page, which includes a Catalogue of Youth Preparedness Resources (www.citizencorps.gov/ready/resources.shtm). In addition, see the U.S. Department of Education Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) (rems.ed.gov/) Website.

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.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 21-Mar-2012 14:25:43

Source:  

Workshop Participants Innovate to Increase Youth Preparedness

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