NEW YORK – People whose property was damaged or destroyed in Hurricane Sandy and are ready to start rebuilding can get advice from experts. Specialists who are knowledgeable in all facets of cleanup and building safer and smarter to avoid future losses will be dispensing guidance free of charge, compliments of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA experts will staff tables at Home Depot stores in Nassau County at 86 Jericho Turnpike, Jericho; in Suffolk County at 202 Airport Plaza Blvd, Farmingdale; in Kings County at 5700 Avenue U, Brooklyn; in Queens County at 75-09 Woodhaven Blvd, Glendale; and in Bronx County at 1806 East Gun Hill Road, the Bronx.

Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 8, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9.

Advice and direction on flood cleanup, flood-insurance matters, and repair and rebuilding will be available to all, not just to customers who are registered with FEMA.

These “mitigation” experts 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; and repairing with water-resistant materials.

For every dollar spent on mitigation, FEMA officials say, 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. 

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.