Disaster Recovery Centers in NY Suspend Service Jan. 21 for MLK Holiday

NEW YORK – Disaster Recovery Centers in New York will suspend service Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The centers will resume providing assistance to Hurricane Sandy survivors Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013.

To find the nearest center, 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, the Disaster Recovery Center locator is available online at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Individuals also can find a recovery center – and register for FEMA help – online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by going to m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app. They may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585.

People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York have until Jan. 28, 2013 to register for federal disaster assistance, which can include money for rent, 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.

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Disaster Recovery Centers in NY Suspend Service Jan. 21 for MLK Holiday

New Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Brooklyn on Tuesday

NEW YORK – The state of New York and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will open a new Disaster Recovery Center in Brooklyn at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, to provide one-on-one, face-to-face help for Hurricane Sandy survivors. 
 

The center will be located at the Gerristen Beach Volunteer Fire Training building, 43 Seba Ave.Brooklyn, NY 11229.
 

Operational hours for the Disaster Recovery Center are:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday until further notice.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday until further notice.
 

The center is opening as part of FEMA and the state’s ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of survivors who may visit the center to obtain useful FEMA information and apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

More than two months after Hurricane Sandy struck, 21 Disaster Recovery Centers, including the Seba Avenue center, are open throughout New York. In total, recovery centers have hosted more than 120,000 survivors.

To find the nearest recovery center, 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. Or go to the Disaster Recovery Center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Individuals also can find a recovery center – and register for FEMA help – online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by going to m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app. They may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585.

People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York have until Jan. 28, 2013 to register for federal disaster assistance, which can include money for rent, 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.

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New Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Brooklyn on Tuesday

Keep In Touch With Seniors After Hurricane Sandy

TRENTON, N.J. — As recovery efforts continue in New Jersey through the holiday season, it is important that residents keep in touch with their elderly relatives, friends and neighbors, or anyone they may know with a disability or access and functional need.

Seniors or individuals with special needs previously living on their own may be dependent on others for food, shelter or the basic necessities of daily living. Those used to assisted living may face disruptions in their normal routines or a change in their usual caregivers.

Here are some simple ways to help:

  • Arrange weekly or bi-weekly visits.
  • Schedule a regular day when you can call to check in.
  • Assist them in recovering their physical possessions.
  • Help them return to familiar surroundings with friends and acquaintances as soon as possible.
  • Make sure they have needed medical and financial assistance.
  • Help them re-establish social networks.
  • Monitor their nutritional and medicinal needs.
  • If you do not live close, ask a neighbor of theirs to look in on them; make sure they have your up-to-date contact information.

Individuals with access or functional needs may include those who are non-English speakers or have limited English proficiency, those with special dietary needs or medical conditions, those who are deaf or hard of hearing and those who are visually or mobility impaired.

Seniors and other survivors can register with FEMA at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by smartphone at m.fema.gov. Survivors may also call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. For 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362.

To contact the Area Agency on Aging in your county, visit www.state.nj.us/health/senior/sa_aaa.shtml or call the nationwide toll-free number at 877-222-3737. Anyone seeking mental health services can call the toll-free disaster mental health helpline at 877-294-HELP (4357) or TTY 877-294-4356.

Garden State residents can also call the New Jersey 2-1-1 hotline for more information on state, local and voluntary organizations in the area that may help with specific unmet needs.

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.

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.

From:

Keep In Touch With Seniors After Hurricane Sandy

FEMA Works To Help New Jersey Meet Sandy Housing Needs

TRENTON, N.J. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency and its partners are working to address the housing needs of people displaced by Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. The top priority is to help survivors return to their homes or to help them find a safe housing alternative if returning home is not an option.

More than 16,000 households have received FEMA grants to make essential repairs to their homes.

For those who cannot return home, the goal is to help them find a rental property close by. This is better for survivors and helps the whole community recover.

Rental Assistance

More than 41,000 families have received temporary rental assistance from FEMA to help pay for an apartment, house or other temporary home. This assistance is provided while displaced survivors are working to find a permanent housing solution.

Returning to a permanent home is a significant milestone on the road to recovery. FEMA rental assistance may last for up to 18 months from the date of declaration. So it’s important for survivors to have a permanent housing plan.

FEMA has a housing portal at www.fema.gov/housingportal to help families find rental units. In addition to apartments or homes normally available, the portal identifies units provided by federal partners.

To be eligible for possible rental assistance, survivors must first register with FEMA. There are many ways to register.

Survivors can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by using the FEMA app or going to m.fema.gov. People may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those 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.

The deadline to register with FEMA is Jan. 30, 2013.

Transitional Sheltering Assistance

At the request of the state, FEMA activated the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program to move eligible survivors from shelters into hotels or motels if they couldn’t return to their damaged homes. TSA lodging expenses are paid directly to the hotel by FEMA.

Nearly half of the more than 5,000 households that temporarily stayed in a hotel or motel in New Jersey have moved to more sustainable housing. The average hotel/motel stay is 15 days.

The program operates in two-week increments. During each two-week period, FEMA reviews the eligibility of each applicant and emphasizes finding a more sustainable temporary housing solution as quickly as possible.

The TSA program has been extended through Jan. 11, 2013, for those who continue to meet eligibility criteria. The new extension will allow eligible applicants to remain in participating hotels during the holiday season. FEMA will call applicants eligible for the extension to notify them of the extension period and the checkout date of Jan. 11, 2013.

TSA-eligible survivors can receive help finding a hotel by calling: 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. Those 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.

Help finding TSA participating hotels also is available online: www.femaevachotels.com.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is supporting the housing recovery.

The department increased the Fair Market Rent standard to 120 percent so families with Section 8 housing choice vouchers have more options. It also relaxed rules to allow senior housing providers to open up vacant units to Hurricane Sandy survivors under the age of 55 without jeopardizing a community’s qualification for certain legal exemptions under the Fair Housing Act.

HUD is also giving the state and communities the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars of Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships funds for housing and services for disaster survivors.

HUD has directed banks to hold off on foreclosures and forbearance of Federal Housing Administration mortgages for disaster-affected areas for 90 days following the date of the presidential disaster declaration.

Temporary Housing Units Provided by FEMA

A temporary housing unit – either a manufactured home that can be put in an existing commercial mobile home park, or a remodeled apartment unit at Fort Monmouth — is a last option when renting a property is not possible or reasonable. Decisions on direct federal housing units for survivors are made on a case-by-case basis.

Forty-five units at Fort Monmouth will soon be made available to eligible survivors. Manufactured homes will be installed as needed and as suitable pads are identified at commercial mobile home parks.

By law, federal temporary housing assistance can last only up to 18 months from the date of the disaster declaration.

Call If Your Housing Needs Change

It is critical that FEMA has your current contact information. If housing advisors cannot reach you,    then they will be unable to discuss housing options with you.

If you have a continuing housing need, or if you need to update your contact information, please call by phone or 711/VRS – 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers operate   24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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.

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.

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FEMA Works To Help New Jersey Meet Sandy Housing Needs

FEMA Helps Survivors Solve Housing Needs

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency and our federal partners are working closely with the state to address the housing needs of New Yorkers displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Our priority is to help survivors move out of hotel rooms and into apartments or their safe, repaired homes.

FEMA has identified rentals in the area damaged by Hurricane Sandy and is working to match survivors to that available housing. A goal is to place survivors in rentals within their neighborhoods, or as close as possible to those areas. This not only is better for survivors, it helps neighborhood businesses.

Our goal is to maximize the number of people who are able to move back into their own homes; and for them to get home as quickly as possible.

There are several programs in place to help ease this housing crunch in a place where there is always a housing crunch.

The STEP Program

FEMA has authorized an emergency program designed to make damaged homes safe so survivors can return during the recovery process. The program, Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP), pays for those temporary and necessary repairs that help restore power, heat and hot water to primary residences prior to permanent repairs. This program is implemented by NYC, Nassau and Suffolk counties.

First, if it’s safe to inspect the home, damages will be assessed. If it’s practical, electricity will be restored along with other basic repairs.

Some homes may be eligible for other temporary repairs. Temporary repairs could include securing broken windows, covering damaged exterior walls and roofs, and patching and securing damaged exterior doors.

An inspector will decide what elements of the STEP Program are available for each residence.
Certain defined components of STEP are included in New York City’s Rapid Repair Program.

  • Residents in NYC can call 3-1-1 or go a New York City Restoration Center.
  • Nassau County residents: 888-684-4267.
  • Suffolk County residents: 2-1-1.

Transitional Sheltering Assistance

To get people out of shelters, FEMA activated the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program to move eligible survivors into hotels or motels if they can’t return to their damaged homes. TSA lodging expenses are paid directly to the hotel by FEMA.

The program has been extended four weeks. The new extension will allow applicants to remain in participating hotels during the holiday season. FEMA will call applicants eligible for the extension to notify them of the extended four-week period and the checkout date of Jan. 12, 2013.   
 
TSA-eligible survivors can receive help finding a hotel by calling: 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. Those 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.

Help finding TSA participating hotels also is available online: www.femaevachotels.com.

Rental Assistance

Renters with a need for housing because of storm damage to their dwelling may be eligible for a FEMA temporary rental grant. This assistance may be provided while renters are working to accomplish a permanent housing plan.

Returning to a permanent home is a significant milestone on the road to recovery. FEMA rental assistance may last for up to 18 months from the date of declaration. So it’s important for survivors to have a permanent housing plan.

FEMA has a Housing Portal at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/hportal/home.htm to help families find rental units. In addition to apartments or homes normally available, the portal identifies units provided by our federal partners.

To be eligible for possible rental assistance, survivors must first register with FEMA. There are many ways to register.

Individuals can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by using the FEMA app or going to m.fema.gov. People may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those 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.

The deadline to register with FEMA is Jan. 28, 2013.

U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, led by Secretary Shaun Donovan, is also playing an active role in providing temporary housing to storm-displaced families. HUD has identified thousands of available units in HUD-assisted housing and is getting that information to displaced individuals, primarily at Disaster Recovery Centers.

The Department has also increased fair market rental allowances to make it easier for displaced Section 8 voucher recipients to find replacement housing, and is allowing owners of HUD-funded senior developments the flexibility to open up vacant units to storm evacuees.

Secretary Donovan was also instrumental in bringing together New York City and State government officials and real estate trade groups in the aftermath of the storm to find housing for New York displaced families. This has led to a government and private sector partnership that gives displaced families greater options in finding vacant apartments that are affordable and safe.

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:

FEMA Helps Survivors Solve Housing Needs

Change Announced for Westchester Disaster Recovery Center

NEW YORK – Hurricane Sandy survivors have until 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, to visit the Disaster Recovery Center in White Plains. 

The center is at Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave., White Plains, NY 10606. It has   provided face-to-face information and help to more than 890 hurricane survivors since Nov. 8. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 21.      

The state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency closely monitor visitor traffic at all New York Disaster Recovery Centers. When traffic slows, a center may change its hours to reflect the fact that most information needs of storm survivors in the area are being met.    

In addition to the Westchester center, the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have more than 20 other Disaster Recovery Centers throughout New York to assist those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

To find the nearest center, 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 call 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585).

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.

From:

Change Announced for Westchester Disaster Recovery Center

Survivors Must Contact FEMA to Keep Temporary Housing Assistance

New York – Hurricane Sandy survivors, who received temporary housing assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and continue to have a housing need, must fill out an important form for additional short-term rental assistance.

FEMA mails all applicants who receive rental assistance the “Declaration for Continuing Need for Rental Assistance” form. It reaffirms that applicants have an ongoing need for temporary housing while they search for a permanent place to live.

  • This form is mailed 15 days after applicants receive their initial rental assistance grant.
  • Applicants who need additional rental assistance must complete the form and mail it back to FEMA at the address printed on the form.
  • If you don’t have the form, contact FEMA’s toll-free helpline 800-621-FEMA (3362).

Returning to a permanent home is a significant milestone on the road to recovery. FEMA rental assistance may last for up to 18 months from the date of declaration. So it’s important for survivors to have a permanent housing plan.

Survivors with questions about temporary housing assistance should contact FEMA’s toll-free helpline 800-621-FEMA (3362). Applicants 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.

Individuals may register for help online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by smartphone or tablet at m.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.

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Survivors Must Contact FEMA to Keep Temporary Housing Assistance

Keep In Touch With FEMA; Update Your Contact Information

NEW YORK – Hurricane Sandy survivors who have already registered with FEMA are urged to keep in touch and keep their contact information current, especially if they have been displaced by the disaster. 

After survivors register for assistance, FEMA will reach out to them to set up housing inspections and mail determination letters, so updating your phone number and mailing address as needed is key to ensure that your recovery is not delayed. 

Once a FEMA-contracted housing inspector calls to set up an appointment, it is also important that applicants keep their appointment, or call to reschedule as needed so that the application process continues.

Applicants who need to update their contact information or have questions regarding their application can call the toll-free FEMA helpline.

  • Call 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. 
  • The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 24 hours daily, seven days a week, until further notice

Survivors can call the helpline to:

  • Update their file with a change of address or new phone number.
  • Ask questions about disaster assistance.
  • Track the progress of their FEMA application.
  • Get information about the inspection process.
  • Learn about the steps to appeal a FEMA decision.

Survivors can also have questions answered by visiting their nearest disaster recovery center. To find the nearest center:

  • Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address.

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.

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Keep In Touch With FEMA; Update Your Contact Information

$564 Million Provided to Sandy Survivors in New York

NEW YORK – New York survivors of Hurricane Sandy have received $564 million in federal individual assistance grants to help them recover from damages caused by the storm.

The assistance includes $531 million in housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs, and $33 million to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.

Disaster assistance grants must be used for disaster-related expenses. Shortly after receiving the funds, survivors receive a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency explaining how the money may be used. Survivors should keep receipts for all disaster-related expenses.

Housing Assistance funds may be used for:

  • Repairs to return the home to a safe and functional condition. These may include repairs to windows, doors, water and ventilation systems or other structural parts of a home.
     
  • Rebuilding a home that has been destroyed.
     
  • Reimbursement for hotel or motel lodging expenses directly related to the disaster while the survivor’s home is being repaired. Those who must remain in temporary housing for an extended period may request more assistance until their home can be reoccupied or other permanent housing arrangements can be made.

Other Needs Assistance funds may be used for:

  • Medical, dental and funeral expenses.
     
  • Repair or replacement of damaged personal property, specialized tools for employment, household items, furniture and appliances.
     
  • Reimbursement for moving expenses and transportation costs (vehicle repair).
     
  • Other approved disaster-related expenses.

Survivors with questions about use of FEMA grants may call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA representatives are available 24 hours, seven days a week until further notice.  Multi-lingual representatives are also available. Survivors may also visit  www.DisasterAssistance.gov for information, or by smartphone, visit  m.FEMA.gov.

The deadline for registration with FEMA is Dec. 31, 2012.

After registering, survivors may receive a loan application packet from the U. S. Small Business Administration. Even if they don’t want a loan or don’t expect to qualify for a loan, homeowners and renters should complete and return the SBA application. A completed SBA loan application is needed in order to qualify for state and FEMA grants that cover personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, moving and storage expenses and other help.

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$564 Million Provided to Sandy Survivors in New York

FEMA Extends Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program in New York

NEW YORK — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at the request of the state of New York, has approved a 30-day extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program.  The program allows FEMA applicants whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Sandy, to stay in hotels or motels.  This temporary emergency program is intended to help applicants whose homes are uninhabitable, until more suitable housing accommodations are available.

“We know that some survivors in hard-hit areas are facing critical challenges to getting back into their homes,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “We are working in close coordination with our state and local partners to do all we can to speed that process.  Until that day, the TSA extension will offer eligible survivors some relief.”

The program, which began November 3, was originally scheduled to expire on November 16 with a checkout on November 17.  The program now runs through December 14, in two successive intervals, with checkout dates of December 1, 2012, and December15, 2012.

New Yorkers can register for FEMA assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone on m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.  Survivors who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. 

FEMA has a toll-free number to help New Yorkers eligible for Transitional Sheltering Assistance find a hotel.  The phone number is 866-863-8673 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585; phone lines are open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week.  New Yorkers who need accessible transportation assistance from the shelter they are currently in to the hotel where they will be staying should identify that need to operators at 866-863-8673 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. New Yorkers can also go online at http://femaevachotels.com/ to find participating hotels.  

Meals, telephone calls and other incidental charges are not covered. Applicants are responsible for any lodging costs above the authorized allowance.  The program does not reimburse previously incurred hotel expenses.

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FEMA Extends Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program in New York

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