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FEMA Continues Outreach on Rebuilding Safer and Stronger

NEW YORK – New Yorkers beginning the rebuilding process will have more opportunities to receive technical information on improvements to protect their homes from future storms.

Beginning Tuesday, Dec. 18, mitigation specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be at four new area locations to offer guidance on how to build back safer and stronger in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Residents can get advice on safe cleanup measures, repair and building techniques, as well learn more about flood insurance. This information is available to the public and provided at no cost.

FEMA advisors will be available at Home Depot and Lowe’s stores at the following locations:

Bronx County – Home Depot
600 Exterior St, Bronx 10451

Kings County – Home Depot
579 Gateway Dr. Brooklyn 11239

Nassau County – Lowe’s
90 Price Pkwy, Farmingdale 11735

Suffolk County – Home Depot
1550 Old Country Rd, Riverhead 11901

Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 18, through Saturday, Dec. 22, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 23.
Every dollar spent on mitigation now saves four times that amount in repairs from the next disaster concluded a Penn State University-led research team in 2006.

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

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.

Originally posted here –

FEMA Continues Outreach on Rebuilding Safer and Stronger

FEMA Application Deadline Extended

NEW YORK – The deadline for Hurricane Sandy survivors in 13 designated New York counties to register for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster assistance has been extended to January 28, 2013.

The extension agreed upon by the state and FEMA is for survivors living in disaster-designated individual assistance counties: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester.

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.

Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 7-1-1 Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

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.

FEMA Application Deadline Extended

Take Precautions in Your Home After Hurricane Sandy

NEW YORK – As New Yorkers remain in their homes or begin to consider returning home following Hurricane Sandy, the State of New York and the Federal Emergency Management Agency urge them to be careful, remain safe and plan properly for their future well-being.

Some suggestions:

Look for external damage
Examine the foundation, roof and chimney for cracks or other damage. If obvious damage is found or serious safety doubts exist, contact a building inspector.

Keep generators outside
Those who remain without power should only use generators or other fuel-powered machines outdoors. Such machines emit deadly carbon monoxide fumes, which are odorless and can quickly overwhelm you indoors.

Clean safely and beware of mold
Flooding causes dampness where mold, mildew and various organisms thrive. Mold may induce respiratory problems, so it is important to use proper procedures when cleaning. Use a combination of household bleach and soap or detergent (but never mix bleach with ammonia) to wash down walls and other mold-contaminated areas. You can also open windows and doors and turn on fans to help dry out interiors. For more information about mold, go to: http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/7287/

Avoid Scam Artists
As you plan long-term repair and rebuilding projects, be aware that natural disasters can bring out criminals looking to prey on victims by offering fraudulent services. Among other precautions, get three estimates for repair work, check the credentials of contractors and consult your local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce to learn about any complaints against the contractors.

Ways to get help:

Register with FEMA for federal disaster assistance
Survivors who haven’t yet registered should call 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; call 800-621-3362 if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS).

“Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP)” Program is in effect
The STEP Program helps restore temporary electricity, heat and hot water by funding emergency residential repairs through local governments for those whose homes can be used to shelter in place while permanent repair work continues.

If you live in the five boroughs of New York City, call 311 for information about STEP.
If you live in Suffolk County, call 211.
If you live in Nassau County, call 888-684-4267.

Expedited partial flood-insurance payments may be available
To allow National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders to remain safely in damaged residences, FEMA in some circumstances is allowing claim payments to be made even before inspections and repair estimates are obtained for equipment that provides heat and hot water. The inspection and report still have to be completed later. For complete details on the accelerated NFIP payment program, policyholders must contact their insurance company or agent.

Low-interest disaster loans from SBA
U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans are a major source of federal rebuilding funds for homeowners, renters and businesses. Completing a disaster loan application is part of the FEMA grant process. Homeowners and renters may qualify for loans of up to $200,000 for repair or replacement of damaged real estate. Up to $40,000 may be available to repair or replace personal property. Applications can be completed online via SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ELA. More information is available by calling 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339). Assistance also is available by sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or by visiting www.sba.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.

Source article:

Take Precautions in Your Home After Hurricane Sandy

FEMA Offers Guidance at Home Depot on Being Prepared for Future Disasters

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 1320 Corporate Drive, No. 1300, Westbury; in Suffolk County at 346 Middle Country Road, Coram, and in Kings County at 585 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn.

Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 28, through Tuesday, Dec. 3, hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. They’ll be closed Monday.

Advice and direction in 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; 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, 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.”

Link:

FEMA Offers Guidance at Home Depot on Being Prepared for Future Disasters

More than $664 Million Approved for New York State Hurricane Sandy Survivors

Main Content

Release date:

November 25, 2012

Release Number:

NR-051

NEW YORK — Since Hurricane Sandy struck New York, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $664 million to help individuals and families recover from the disaster.

FEMA is reaching out to all 13 designated counties with attention focused on the hardest hit areas of New York State. Assistance to the hardest-hit areas includes:

Bronx $1.5 million
Kings $139.1 million
Nassau $224.6 million
New York $8.2 million
Queens $170.4 million
Richmond $70.4 million
Suffolk $47.4 million

FEMA provides the following snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of November 25:

More than 230,000 New Yorkers have contacted FEMA for information or registered for assistance with FEMA and more than $664 million has been approved. Almost 117,000 have applied through the online application site at www.disasterassistance.gov, or on their smart phone at m.fema.gov.

35 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open in the affected areas. These include mobile sites as well as fixed sites, and to date nearly 52,000 survivors have been assisted at DRCs in New York.

Nearly 917 inspectors in the field have completed more than 131,000 home inspections.

1,088 Community Relations (CR) specialists are strategically positioned throughout affected communities, going door-to-door explaining the types of disaster assistance available and how to register. More teams continue to arrive daily.

8 fixed feeding sites are being operated by the New York City Office of Emergency Management.

2 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs), 1 Rapid Deployment Force (RDF),1 Prescription Medication Task Force Team (PMTFT) and 1 National Veterinary Response Team (NVRT) from the Department of Health and Human Services remain deployed in New York.

13 New York counties are designated for both individual and public assistance, including: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has staff members at 18 Business Recovery Centers in the New York area to provide one-on-one help to business owners seeking disaster assistance and has approved more than $29 million in disaster loans to both individuals and businesses.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved New York’s request to provide USDA Foods to households impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Approximately 1.1 million pounds of household size USDA Food, valued at approximately $721,178, will be distributed between November 4 through November 30, 2012, to households through 1,000 designated emergency feeding outlets in the areas of Westchester and Rockland Counties, New York City, and Long Island.

How to get assistance:

Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362. Multilingual telephone operators are available to help non-English-speaking survivors register for disaster aid and to get their questions answered. After dialing FEMA’s registration/helpline callers should choose Option 3. FEMA can provide translation/interpretation services over the phone.

People who have a speech disability or hearing impairment can call TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services may call 800-621-3362.

The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Last Updated:

November 25, 2012 – 19:02

State or Region:

New York

Related Disaster:

New York Hurricane Sandy

Taken from –

More than $664 Million Approved for New York State Hurricane Sandy Survivors

Nearly $633 Million Approved for New York State Hurricane Sandy Survivors

Main Content

Release date:

November 23, 2012

Release Number:

NR-047

NEW YORK — Since Hurricane Sandy struck New York, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved nearly $633 million to help individuals and families recover from the disaster.

FEMA is reaching out to all 13 designated counties with attention focused on the hardest hit areas of New York State. Assistance to the hardest hit areas includes:

Bronx $1.4 million
Kings $129.3 million
Nassau $217.4 million
New York $7.1 million
Queens $165.2 million
Richmond $65.9 million
Suffolk $43.8 million

FEMA provides the following snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of Nov. 23:

More than 225,000 New Yorkers have contacted FEMA for information or registered for assistance with FEMA and nearly $633 million has been approved. Almost 116,000 have applied through the online application site at www.disasterassistance.gov, or on their smart phone at m.fema.gov.
36 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open in the affected areas. These include mobile sites as well as fixed sites, and to date more than 47,000 survivors have been assisted at DRCs in New York.
Nearly 1,300 inspectors in the field have completed almost 123,000 home inspections.
1,067 Community Relations (CR) specialists are strategically positioned throughout affected communities, going door to door explaining the types of disaster assistance available and how to register. More teams continue to arrive daily.
9 fixed feeding sites are being operated by the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
4 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs), 1 Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) and 1 National Veterinary Response Team (NVRT) from the Department of Health and Human Services remain deployed in New York.
13 New York counties are designated for both individual and public assistance, including: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has staff members at 18 Business Recovery Centers in the New York area to provide one-on-one help to business owners seeking disaster assistance and has approved more than $18.7 million in disaster loans to both individuals and businesses.

Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-3362. Multilingual telephone operators are available to help non-English-speaking survivors register for disaster aid and to get their questions answered. After dialing FEMA’s registration/helpline callers should choose Option 3. FEMA can provide translation/interpretation services over the phone.

People who have a speech disability or hearing impairment can call TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services may call 800-621-3362.

The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Last Updated:

November 24, 2012 – 14:37

State or Region:

New York

Related Disaster:

New York Hurricane Sandy

Originally from:

Nearly $633 Million Approved for New York State Hurricane Sandy Survivors

Federal Support to New York State for the Response to Hurricane Sandy

Main Content

Release date:

November 20, 2012

Release Number:

NR-042

NEW YORK — Since Hurricane Sandy struck New York, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $564 million to help individuals and families recover from the disaster.

FEMA is reaching out to all 13 designated counties with attention focused on the hardest hit areas of New York State. To date, more than $564 million has been approved. Assistance to the hardest hit areas includes:

Bronx $1,043,794
Kings $110,617,942
Nassau $201,620,599
New York $5,063,854
Queens $152,299,955
Richmond $57,956,106
Suffolk $33,641,959

FEMA provides the following snapshot of the disaster recovery effort as of Nov. 20:

Nearly 219,000 New Yorkers have contacted FEMA for information or registered for assistance with FEMA and more than $564 million has been approved. More than 112,000 have applied through the online application site at www.disasterassistance.gov, or on their smart phone at m.fema.gov.
34 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open in the affected areas. These include mobile sites as well as fixed sites, and to date more than 40,000 survivors have been assisted at DRCs in New York state.
Nearly 1,300 inspectors in the field have completed more than 102,000 home inspections.
1,062 Community Relations (CR) specialists are strategically positioned throughout affected communities, going door to door explaining the types of disaster assistance available and how to register. More teams continue to arrive daily.
6 Points of Distribution (PODs) are open and providing supplies to the affected residents and 10 fixed feeding sites are being operated by the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
4 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs), 1 Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) and 1 National Veterinary Response Team (NVRT) from the Department of Health and Human Services are deployed in New York.
13 New York counties are designated for both individual and public assistance, including: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has staff members at 18 Business Recovery Centers in the New York area to provide one-on-one help to business owners seeking disaster assistance and has approved more than $11 million in disaster loans.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is using sixteen 500-ton barges and one 2,200-ton barge to transport Hurricane Sandy debris from a temporary storage site at Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island to permanent disposal sites in upstate New York.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has had field staff out in impacted areas to make sure that workers and businesses are aware of the hazards involved with the clean-up and recovery operations. As of Nov. 19th, OSHA personnel have performed 507 safety and health briefings reaching 12,423 workers, including 2,966 that don’t speak English. Additionally, OSHA has conducted 764 direct interventions at worksites that are involved in storm recovery operations, removing 2,656 employees from recognized hazards.
Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those 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.

Last Updated:

November 21, 2012 – 15:13

State or Region:

New York

Related Disaster:

New York Hurricane Sandy

Link:

Federal Support to New York State for the Response to Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy Survivors Should Return SBA Disaster Loan Applications to Keep Options Open

NEW YORK — Federal Emergency Management Agency grants are not the only disaster assistance option for Hurricane Sandy survivors. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s low-interest disaster loan program is another important source of assistance for homeowners, renters and businesses.

While some people prefer to avoid borrowing money to cover disaster-related expenses, additional unforeseen costs can arise down the road, leaving them without enough money to cover all expenses.

Additional financial gaps that may occur include:

Insurance not covering all repair or rebuilding costs;
Discovering disaster-related damage costs are more than the initial estimate; and
Finding additional damages.

Survivors who receive low-interest disaster loan applications from SBA after registering with FEMA should complete and return the applications even if they do not plan to accept a loan. By completing this important step in the process, they may become eligible for other forms of assistance, including additional grants from FEMA for homeowners and renters.

Homeowners, renters, private nonprofit organizations and businesses of all sizes, including people who own rental property, in designated counties can apply for low-interest disaster loans to pay for disaster-related damages. Applicants may apply for loans with SBA before insurance is settled.

Homeowners can receive loans of up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residences. Homeowners and renters may also borrow up to $40,000 to replace damaged or destroyed personal property including vehicles. Businesses and private nonprofits can apply for loans of up

to $2 million. Interest rates for businesses are as low as four percent to cover physical damage and economic injury caused by the disaster. For private nonprofits, interest rates are as low as three percent.

Disaster loans with rates as low as 1.688 percent are available for homeowners and renters in Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties, which have been designated for FEMA individual assistance. Loan terms may be up to 30 years to make payments affordable.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoan.SBA.gov/ELA. More information is available by calling the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center toll-free number, 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339.) Assistance is also available by sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or by visiting www.sba.gov.

SBA customer service representatives are available to issue or accept low-interest disaster loan applications and answer questions at all New York State/FEMA disaster recovery centers and 12 SBA business recovery centers.

To find the nearest disaster recovery center, check out the disaster recovery center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or, with a tablet or smartphone, go to m.fema.gov. You may also text “DRC” and your zip code to 43362 (4FEMA). For example, if you lived in Staten Island, you would text: “DRC 10301.” Or call 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585).

To locate the nearest business recovery center, visit www.sba.gov or call 800-659-2955
(TTY 800-877-8339.)

Link to article –

Hurricane Sandy Survivors Should Return SBA Disaster Loan Applications to Keep Options Open

FEMA Public Assistance Extended in Nine New York Counties Hit By Hurricane Sandy

ALBANY, NY – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today has extended federal disaster aid in nine New York counties to include supplemental funding for infrastructure repairs in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Eligible applicants in the counties of Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester can now apply for FEMA Public Assistance (PA) reimbursement for repairs to roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, parks and recreational facilities and other facilities.

The nine counties already had been designated for FEMA Public Assistance funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures.

“The additional federal infrastructure funding is intended to help New York’s hard-hit communities recover from the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne.

Supplementary funding under the PA program goes to the state and its agencies, local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations.

Under the program, the federal share of a project’s expenses typically cannot be less than 75 percent of eligible costs. The state forwards the federal funds to the eligible local governments or organizations that incurred costs.

See original:

FEMA Public Assistance Extended in Nine New York Counties Hit By Hurricane Sandy

New York Residents Urged to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York residents affected by Hurricane Sandy may now call or go online to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state and federal officials announced today.

“Registering is an important way to help get you on the path to a variety of recovery programs,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “We’re urging people with hurricane-related damages in federally declared disaster areas to apply as soon as possible.”

The major federal disaster declaration, signed by President Obama Oct. 30, offers Individual Assistance in the counties of Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester.

Disaster survivors have several ways to apply.

Individuals can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.

Another option is to register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone or tablet at m.fema.gov.
The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, seven days a week until further notice.

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.

See the original post –

New York Residents Urged to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance

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