[Fredslist] Fwd: Guiding you and your business through recovery from Sandy

[Corey Bearak]

The Queens Chamber of Commerce headed by Gotham Towers member Jack Friedman sent out this useful email
Some info may have been seen several times before.
An item I want to flag is the State Empire State Development Corporation is also taking registrations for assistance.  (See Step in material below).


Corey B. Bearak, Esq.
Government & Public Affairs Counsel
Networker of the Year| co-chair, GOtham GREEN | Gotham Towers | LI Legal
P.O. Box 135, Glen Oaks, NY 11004
(718) 343-6779 ♦ facsimile (888) 379-3492
Bearak at me.com ♦ CoreyBearak.com ♦ Bearak on Twitter
If you receive this email and did not request it, please reply and I will kindly remove your email address from the list.
This Internet Email Transmission may contain Confidential or Privileged Information which is intended only for use by the individual or entity for which the transmission is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, dissemination, copying or distribution of this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify this office by telephone immediately so that we can arrange for the return of the documents to us at no cost to you.
[sent from my MacBook Pro]







Begin forwarded message:

Several immediate steps should be taken to ensure that you- and your business- are able to recover from this disaster.  We hope that this message can offer you a comprehensive, helpful template on how to proceed in these trying, difficult times.  
 
Step One:
Asses your damages and contact your insurance agent.
If your business has suffered any sort of damage, you should contact your insurance agent at once (whether you have flood insurance or not).
You should then take photographs of damaged property and gather as much documentation as you can of your lost assets. 
Step Two:
If your business has suffered damages not covered by your insurance provider, there are several programs that might be of assistance to you
Register with FEMA by visiting www.sba.gov/disaster or calling FEMA's toll free number: (800) 621-FEMA
FEMA will assist you in identifying the types of disaster loans and relief programs available to you from the Federal Government.
Visit www.nyc.gov/nycbusiness for programs available through NYC Business Solutions and the NY Business Development Corporation
Applications for no-interest and 1% interest loans up to $25,000 can be found on this site
Loans are offered on an expedited basis and are usually available 5-7 days after application materials are received
You will also find helpful information should you need temporary office or warehouse space
Step Three:
Apply for relief from NYS Empire Development Corporation
Register at http://www.esd.ny.gov/sandyAssistance.asp 
The New York State Empire Development Corporation is in the process of finalizing a package of loans and grants available for businesses.  Our estimation is that these programs will be similar to those offered after Hurricane Irene.  It is important that you register at this site, so that, when these programs are formalized, you will be notified immediately.
Step Four:
Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Assistance is available to displaced workers who have either lost work or income due to the effects of hurricane Sandy.  Call the NYS Department of Labor at (800) 209-8124 or apply at labor.ny.gov/ui/claimantinfo/disaster-unemployment-assistance.shtm
Click here to download more information: DUA Information Sheet
NYC Workforce 1 centers have also received a national emergency grant to assist in finding re-employment for those whose livelihoods have been affected.  Find a center near you: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/wf1/html/contact/contact.shtml 
Other Miscellaneous Issues to be Aware of:
Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance
If you have a home heating oil tank and it has leaked into your basement and/or has been damaged by the storm, please contact NYSDEC (718 482-7376) for a no-fee removal of oil.
Visit www.nyc.gov/buildings and view their provided post-storm advisories for important information on how to safely make building repairs and prepare for re-habitation after power has been restored.
When power is restored, property owners who suffer from flooding will be required to get sign-offs from the Department of Buildings before they can re-occupy their premises.  This can be done through a self-certification process from your architect or an expidited inspection from the DOB.  For more info, visit www.nyc.gov/buildings 
Be Careful:
Of contractors, especially those from out-of-state, who may be soliciting for business.  Make sure they are licensed and vetted through the Better Business Bureau and local authorities
Make sure power is off in your home if you currently lack energy to avoid fire once electricity is restored.
All ConEd and LIPA employees and all City and State employees are required to carry identification.  Please be wary of people fraudulently posing as such.


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