[Fredslist] Fwd: For LI residents affected by Sandy
Corey Bearak
bearak at me.com
Fri Nov 9 19:25:31 EST 2012
though focused on LI residents some of the material you may have already seen and may be of general use for anyone impacted by Sandy.
Please see below
Corey B. Bearak, Esq.
Government & Public Affairs Counsel
P.O. Box 135, Glen Oaks, NY 11004
(718) 343-6779 ♦ facsimile (888) 379-3492
Bearak at me.com ♦ CoreyBearak.com ♦ Bearak on Twitter
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Schumer announces Feds to release over $300 million in LIHEAP funds for at-risk New Yorkers including those affected by Superstorm Sandy; Can be used to purchase temporary rentals, blankets, and generators to stay warm
Superstorm Sandy and the Recent Nor’Easter Left Thousands Without Power and Heat; LIHEAP Funds Will Provide At-Risk New Yorkers Access to Ways To Stay Warm
LIHEAP Funds Are Usually Used To Purchase Fuel To Heat Homes – But Can, In Emergencies, Also Be Used To Purchase Supplies
The Funds Can Be Used To Purchase Blankets, Generators, and Temporary Rentals to Help Keep People Without Heat And Electricity Warm
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will immediately release $339,000,000 from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to New York State. LIHEAP is the federally funded program that helps low-income households and seniors with energy bills. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, these funds will help New Yorkers impacted by the storm because the funds may be used to place people in locations with access to heating. In the face of the crisis stemming from Hurricane Sandy, Schumer pressed for the funds to be released early. The money, which is usually used for fuel to heat homes, can also be used to purchase temporary rentals, blankets and generators for LIHEAP beneficiaries impacted by the storm.
“These funds will help provide relief to the Hurricane Sandy victims that are still without power and heat,” said Schumer. “LIHEAP recipients should not have to choose between keeping warm and paying for food, and I am relieved that the federal government will be releasing these critical funds. This will help at-risk New Yorkers access the resources they need to keep warm and be safe during this difficult time.”
LIHEAP is a federally-funded energy assistance program that helps low-income families and senior citizens pay their heating bills. In order to qualify for the program, New York residents must need financial assistance for home energy costs and must meet a specific threshold of annual income before taxes.
During an energy crisis, LIHEAP allows states greater flexibility. After a disaster, LIHEAP funds can be used to deal with crisis situations, particularly with respect to assistance for home energy related needs. For example, LIHEAP funds can be used for the costs to temporarily shelter or house individuals in hotels, costs for transportation to move individuals away from the crisis area to shelters, utility reconnection costs, repair or replacement costs for furnaces, insulation repair, coats, blankets, crisis payments for utilities and utility deposits and the purchase of generators.
Schumer today announced that HHS will immediately release $339,011,000 in LIHEAP funding for New York. The funding is provided in block grants to each state. Schumer explained that LIHEAP funding serves as a lifeline to its recipients so that they do not have to choose between paying their energy bills and paying for food and medicine. For the New Yorkers whose homes have been destroyed by the Hurricane, these funds may be used to place people in locations that have access to heating. Schumer added that these funds may also be used to repair or replace furnaces or purchase generators.
Fuel Rationing
Suffolk and Nassau Counties Announces Temporary Fuel Policy
(November 8, 2012, Yaphank, NY) - In a coordinated regional effort designed to better manage and ease the current fuel challenges, Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone and Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano announced a plan today to institute a fuel management system in both Suffolk and Nassau counties that will go into effect at 5:00 am Friday, November 9, 2012. This temporary policy will require gas stations to sell fuel only to drivers with vehicles bearing license plate numbers that correlate in odd/even terms with the day of the month in accordance with the following requirements:
· Drivers with license plates ending in an even number will be able to purchase fuel only on even-numbered days and drivers with license plate numbers that end in an odd number will be able to purchase fuel only on odd-numbered days.
· License plates such as vanity plates that do not display numbers will be considered odd-numbered plates.
· Out of state vehicles will be subject to the same requirements when purchasing fuel in Suffolk County.
· This policy does not apply to commercial vehicles, taxi or limousine fleets or emergency fleets, nor does it apply to hand held gas canisters.
“This temporary fuel policy will ease the challenges residents of the bi-county region are experiencing in the aftermath of the storm,” said County Executive Steven Bellone. “Our citizens travel between Nassau and Suffolk without regard to county borders and it only makes sense that we adopt a regional solution. I thank my counterpart Nassau County Executive Mangano for working with me to adopt this policy.”
Disaster Relief Updates
Governor Cuomo's Homepage
Governor Cuomo has also created a Digital Storm Watch page on his homepage, which you can view here.
Long Island Power Authority Homepage
If you see ANY downed wire, treat it as if it is a live electric wire, stay away from it, and report it to LIPA immediately at 1-800-490-0075 or 631-755-6900. Keep in mind that wires can become entangled in and hidden from view by storm debris.
Stay tuned to local media for information and we will continue to update information on this site.
To find a shelter near you, text SHELTER and your zip code to #43362 (4FEMA). Or, you can reach the American Red Cross at 1.877.733.2767.
Working around potentially live electric wires is extremely dangerous. Please do not take it upon yourself to clear blocked roads and remove downed trees. We ask you to be patient and wait for experienced crews to arrive.
All LIPA and National Grid employees carry identification badges, and almost all restoration work can be completed without entering your home. For your own safety, please check the ID of anyone asking to enter your home.
Stay out of flooded basements, even if the power is out. Stay clear of the breaker box if it’s in a flooded basement.
You should only operate a backup generator outdoors away from windows and vents. Disconnect from the electric system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of crews working to restore power.
Important County links
Nassau County Office of Emergency Management
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano has opened several warming stations and distribution centers for food and drink. You can check here for warming stations or food if you need these services.
SHELTER LOCATIONS
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and the Red Cross have opened the following locations for residents to take shelter:
· Nassau Community College, Building P
· Levittown Memorial High School, 150 Abbey Lane
· Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School – 121 Central Park Road
· Farmingdale High School – 150 Lincoln Street
· Glen Cove High School – 150 Dosoris Lane
· New Hyde Park High School - 500 Leonard Blvd
· North Shore Temple - 83 Muttontown Road in Syosset
ISLAND HARVEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Island Harvest will distribute up to 20,000 sandwiches and drinks today to residents on the streets of the following neighborhoods today through a Mobile Distribution Center:
Freeport Port Washington Bayville Glen Cove Valley Stream
Massapequa Seaford Wantagh Atlantic Beach Island Park
Oceanside
RED CROSS FOOD DISTRIBUTION
The Red Cross has opened a number of meal distribution centers Nassau County. Locations are open from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Meals, water, and comfort kits will be distributed at the following locations.
· Cedar Creek Park in Seaford - Merrick Rd, east of Wantagh Ave
· Grant Park in Hewlett –Broadway & Sheridan Ave.
· Nickerson Beach Park in Lido Beach - 880 Lido Boulevard
FEMA POD LOCATIONS
FEMA’s Points of Distribution (PODs) are located throughout the north and south shores of Nassau County. Locations include:
South Shore:
Atlantic Beach: Silver Point, 2189 Atlantic Blvd. (9am-3pm)
Baldwin Harbor: Meadow Elementary School, 888 Jackson St. (9am-4pm)
Bellmore: Newbridge Road Park, 2600 S. Newbridge Rd. (7am-4:30pm)
East Rockaway: Fire Department, 5 Main St (10am-4pm)
Freeport: Recreation Center, located at the intersection of Main & Mill
Inwood: The #2 School, 1 Donahue Ave (7am-4:30pm)
Island Park: Heggerty School, 100 Radcliffe Rd. (9am-4pm)
Lawrence: Five Towns Community Center, 270 Lawrence Ave
Lido Beach: Lido St & Parkside St (9am-3pm)
Long Beach:
East Elementary - Intersection of Neptune & Hudson Blvd (9am-3pm)
West Elementary - Intersection of Maryland and Beach St. (9am-3pm)
85 E. Park Ave. (9am-3pm)
Massapequa: Marjorie R. Post Community Park, 451 Unqua Rd. (10am-2pm)
Oceanside: Oceanside Park, 3800 Mahlon Brower Dr. (7am-4:30)
North Shore:
Bayville: Stehli Beach, Corner of Bayville Rd & Bayville Ave. (10am-2pm)
Great Neck: Great Neck High School, 64 Arrandale Ave (9am-4pm)
New Cassel/Westbury: New Cassel Community Center, 141 Garden Street (9am-4pm)
New Hyde Park: Michael J. Tully Park, 1801 Evergreen Ave (9am-4pm)
Port Washington: Railroad Station: Off Main Street and Haven Ave. (9am-4pm)
Woodbury: Syosset Woodbury Community Park, 7800 Jericho Turnpike (10am-2pm)
SHOWER FACILITIES
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano has opened the following locations for residents to take a free shower:
· Aquatic Center, Eisenhower Park in East Meadow
· Cantiague Park, West John St. in Hicksville
· Mitchel Athletic Complex, Charles Lindbergh Blvd in Uniondale
WARMING CENTERS
Nassau County Warming Centers include:
· Baldwin: Senior Center, 1810 N Grand Ave, (9am-6pm)
· Bellmore: Library, 2288 Bedford Ave (opens 200 Bellmore Ave (9am-9pm)
· Bellmore: Senior Center (9am-6pm)
· Bethpage: Senior Center, 103 Grumman Rd W (9am-4:00pm)
· East Meadow: American Legion Hall, 294 Bellmore Rd (3pm-8pm)
· Elmont: Senior Center, 138 Elmont Rd (9am-6pm)
· Franklin Square: Senior Center, 1182 Martha Place (8am-4pm)
· Freeport: Memorial Library, 144 West Merrick Road (9am-9pm)
· Freeport: Senior Center, 66 Church Street, (9am-4pm)
· Glen Cove: Senior Center, 130 Glen St, (9am-5pm)
· Great Neck: Senior Center, 80 Grace Avenue (9am-5pm)
· Green Acres: Senior Center, 400 Flower Rd, Valley Stream (9am-6pm)
· Hempstead: Senior Center, United Methodist Church, 40 Washington St (10am-2pm)
· Herricks: Senior Center 999 Herricks Rd, New Hyde Park (9am-8pm)
· Levittown: Senior Center 555 Newbridge Rd (9am-6pm)
· Massapequa Park: Our Lady of Loudes School, 379 Linden St.
· Merrick: Library, 2279 Merrick Ave, (9am-9pm)
· Merrick: Golf Course Clubhouse, 2550 Clubhouse Rd (6am-7pm)
· North Merrick: Senior Center, Brookside School, 1260 Meadowbrook Rd, (9am-4:45pm)
· Oyster Bay: Senior Center, 45 E Main St (M, T, W 9am-8pm: T & F 8:30am-4:30pm)
· Port Washington: Senior Center, St Stephens Church, 9 Carlton Ave (9am-4pm)
· Rockville Centre: American Legion, 197 Maple Ave. (12 noon-9pm)
· Rockville Centre: Hispanic Brotherhood Senior Program, 59 Clinton Ave (9am-4pm)
· Roosevelt: Rosa Parks Senior Center, 2 Babylon Tpke (9 am-6 pm)
· Syosset: North Shore Synagogue, 83 Muttontown Eastwoods Rd., (also serving 3 meals a day)
· Uniondale/Hempstead: Senior Center, 840 Uniondale Ave, (9am-6pm)
· Uniondale/Merrick: Senior Center, 750 Jerusalem Ave, Uniondale (9am-6pm)
· Wantagh: Senior Center, 1150 Seamans Neck Rd, Wantagh (9am-6pm)
· Wantagh: Temple Bnei Torah, 2900 Jerusalem Ave. (Mon – Thurs. 9am-5pm, Fri. 9am-3pm)
· West Hempstead: Echo Park Pool, 399 Nassau Blvd (9am-6pm)
· Westbury: Magnolia Gardens Senior Center, 899 Broadway
· Westbury: Salisbury Senior Center, 460 Salisbury Park Dr, (9am-6pm)
· Westbury: Senior Center, 360 Post Ave, (8:30 pm-3:30pm)
CONTACT NUMBERS:
LIPA: 1-800-490-0075/631-755-6900
National Grid: 1-800-490-0045 (Gas Leaks)/1-800-930-5003 (Service)
Nassau County Non-Emergency Hotline: 1-888-684-4274
Consumer Affairs Price Gouging Hotline: 516-571-2449
FEMA Disaster Assistance Hotline: 1-800-621-3362
NYS Hotline for Insurance Issues: 1-800-339-1759
Nassau Chapter of American Red Cross: 516-747-3500
FEMA’S DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS:
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are a readily accessible mobile office where applicants may go to receive guidance regarding disaster recovery, clarification of any written correspondence received, Housing Assistance and Rental Resource information, resolutions to problems and referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance, status of applications being processed by FEMA, as well as U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) program information.
Nassau Community College Recreation Center and Ice Arena Island Park Village Hall
1 Education Drive 700 Magnolia Blvd 127 Long Beach Road
Garden City, NY Long Beach, NY Island Park, NY
8am – 8pm 8am – 8pm 9am – 4:30pm
Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management
As of 12:10 pm on November 7th, Suffolk County has released a Storm Update that provides information regarding warming and charging centers for all residents who need it.
FEMA Disaster Assistance Centers (See ADDITIONAL NEW Locations Below!)
A Disaster Recovery Center is a readily accessible facility or mobile office where applicants can go for information about FEMA or other disaster assistance programs, or for questions related to their case.
FEMA representatives are on hand to assist residents in filling out FEMA applications, answer any questions and provide lists of resources. There are also Small Business representatives, as well as County representatives from the offices of the Department of Health, Economic Development, Labor, Social Services, and Transitional Housing.
H. Lee Dennison – 100 Vet’s Highway, Hauppauge, NY
Islip Town Annex – 400 Main Street, Islip
Lindenhurst Public Library – 1 Lee Street, Lindenhurst
Mastic Beach Rec Center – 5 Herkimer St, Mastic Beach, NY
Suffolk County Center – 300 Center Drive, Riverhead
MOBILE UNIT for Friday 11/9 & Saturday 11/10: East Hampton Town Hall – 159 Pantigo Rd., East Hampton, NY
Countywide Housing Taskforce Established
In collaboration with FEMA, County Executive Bellone has established a Countywide Housing Taskforce that will identify local housing needs for individuals and families impacted by the disaster and coordinate with available housing resources.
FEMA Increases Rental Assistance Subsidy
In addition, as part of the effort to ensure that families and individuals get the support they need, FEMA has increased the amount of rental assistance that it may provide to eligible disaster survivors in New York and New Jersey, including Suffolk County. Rental support, previously based on existing HUD Fair Market Rates (FMR)for fiscal year 2013 has been increased 25 percent. This increased rental subsisdy is expected to make additional rental resources in effected areas available for temporary housing for disaster effected families.
Here are the FMR for fiscal year 2013, which are based on family size, along with the increases as per 25% increase announced by FEMA.
1 bedroom: $1,285 increased to $1,606
2 bedroom: $1,583 increased to $1,978
3 bedroom: $2,058 increased to $2,572
4 bedroom: $2,370 increased to $2,962
Important FEMA Information
1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
What Information Do I Need to Apply?
Whether applying online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov from your computer or smartphone, or over the phone through a FEMA call center, you should have a pen and paper and the following information ready:
· Your Social Security number
· Current and pre-disaster address
· A telephone number where you can be contacted
· Insurance information
· Total household annual income
· A routing and account number from your bank (only necessary if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account) your bank routing number is located on the lower left side of your bank checks immediately before your account number.
· A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster
After you've completed your application for assistance, you will be given a FEMA application number. Write down this number and keep it for future reference.
Important Town links
Town of Hempstead Emergency Services
Hempstead is also running a continuously updating list of openings, closings and general municipal functions on their homepage located here. They've also released information on their homepage regarding distribution of clothing and blankets for those affected by Sandy.
Town of North Hempstead Emergency Notification System
North Hempstead has opened shelters for those disaffected by the storm. You can check their locations here.
Town of Oyster Bay Emergency Notification System
Oyster Bay has created a special web page for Town-related updates in the aftermath of Sandy. You can view the page here.
The Town is also opening a number of distribution centers for the week, which you can find out about here.
Town of Huntington News Updates
Room 114 at Town Hall is open as a Charging Station for electronic devices and for the public to use computers, copiers and fax machines. Internet service, including wi-fi in the room, is intermittent and slow when operating.
Huntington will be relocating the Walt Whitman High School shelter to one on the village green. You can read the details concerning the move on the local Patch.
Town of Babylon Emergency Information
Babylon has set up an emergency information webpage , which can be viewed here.
Town of Islip Office of Emergency Management
Islip is posting emergency information on their homepage which you can view here.
Town of Smithtown Office of Emergency Management
Smithtown is providing emergency updates to local citizens on their website located here.
Town of Brookhaven Office of Emergency Management
In addition to constantly updating their homepage with new information, the Town of Brookhaven is also offering FREE ELECTRONIC CHARGING at locations listed here.
The Red Cross evacuation shelter at William Floyd High School is now closed. The shelter at St. Joseph's College in Patchogue remains open. Please do not call the center directly. If you need additional information please call the American Red Cross at 1-877-733-2767. You can also visitwww.suffolkcountyny.gov or www.redcross.org.
Shelter Location:
St. Joseph's College Campus
155 West Roe Boulevard in Patchogue
Please call 451-TOWN or go to the Town's website at www.brookhaven.org for more storm related news and information, weather updates and emergency contact numbers. Residents who want to receive e-mail alerts can sign up today at www.brookhaven.org. Residents can also sign up for countywide Code Red alerts at www.suffolkcountyny.gov.
Town of Riverhead Emergency Links
The Town of Riverhead has created an updating webpage here to give residents news on Sandy-related information.
Town of Southold Emergency Links and Phone Numbers
Southold's website also offers links to disaster response organizations and various resources across Long Island here. You can also view civic updates related to Sandy clean up here.
Town of Southampton Emergency Updates
Southampton is also currently offering an emergency notification system for residents, either on their phones or on Facebook or Twitter, located here.
Town of East Hampton Emergency Contacts
East Hampton is currently offering updates for residents on their homepage here and storm updates on their hurricane page here.
Town of Shelter Island
Shelter Island is also offering emergency information on their homepage, linked above.
City of Glen Cove Emergency Phone Numbers
Glen Cove is updating their website with new information conerning the storm. Check it out here for the most recent announcements.
City of Long Beach Emergency Phone Numbers
The City of Long Beach is also continually updating Storm-related information for residents here.
Ten days after Hurricane Sandy, the city’s recovery is accelerating. The city again has safe drinking water, you can flush your toilets, and power is being restored by LIPA in more areas of Long Beach every day. Sanitation pickup continues its 7-days-a-week schedule. Help is here in force - extraordinary assistance, resources, and personnel continue to pour in from around the state and nation. To receive phone, email, or text updates, visit longbeachny.gov and sign up for SWIFT911 notifications. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS!
•Water & Sewer
Water has been approved safe to use and drink by the Nassau Department of Health. Residents, health care facilities, commercial buildings, apartment buildings, etc., MUST flush out EVERY FAUCET for a minimum of 10-15 minutes before drinking or using the water. The sewer system is up and running, but not at 100% capacity – please CONSERVE WATER to avoid overburdening the system.
•Power & Gas
LIPA is restoring power to additional areas in Long Beach each day; LIPA crews are working around the clock. City officials will not be satisfied until power has returned to every single home.
Please have an electrician examine your electrical wiring and devices if you have sustained significant water damage.
Keep your main circuit breakers turned off; it will expedite the return of power to the City of Long Beach. Representatives from National Grid are going door to door providing gas restoration information. Some traffic lights are now working – please drive safely.
Village Updates
Updates for individual villages have been harder to come by, but here is what Vision has been able to identify so far:
NASSAU COUNTY
The Village of Freeport
Freeport Electric is pleased to announce that the reestablishment of electric service efforts south of Atlantic Avenue began early Saturday morning and is proceeding as rapidly as possible considering the extensive injury to customer’s homes and businesses, and utility facilities. At 10 am, crews began an unprecedented restoration effort emphasizing extreme safety to assure that customers would have their electric service reconnected in a cautiously controlled and secure manner.
By 4 PM Saturday afternoon, more than 23% of all electric services in the most distressed part of the electric system were successfully restored. We will continue to press on well into this evening and in the coming days to assure that electrical facilities in homes and businesses that have not been damaged can safely be re-powered.
At this same time, we are also pleased to announce that more than 95% of the electric service has been re-energized north of Atlantic Ave and will continue to strive for connecting everyone as quickly as possible.
The Village of Island Park
Village Hall is temporarily relocated to a trailer in the parking lot of 127 Long Beach Road. You will also find FEMA and food trucks in the parking lot.
If you need to call the Village, please use the following temporary numbers:
(703) 805 5537 ext 0215 or (703) 805 5537 ext 0218
For storm updates, please visit the Island Park Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page here. (Please note that you must have a Facebook account to access the page. Facebook accounts are free to set up and require an email address.)
The Village of Mineola
Most Recent update from November 2nd
CHARGING STATION TO REMAIN OPEN - The Village of Mineola opened a charging station for residents’ use on Thursday. Residents who are relying on cellular phones and other portable devices for communications during the hurricane can charge their devices at the Village Hall Community Center at 155 Washington Avenue, 8:30 am-4:30 pm every day. The charging station WILL be open this weekend November 3-4. Residents must bring their device’s charging cables.
Street repairs and other infrastructure repairs will be addressed as post-emergency operations allow.
Although Village Hall has been closed since Monday, phones have been staffed throughout and since the storm. Phones will continue to be staffed 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Mon.-Fri. regardless of whether Village Hall is open.
The Village of Rockville Centre
Rockville Centre’s State of Emergency is still in effect
The following is updated emergency information:
Electric Power
By Monday night, virtually all of our residential customers should have their electric service restored. If your electricity is not working and you neighbors have power, the problem is likely with the service line to your individual house. Call 766-5800 to have the Electric Department inspect your service line to determine what the problem is.
Looking for Generators
If you have an electric generator you would be willing to lend temporarily, please call the Sandel Senior Center at 678-9350.
Village Offices / Services / Events
• The Recreation Center on North Oceanside Road and the Sandel Senior Center at South Park and Lincoln avenues remain open for heat and electricity, some modified programming, and charging your electronic devices.
• The Recreation Center is also a drop-off location for donations to hurricane victims. Items needed include: non-perishable food, clothing, diapers, toiletries, towels, paper towels, toilet paper, blankets, batteries, and cleaning items.
Updates are being posted on the Village website.
The Village of Valley Stream
Valley Stream is offering information on donations and places to receive supplies on their homepage, located here.
Check this webpage for emergency contact information.
Overnight parking restrictions remain lifted for the time being.
The Village of Westbury
Just a few updates:
1. There are line crews in the village today doing restoration work.
2. Some areas of the village have had power restored today. While I know that that is little consolation to those still in the dark, THERE IS HOPE!
3. LIPA thinks most power will be back on by the middle of next week, with significant progress through the weekend. We will see.
4. We will have village crews out tomorrow continuing the post-storm clean-up.
5. Anyone who had damage should (if you have not already done so) call your insurance company to get an adjuster to your house to get a claim started. Take photos. Keep receipts. Also, if you want to pursue FEMA reimbursement for any damage, call or go online to their claim site and set up a claim number to start the process
The Village of Great Neck Plaza
To report a downed tree or request information regarding comfort stations and/or shelter facilities, please call 311, (516) 869-6311. A reminder, the Village of Great Neck Plaza is also serving as a comfort station for residents looking to warm up or charge any electronic items. Village Hall is open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
SUFFOLK COUNTY
The Village of Babylon
STORM RECOVERY INFORMATION
There will be a dusk to dawn curfew, beginning November 2nd. Please see the bottom of our home page for the signed Order by Mayor Scordino .
There are surge strips and outlets for any Village Residents who would like to come to the Board Room- 1st floor in Village Hall (153 W. Main St) to charge cell phones, laptops etc. Village Hall is open from 9am-5pm Mon-Fri. (Unfortunately we will not be able to offer this on Tuesday November 6th- Election Day) We do ask that you stay with your equipment while charging.
If you do not have electricity, it is very important that you shut off the main incoming power to your home, so that when the electric is restored, it will prevent any further damage from a surge.
Storage Containers and Residential Trailers, for storm mitigation, will be allowed on residential properties after notification/application to the Building Department (no fee will be charged)
The Building Department will make every effort to expedite any and all permits related to storm damage and restoration. Residents are urged to make certain that any contractor working on their property is licensed and insured.
Residents who wish to make applications for FEMA assistance may do so by calling 1-800-621-3362, or online at www.fema.gov. Residents must first contact their homeowners insurance carrier.
Household garbage is being collected on its regularly scheduled dates
The Legion Hall will remain a warming center with hot beverages, soup and sandwiches from Wednesday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to around 6 p.m.
Our work those days will be determined by the number of volunteers, and hopefully we'll dodge the Nor'easter expected for late Wednesday/early Thursday.
If crews are unavailable during the rest of this week, we hope to continue clearing homes this weekend. If you know someone who needs help, pls contact us or ask them to visit the Legion Hall. We will build a list and try to help on Saturday, Nov. 10 and Sunday, Nov. 11.
Speaking of this weekend, Debbie Bonventre will be opening her NY state-licensed Home Day Care this Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. "for anyone with children 6 weeks to 6 years old who need to work on their homes or help others affected by Hurricane Sandy. This will be completely free. If you have older children please let me know, if we have enough we will open somewhere else for them. Along with my staff and Juliettes Girl Scouts we will be well staffed and qualified. If you need help call Debbie Bonventre at 943-3465 or email cadiroze at aol.com."
Three Babylon locations continue to serve as warming/charging centers -- the Legion Hall (which opens at 9 a.m.), Babylon Village Hall and St. Joseph's RC Church.
Hot showers are available to all at the YMCA in Bay Shore and LA Fitness in West Babylon (near McDonald's), St. Vincent de Paul (631-669-0068 ext. 157).
The Village of Port Jefferson
The Village Center is Open to the Community – Come warm up & charge your phone.
For all those who are affected by the storm, we’d like to reach out and offer a place to warm up & charge your cell phone. We have electric & WIFI to connect to your families and loved ones. A place to warm up, hang out and get away from the gas lines. We have a TV and some Scrabble games available.
Free Hot Meals:
Friday’s at 5:45 PM
Hot Food Join your Neighbors
1st Presbyterian Church
Main Street – Port Jefferson, NY
Other Locations/ Days:
St Paul’s Luthern Church – Rt 112 PJS SUNDAY 1:00 pm
Christ Church Episicopal – Barnum Ave Monday – 5:45pm
Christ Church Methodist - Old Town Rd. Tuesday - 5:45pm
St Paul’s Luthern Church – Rt 112 PJS Wednesday – 5:45 pm
The Village of Amityville
Residents Welcome to Charge Cell Phones at Village Hall
If you need to charge your cell phone, Village Hall has a table setup in the lobby of the building. It is available 24/7.
Important information regarding local relief efforts on on their main page here.
The Village of Bellport
Bellport has set up Emergency information on their website located here.
The Village of Mastic Beach
Cleanup efforts for Mastic Beach are being posted on their webpage, located here.
Open on Long Island
Many downtowns have power and are slowly back in business
Vision has heard from residents and businesses in downtowns across Long Island that have power and are slowly recovering from the storm. To date we have heard from about 50 downtown business districts that are at least partially up and running, which include:
NASSAU: Bellmore, Baldwin, Bethpage, Carle Place, Farmingdale, Freeport, Garden City, Glen Cove, Great Neck, Hempstead, Hewlett, Hicksville, Manhasset, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Merrick, Mineola, Oyster Bay, Port Washington, Rockville Centre, Roslyn, Seacliff, Seaford, Syosset, Valley Stream, Wantagh and Westbury
SUFFOLK: Amityville, Babylon, Bayshore, Bellport, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, East Northport, Greenlawn, Greenport, Huntington, Huntington Station, Kings Park, Lake Ronkonkoma, Lindenhurst, Mastic Beach, Northport, Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Sag Harbor, Sayville, Setauket, Smithtown and Southampton.
Vision Long Island is collecting data on the infrastructure needs of your downtown. Please forward any and all information to info at visionlongisland.org.
Gas
Vision Long Island has been gathering information on open gas stations. We would remind people that if you are not in immediate need of gas then please do not try to fill up. If you do need gas, but not until tomorrow, then perhaps you might want to wait til later in the evening before venturing out.
Due to the constantly changing situation involving gas stations on Long Island we are linking toGasBuddy.com's search page. Simply enter your zip code and it will give you a map of local stations that are currently reporting that they have gasoline available. We've also discovered this Facebook pagewhere an intrepid Long Islander is posting consant updates on who is open and what the gas situation in general is.
Grocery Stores
NASSAU
Pats Farms - Merrick Ave, Merrick
Uncle Giuseppe's in Massapequa, and East Meadow are open and stocked with canned goods, hot meals, Ice, etc.
STOP N SHOP, 55 Motor Avenue, South Farmingdale
STOP N SHOP, Old Country Road, Hicksville
Shoprite in Plainview
Whole Foods – Jericho
Francesco's Bakery 546 Stewart Ave, Bethpage
SUFFOLK
Uncle Giuseppe's in Port Jeff, Smithtown are open and stocked with canned goods, hot meals, Ice, etc.
WALDBAUMS, 67 Newtown Lane, East Hampton
WALDBAUMS, Route. 25 and Factory Avenue, Mattituck
WALDBAUMS, 4054 Nesconset Highway, East Setauket
WALDBAUMS, 211 Miiddle Country Road, Selden
WALDBAUMS, 1960 Deer Park Avenue, Deer Park
PATHMARK, 2060 Sunrise Highway, Bay Shore
PATHMARK, 399 Route 112, Patchogue
PATHMARK, 1251 Deer Park Avenue, North Babylon
KING KULLEN, 153 Ronkonkoma Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma
KING KULLEN, 552 Montauk Highway, Center Moriches
KING KULLEN, 5507-200 Nesconset Highway, Mt. Sinai
KING KULLEN, Snake Hollow Road, Bridgehampton
KING KULLEN, 499-64 Sunrise Highway, Patchogue
KING KULLEN, 460 Country Road #111, Manorville
KING KULLEN , 405 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley
KING KULLEN, 1235 Middle Country Road, Middle Island
KING KULLEN, 307 Middle Country Road, Selden
KING KULLEN, 795 Old Country Road, Riverhead
KING KULLEN, 25 Eastport Manor Road, Eastport
KING KULLEN, 1170 Deer Park Avenue, North Babylon
KING KULLEN, 52 East Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays
KING KULLEN, 6233 Route 25A, Wading River
KING KULLEN, Jericho Tpke, Huntington
STOP N SHOP, Main St in Bayshore - fully stocked
STOP N SHOP, 365 Route 109 (88 Golding Avenue), West Babylon
STOP N SHOP, 191 Montauk Highway, Sayville
STOP N SHOP, 260 Pond Path, South Setauket
STOP N SHOP, 385 Route 25 A, Miller Place
STOP N SHOP, 2350 N. Ocean Avenue, Farmingville
STOP N SHOP, 57-01 Sunrise Highway, Holbrook
STOP N SHOP, 275 Middle Country Road, Coram
STOP N SHOP, 700-60 Patchogue-Yaphank Road, Medford
STOP N SHOP, 1615 Old Country Road, Riverhead
STOP N SHOP, 999 Montauk Highway, Shirley
STOP N SHOP, 190 W. Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays
STOP N SHOP, 533 Montauk Highway (Route 27A), Bay Shore
STOP N SHOP, 421 Commack Road, Deer Park
STOP N SHOP, 1730 Veteran's Memorial Highway, Islandia
STOP N SHOP, Jericho Tpke, Dix Hills
Francesco’s in Babylon - 29 John St, Babylon
Long Island Seafood - Route 112 - Medford - ice, hot cider and dinner to go, free wi-fi and charging stations
BJ’s Wholesale Club in Setauket
BJ’s Wholesale Club in Islandia
Great East Neck Farms, 185 Great East Neck Rd, West Babylon
Giunta’s Meat Farms - Ronkonkoma, Commack, Farmingdale, Port Jeff, Medford
Buttercups Dairy Store - Old Town Road and Boyle Road in Port Jefferson Station
Chachama Grill - Swan Common Shopping Center, 655-08 Montauk Highway. East Patchogue. Sunday 11:00am-1:00pm, November 4th, Serving hot food and beverages for all the needy families who have lost power and possesions during this devastating Hurricane. It will be served in front of the restaurant by our staff
Transportation Update
The Long Island Rail Road is currently working to fully restore service to all branches. Due to this ongoing effort their schedule is in flux for the time being, so it is highly recommended that if you're looking to take the train you update yourself at the MTA site, located here. As of this update the Long Beach line remains closed.
Suffolk Transit is reporting that all lines are currently back in service.
Nassau Inter-County Express has restored 99% of service as of Tuesday, November 6th. Though service is close to normal there are still some detours which you can check here.
Disaster Relief Update
Rental Assistance
New York State storm survivors who lost their home because of damages caused by Hurricane Sandymay be eligible to receive rental assistance, the New York State Office of Emergency Management (NYSOEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA’s Individual and Households Program (IHP) offers funds to rent alternative housing for a limited period of time while repairs are made to the dwelling, and a free referral service to find a safe replacement rental property. Residents should first apply by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362; TTY 1-800-462-7585. Multilingual assistance is also available by phone.
Applicants can also register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or with a Smartphone at m.fema.gov. Have the following information at hand when calling:
Your Social Security number
A general list of damages and losses you suffered;
Clear directions to the property that was damaged
Current mailing address and phone number
Insurance information
General financial information
Bank account code if you wish to speed up your assistance with direct deposit
Storm Survivors Looking For a Place to Rent
Call the FEMA Helpline 1-800-621-3362 and asking for rental resources by town, county, number of bedrooms, accessibility and other criteria.
Visit the nearest Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) and consulting a FEMA specialist.
Go online to the FEMA Housing Portal at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/hportal/home.htm and searching available properties by location, rent amount, accessibility, and other criteria.
Visit the New York State website: http://www.nyhousingsearch.gov/.
New Yorkers With Property To Rent to Storm Survivor(s)
Call the FEMA Helpline 1-800-621-3362 and provide the following information:
Address of rental property
Monthly rent
Number of bedrooms
If the property is accessible to people with disabilities
If you accept pets, and the deposit required for pets, if any Disaster Assistance Guide Updated: Nov. 2, 2012
Household Appliance Grant Program
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services offers an appliance grant program for New York state residents who sustained property damage due to Hurricane Sandy. The program will help cover the cost of replacing vital household appliances, such as refrigerators, boilers, hot water/heater tanks, washing machines, dryers, dehumidifiers, and furnaces damaged by flooding. Purchase of appliances and equipment must be for replacement purposes only and were not covered by insurance or FEMA. To apply call 877-697-6278 or check website: www.NYSappliancerebates.com
ELIGIBLE APPLIANCES/EQUIPMENT AND REBATE AMOUNT – will be determined post disaster
How to replace documents lost in a disaster
Part of disaster preparation is for people to put critical documents in a safe place. This means placing them in a sealable plastic bag or other watertight container and securing that container where it is best protected and can easily be located. Unfortunately, sometimes even these steps will not keep documents from being lost or destroyed, especially in the event of tornados, hurricanes or wildfires. If papers are lost – like birth certificates, Social Security cards, drivers’ licenses, tax records and so on – New York state and FEMA are advising residents on how to recover them:
Birth certificates: If you were born within the confines of the five boroughs of New York City, visit or write to the Office of Vital Records, 125 Worth Street, Room 133, New York, N.Y. 10013. (A photo ID is required both by mail and in person.) The office advises the fastest way to get records is online atwww.nyc.gov/vitalrecords. The phone number is (212) 788-4520.
To download and print an application, log ontohttp://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/vr/birth1.pdf; to apply online, log ontowww.nyc.gov/vitalrecords.
If you were born in New York state outside of New York City, log onto www.vitalchek.com or phone 1-877-854-4481. This will connect you to a company called VitalChek, which is contracted with the state to handle credit-card orders. There are modest fees involved.
Drivers’ licenses: Visit any New York Department of Motor Vehicles office. To find an office nearby, log onto www.nydmv.state.ny.us/offices.htm.
Social Security cards: Call the U.S. Social Security office at 800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. For TTY users the number is 800-325-0778, or log ontowww.ssa.gov/ssnumber for more information.
Federal tax records: Call 800-829-1040, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, or log onto www.irs.gov.
New York state tax records and New York City tax records: Log onto http://www.tax.ny.gov or phone518-457-5181
For copies of your utility bills, bank records, insurance policies, mortgage payments and the like, call the appropriate firm and speak to a customer-service representative.
It is also a good idea to make copies of all your vital and important documents and mail them to a friend or relative you can trust to keep them safe and retrievable in case disaster strikes.
How You can Help
In the aftermath of Sandy numerous people from all over Long Island and surrounding areas have come forward to help those who lost so very much. We are happy to provide the following links to organizations who are stepping up to help heal our battered region.
Center Moriches
The Center Moriches High School Foreign Language Honor Society is doing a Non Perishable Food drive for Hurricane Sandy Victims. They are collecting items such as Bottled Water, Canned Food, Dry goods like spaghetti, baby formula and Baby diapers etc. If you can donate, Please contact my Daughter Danae who is the French Honor Society President and Food Drive Organizer at DANAEDABRAT at AOL.COM
Long Beach Donations
The Long Beach Ice Arena is currently accepting donations. Items needed include blankets, diapers, wipes, children's shoe, paper towels, toilet paper, batteries, socks, hats, gloves and shopping bags. Food and water donations are being accter at the East and West elementary schools and Waldbaum's Plaza. Financial donations can be made online at longbeachny.gov or sent to:
City of Long Beach Relief
1 West Chester Street
Long Beach, NY 11561
Mastic Beach
Mastic Beach is in critical need of non perishables, blankets, toiletries, coats, cleaning supplies. We trying to feed 300 families in need per day and are running low. Donations can be dropped off at The Mastic Beach Nutrition Center, at 369 Neighborhood Road, Mastic Beach.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre Donations
Seeking nonperishable food, hand sanitizers, bottled water, diapers and baby wipes, basic toiletries and toilet paper, warm clothing, towels and blankets, batteries, can openers and flashlights. Donations are being accepted at any parish. The diocese also is accepting money donations which will be distributed to parish-based and other Catholic social service agencies.
Nassau Community College Emergency Shelter in desperate need of Cold Weather Clothing
The Nassau Community College Emergency Shelter has put out a call for warm clothing of any kind to be donated by those who no longer need them. The shelter is currently overflowing with displaced residents who lost most or all of their posessions in the storm.
The shelter is located on campus at 1 Education Drive in Garden City or you can contact Carol LaRocque Chernoff Diamond Benefits & Risk Management at 516-857-3137, 516-683-6100 orclarocque at chernoffdiamond.com to find out where you can drop donations off at.
Newsday partners with McCormick Foundation to match donations for Hurricane Sandy victims
Below is a letter we received from Newsday advertising a fund drive they are currently working on. The letter is reprinted in full.
Dear friend,
Hurricane Sandy has deeply affected our community, including many of our family, friends and neighbors. The aftermath of the storm is unimaginable and there is an enormous, urgent need for assistance.
Normally, this would be the week to launch our annual Newsday Charities Help A Family campaign. We have decided to postpone that campaign for a few weeks, and instead devote all of our resources to helping people impacted by the storm.
Today we've announced that Newsday, along with News 12 Long Island, has partnered with The McCormick Foundation to create the Hurricane Sandy Long Island Disaster Relief fund.
Donations to our fund will do more: Up to $500,000 in donations will be matched 50 cents on the dollar by the McCormick Foundation.
Newsday and the Foundation pay all expenses, ensuring that 100% of all donations, plus the match, will help Long Islanders rebuild from the devastation.
Money raised here will stay right here on Long Island: grants will be made to local nonprofit organizations leading the disaster response and recovery efforts. This includes short-term services such as emergency shelter and food, and long-term needs like assisting those who suffered major losses.
For over 70 years, Newsday has been here for our community. Now, together with News 12 Long Island, we have a chance to harness the spirit and generosity of Long Islanders to help people in need. Please spread the word about our Hurricane Sandy Long Island Disaster Relief fund and encourage people to make a donation at Newsday.com/sandyrelief
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Fred Groser
Long Island Food not Bombs seeking Volunteers
Seeking new volunteers and donations of food, clothing, gasoline and communication devices. For more info, email longislandfoodnotbombs at gmail.com
Island Harvest Hurricane Relief Update
Wednesday, November 7th 2012
Thanks to your concern and support for neighbors in our community who have been impacted by Hurricane Sandy, we have been able to be a constant presence throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Our fleet of 11 trucks, vans, and mobile food pantries are on the road every day, bringing food and supplies to those who desperately need them! Our sister food banks throughout the country have been extremely generous as well, lending us additional trucks, staff, and administrative manpower.
Today alone, more than 99,100 meals were distributed in neighborhoods including Atlantic Beach, Island Park, Valley Stream, Massapequa, and Bellport.
If you know of a neighborhood in need of our support, please let us know, by calling (631) 873-4775, or send an email to migdalia at islandharvest.org.
It is thanks to your support, through food donations and financial contributions, that we have the food and fuel to be on the road all day every day! Thank you!
If you'd like to support our Hurricane Relief effort, here's how:
1. Please consider making a financial contribution today on our website or call us at (516) 294-8528 or (631) 873-4775. You can also text to donate! Type HUNGER RELIEF to 266266 and support Island Harvest today!
Did you know....
$10 will provide enough food for 7 days
$25 will provide enough food for 2 1/2 weeks
$50 will provide enough food for about 5 weeks
$100 will provide enough food for nearly 3 months
And...$5,000 will sponor a truckload of food - about 40,000 pounds of food! (That's more than 33,000 meals!)
2. Hold a fundraiser and/or fooddrive in your community! Contact a local business or organization. This flyer will support your efforts. After the arrangements have been confirmed, please register your event.
3. If you haven't already, please register as a user on our volunteer site. This site contains the most up-to-date volunteer needs. We encourage you to check it regularly. Please note that additional warehouse sorting opportunities have been posted for this week.
4. Drop off food, cleaning supplies, water, and other nonperishable items to the the Island Harvest locations listed below. Please note that we are working with local companies, such as Modell's, to set up in-store food drop off. We'll be posting this information on our website soon!
Island Harvest Food Collection & Distribution Center
40 Marcus Boulevard
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Hours: Weekdays, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Island Harvest Uniondale Warehouse (behind the Holly Patterson extended care facility)
875 Jerusalem Avenue
Uniondale, NY 11553
Hours: Weekdays, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thank you very much for your support during our Hurricane Relief effort!
The Long Island Council of Churches released the following fact sheet:
AFTER THE STORM
The LICC offices in Hempstead, Freeport, and Riverhead have power, phones, and internet access (only our fax machine is out in Hempstead) and are open to assist people with food, clothing, toiletries, school supplies, and household items at:
Hempstead, in Christ’s 1st Presbyterian Church, 516-565-0290,
Riverhead, 407 Osborne Avenue at Lincoln, 631-727-2210, and
Freeport, 450 N. Main Street, 516-868-4989.
Church World Service, our partner in ecumenical disaster response and relief efforts, has offered to deliver blankets and Gift of the Heart kits to any church, agency, nonprofit, or government entity that can distribute hygiene kits, school kits (to keep kids occupied while in shelters), baby kits, and cleanup kits (which include nice big buckets). You can request these from jhale123 at aol.com or 917-705-3038 or 716-773-7935. They are delivering hundreds of kits and blankets to our Freeport, Hempstead, and Riverhead offices—probably on Monday. Many thanks to CWS for this help—and thanks to all of you who have bought CWS blankets, assembled disaster response kits, walked in our recent CROP Walks in East Meadow, Baldwin, Westhampton, Sag Harbor, Hicksville, Southold, Riverhead, Montauk, Brookhaven and Sayville which raised funds for Church World Service, or sponsored walkers.
UMCOR, the United Methodist relief agency, is seeking locations where volunteer crews can sleep (a floor is fine), shower, and cook. If you have space to offer, please contact Warren Ferry, the Long Island coordinator, at warrenferry at verizon.net or 631-875-5204. To request assistance from these disaster response volunteer teams, visit http://nyac.com/pages/detail/1789 or contact the Rev. Joseph Ewoodzie, Mission Coordinator for the New York Annual Conference (the downstate diocese of the UMC) atnyacdisaster at gmail.com or 914-615-2233.
The United Church of Christ can arranged for shipping disposable Tyvek suits with masks and gloves for cleanup work to any church or agency that would like to distribute them. Contact Florence Coppola at 216-736-3200.
The Red Cross needs volunteers at shelters on Long Island and in the city, and they will provide training for anyone who can help. To volunteer for this, call 347-687-4611 or email staffing at nyredcross.org.
Details about this and other places needing help can be found on website for the Long Island Volunteer Center at www.longislandvolunteercenter.org. If your organization needs volunteers you can make requests through the LIVC web site or 516-382-3674. If your church or organization needs help, you can seek volunteers through them by email at disastervolunteer at longislandvolunteercenter.org. They already have registered 100 potential volunteers this week.
The Salvation Army will arrange transportation from 66 Church Street in Freeport to its shelters at Nassau Community College and elsewhere. Those who need shelter—including those without as the temperature drops—can find the nearest temporary shelter by texting “SHELTER” and their Zip code to #43362 (4FEMA) or by calling the Red Cross as 1.877.733.2767.
The Congregational Church of Patchogue, has a wonderful project called “Workers without Wheels” that provides free bicycles (and bicycle repair training) to people lacking other forms of transportation. With it being so difficult to find gasoline in many areas hit by Sandy, this is a great time to think about conserving fuel and reducing the carbon emissions and global warming that make storms so much more. The church is doing everything it can to continue to provide bikes to those who need them. For further information, please call the Rev. Dwight Lee Wolter at 631-475-1235 or 631-891-9908.
Those without power who have cell service or can get to a phone (such as our offices) should report their outage—or any downed electrical wires--to LIPA at 1-800-490-0075. LIPA has no way of knowing exactly which customers need assistance unless someone reports the outage. Assume any downed wire is a live electric wire and stay away from it. Those without gas service, such as residents of Long Beach and Island Park, where storm water contaminated the gas lines, do not need to call National Grid, since they are the ones who shut off service to the entire community to keep folks safe.
Residents of Long Beach and Mill Neck should not drink tap water without boiling it. Island Harvest is trucking drinking water to these communities.
Residents of the Bay Park Sewage District, where the sewage treatment plant failed, should:
--avoid contact with sewage which may backup at manhole covers and basement drains,
--wear gloves and use soap and water for any required clean-up (the Tyvek suits offered by the United Church of Christ can be helpful with this job!),
--disinfect the area contaminated with a 10% household bleach solution,
--discard any items that cannot be cleaned,
--limit water usage and not water the grass or wash cars,
--limit laundry and washer/dryer usage to full loads,
--shorten shower time; and
--limit flushing of toilets.
As Dustin Hoffman said in Meet the Fokkers, “If it’s yellow, let it mellow.”
Residents with non-life threatening emergencies, such as sewage backup, should dial 1-888-684-4274. All those with life threatening emergencies should dial 911. For more information, visitwww.nassaucountyny.gov/health.
The Red Cross has opened Mobile Meals distribution centers 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with meals, water, and comfort kits at these Nassau locations:
• Cedar Creek Park in Seaford - Merrick Road east of Wantagh Avenue
• Nickerson Beach Park in Lido Beach - 880 Lido Boulevard
FEMA, which has responded to this storm with admirable speed and competence, has Points of Distribution. Here are the Nassau locations.
Long Beach: intersection of Neptune and Hudson & Maryland and Beech St.,
Long Beach Fire Department, 1 West Chester Street, Long Beach
Atlantic Beach: Atlantic Beach Rescue, 1 Rescue Road, Atlantic Beach
Point Lookout: Point Lookout Lido Fire Department, 102 Lido Boulevard
Island Park: Island Park Fire Department, 440 Long Beach Road,
Lincoln Ornes Middle School, 150 Trafalger Blvd., &
Heggarty School, 100 Radcliffe Road
East Rockaway/Bay Park: East Rockaway Fire Department, 376 Atlantic Avenue
Freeport: Freeport Fire Department, 15 Broadway
Oceanside: Oceanside Fire Department, 65 Foxhurst Road
Massapequa: Massapequa Fire Department, 5478 Merrick Road, &
Marjorie R. Post Community Park Dr., 451 Unqua Rd.
Bellmore: Bellmore Fire Department, 2670 Bellmore Avenue
Seaford: Seaford Fire Department, 2170 Southard Avenue
Wantagh: Wantagh Fire Department, 3470 Park Avenue
Hewlett: Hewlett Fire Department, 25 Franklin Avenue
Lawrence: Lawrence Cedarhurst Fire Department, 75 Washington Ave.
Inwood: Inwood Fire Department, 188 Doughty Blvd.
Woodmere: Woodmere Fire Department, 20 Irving Place
Baldwin: Baldwin Fire Department, 2386 Grand Avenue
Merrick: Merrick Fire Department, 2120 Merrick Avenue
New Hyde Park: Michael J. Tully Park, 1801 Evergreen Ave. &
LIRR Station, Lincoln Ave & Railroad Ave
New Cassel: New Cassel Community Center, Garden Street
Great Neck: Great Neck High School, 35 Polo Road, &
Great Neck South High School, 341 Lakeville Rd
Manhasset: Manhasset High School, 200 Memorial Place
Port Washington: Port Washington, Off Main Street and Haven Ave
Syosset: Syosset Woodbury Community Park, 7800 Jericho Turnpike
Bayville: Corner of Bayville Rd & Bayville Ave.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will help those who sustained damage during Sandy with grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. To apply for disaster assistance, you can register on-line at FEMA’s web site (www.disasterassistance.gov) or call 1-800-621-FEMA from 7 am to 10 pm, seven days a week. They have also set up Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers at:
*Nassau Community College (1 Education Way, Garden City), 8 am to 8 pm until further notice, and
*Edward Bauer Elementary School (315 Montauk Highway, Lindenhurst) 7 am to 7 pm until further notice.
A number of emergency programs are available from the U.S. Small Business Administration, whose hotline is 1-800-659-2955. The application Filing Deadline for Physical Damage is December 31, 2012, and for Economic Injury July 31, 2013. Whether you rent or own your own home, own your own business, or own a small agricultural cooperative located in a declared disaster area, if you are the victim of a disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the SBA.
Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate or personal property owned by the victim. Renters are eligible for their personal property losses, including automobiles.
Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period. EIDL assistance is available only to entities and their owners who cannot provide for their own recovery from non-government sources, as determined by the SBA.
For other kinds of assistance and information, visit United Way's 211 information and referral service 24/7 at https://211longislandcommunityos.org/cms/ or call 1-888-774-7633 11 a.m. to7 p.m.
Citizens Campaign or the Environment Action Alert
Sandy May Be Causing Serious Public Health Threats!
Help CCE document all of the environmental and public health impacts – Send us your storm stories and pictures today!
We know these are challenging and difficult times in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and CCE wants to be helpful to you and your community. We are back in action at all of our offices and have been hearing many stories about public health threats facing several communities. We are being told about sewage spills flowing into bays, running down roadways, and entering homes and basements. In addition, we've received calls telling of oil slicks on roads, oil leaks in marinas and boatyards, gasoline odors filling the air, and more.
We want to hear from you! If you see or smell something, say something! We are NOT seeking to assign blame for these occurrences but rather to document the problems and their sources. We're working to learn what needs to be addressed in order to prevent exposure to sewage and toxins and protect public health.
How You Can Help:
Please send your storm stories and pictures about environmental and public health threats to us atSandyStories at citizenscampaign.org.
In your email, please include your name, when and where the incident(s) took place, and the current status of the problem(s).
Thank you for taking action. Together we make a difference!
Sincerely,
YOUR FRIENDS AT CCE
Friends of the Bay has released a fact sheet concerning Flooding:
Shellfishing Prohibited Until November 13.
DEC Extends Closures of Shellfishing Areas in Nassau and Suffolk CountiesClosures Due to Flooding of Sewage Treatment Facilities and Septic Systems.
The closures of shellfish harvesting areas in Nassau and Suffolk Counties has been extended, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. These temporary closures are necessary to protect public health due to the coastal flooding and power outages caused by Hurricane Sandy. DEC had initially implemented the shellfishing closures on Monday, October 29.
Effective at sunrise on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, the following areas are designated as uncertified and the harvest of shellfish, including bay scallops, is temporarily prohibited through November 13, 2012: The press release can be read here. The official recission notice is not yet available.
Flooding Information
Nassau County has issued a Do Not Consume Water Order for the Water Districts of Long Beach and Mill Neck Estates.
Information regarding floodwater from the Environmental Protection Agency:
Should I limit contact to flood water?
Avoid contact with flood water due to potentially elevated levels of contamination associated with raw sewage and other hazardous or toxic substances that may be in the flood water. EPA and the Department of Health and Human Services urge everyone in contact with flood waters to follow these guidelines:
Wash your hands before drinking and eating
Wash frequently using soap -- especially disinfecting soap
Do not smoke
Limit direct contact with contaminated flood water
Cover cuts or open wounds, report all symptoms of illness
Keep vaccinations current
Read more about flooding response.
What do I do about water from household wells after a flood?
Do not turn on the pump due to danger of electric shock. Do not drink or wash with water from the flooded well until it is tested and safe to use. Read more about your water well after the flood.
What do I do with my home septic system after a flood?
Do not use the sewage system until water in the soil absorption field is lower than the water level around the house. If you have a home-based or small business and your septic system has received chemicals, take extra precautions to prevent contact with water or inhaling fumes. Proper clean-up depends on the kinds of chemicals in the wastewater.Read more about septic system cleanup.
For more information, visit the EPA website.
From the Department of Environmental Conservation, regarding oil tanks in the the event of an oil spill
If your home is affected by a flood that causes an oil spill in or near your home, you should contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Spill Hotline immediately at 1-800-457-7362 to report the spill.
In some cases, the oil mixes with the water that floods your home. If so, do NOT pump the water out into your yard. The oil may spread and contaminate other areas, including nearby wells, water bodies and homes.If a layer of oil is on water in a basement, you can minimize the amount of oil spread on walls and floors and the amount of other damage to your property by removing the oil before pumping the water out.
For an oil film, absorbent pads may be sufficient to collect the oil.
For a thicker layer of oil, a vacuum truck may be necessary to skim the oil off the water.
Oil spills can also contaminate indoor air. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) can provide information If you have questions; call 518-402-7810 or 800-458-1158. After hours and on weekends, call 1-866-881-2809.
For more information, read here
Hurricane Recovery Contact Information
Federal Emergency Management Agency
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (has a feed from Governor Cuomo's office which provides storm updates. Also information on coastal erosion and tidal wetlands emergency permits, shellfish closures, etc.) If you see an oil spill, call
Environmental Protection Agency
Town of Oyster Bay
Town of Huntington
If you use Facebook or Twitter, many agencies and municipalities, as well as New York state senators Marcellino, Gillibrand and Schumer, and many assembly members and county legislators have feeds. News 12, especially meteorologist Rich Hoffman, has been very informative on Facebook. Boating Times LI (hashtag @BoatingTimesLI) is a great source of information to the boating community.
Friends of the Bay is on facebook, and on Twitter. Our hashtag is @friendsofthebay.
AARP New York warns of Sandy scams
Watch out for Rip-off Repairmen Offering Help When You Need it Most – AARP Offers Tips to Avoid Common Contractor Scams
NEW YORK, New York – In the aftermath of Sandy, along with repairs and clean up, comes rip-off repairmen, looking to cause a disaster of their own…on your finances. The scam artists are often called “storm chasers,” as they descend almost immediately upon areas hit hard by natural disasters. Today, AARP New York is warning consumers of the all-too-common contractor scams and is releasing some quick tips to help people avoid becoming the next victim.
First, check with your insurance company to see what your policy covers. Save all receipts, including those for food, hotel or other expenses that may be covered under your policy. Then, consider these tips before hiring a contractor in the days and weeks ahead:
Before doing any major repair, get at least three estimates.
Make sure the contractor is licensed and insured to do business in your area.
Never hire a contractor on the spot. Check out repair companies by looking for consumer reviews on the BBB website and on social media sites such as Yelp or Angie’s list.
Avoid the paperless contractor. Reject anyone who has no business card or company fliers (or who lists a P.O. box instead of a street address).
Get a written contract, specifying what work will be done, the materials that will be used and the price breakdown for labor and materials. Any promises made verbally should be written into the contract, including warranties.
Never pay in advance — or in cash. While some companies may ask for a deposit, consumer advocates suggest paying no more than one-third of the job in advance.
Deposits or upfront fees should not exceed 25 percent of the estimate. Pay them only after materials reach your home and work begins.
The Johnny Mac Foundation and SKI's Open Heart Foundation are teaming together to help those devastated by Hurricane Sandy
We have several families across Suffolk, Nassau, the city and Staten Island tha t we have been in contact with because they have lost everything. If everyone can just bring one item, we can help so many. This is the time when we need to pull together. This is a LOCAL disaster, lets show them how NY pulls together and helps each other.
Drop off locations include the following:
South Country Ambulance - Corner of Montauk Hwy and Dunton Avenue in E.Patchogue. Please ask for a volunteer at the station and they will direct you where to leave your donation. Drop off from 9 am to 7 pm, Friday and Saturday.
Drop off to 13 Homan Avenue, Blue Point.
Drop off at 262 Martha Avenue E. Patchogue. You can leave on the front porch at any time.
Think of what you would need if you lost everything... Think of the little things, don't forget the pets...
Gift cards are priority!!! Toiletries, clothing, books, toys, school supplies for the kids, canned & non-perishable goods, water, blankets, sheets, animal food, etc.
Direct monetary donations can be made at the two foundation websites via paypal, so the foundations can purchase additional gift cards and supplies.
WWW.SKISOPENHEART.ORG
WWW.JOHNNYMACFOUNDATION.ORG,
For more info email jennifer.mcnamara at johnnymacfoundation.org or info at skisopenheart.com
The United Way of Long Island has released a disaster relief fact sheet which you can reference here.
State & Federal Assistance for Businesses & Individuals
FEDERAL EMERGENCY GRANTS FOR VILLAGES!
The Suffolk County Village Official's Association sent the following letter around, reprinted in full:
New York State has just received notice that its application for a Disaster National Emergency Grant (NEG) was approved by the US Department of Labor.
This grant provides over $27 million in funds for municipalities to hire temporary workers to help facilitate clean-up and repairs of public properties such as roads, lands, parks, and buildings in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. It can also be used to purchase any tools or supplies necessary for these workers to carry out their jobs. In addition, the funding can cover part of the salary of any existing supervisor who will oversee these temporary workers.
All interested villages contact:
Mark J. Grossman
New York State Dept.of Labor
631-687-4823
mark.grossman at labor.ny.gov
TIME IS CRITICAL!!
While every effort will be made to ensure that funding is distributed throughout the impacted downstate region, municipalities that contact us first will have a better chance of receiving funding.
ACT NOW!
LIFT Announcement
Have you incurred damages resulting from Super-Storm Sandy?
New York State is looking to ascertain major impacts on manufacturers on Long Island. If you have been seriously impacted by flooding or other damage, please contact us at rzounek at lift.org or 631-846-2732
If you are a Small Business and need to apply for Disaster Relief:
Dear New York Small Businesses and Friends,
As you know, Senator Schumer has been fighting to bring in all available federal resources to help New York in the post-Sandy recovery. Pursuant to the Major Disaster Declaration declared for all of NYC and Long Island, there are a number of emergency programs made available by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Please see below and the attached fact sheet for details. You may direct small businesses with questions to the SBA hotline (1-800-659-2955) or put them in touch directly with our office. Please help us get the word out!
Thanks and good luck.
Gerry Petrella
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)
gerry_petrella at schumer.senate.gov
Office: 202.224.0059
Application Filing Deadlines:
Physical Damage: December 31, 2012 Economic Injury: July 31, 2013
Whether you rent or own your own home, own your own business, or own a small agricultural cooperative located in a declared disaster area, and are the victim of a disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
What Types of Disaster Loans are Available?
Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate or personal property owned by the victim. Renters are eligible for their personal property losses, including automobiles.
Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
EIDL assistance is available only to entities and their owners who cannot provide for their own recovery from non-government sources, as determined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
One-on-One Disaster Assistance for Businesses
US Small Business Administration (SBA) representatives will be at the Stony Brook Small Business Development Center (SBDC) along with SBDC Business Advisors on the morning of Monday, November 12th to help small business owners learn what SBA resources are available to help recovery after Hurricane Sandy and to help complete all the necessary forms.
A hands on workshop in a computer lab setting for step by step assistance will also be scheduled, however a date has yet to be determined.
One-on-One Disaster Assistance for Businesses
Monday, November 12, 2012
9am - 12am
Stony Brook Small Business Development Center
Stony Brook University
Research and Development Park
Research and Support Services Building, Room 145
Stony Brook, NY 11794-6016
Register Online Now!
For additional information or to register, call 631-632-9837 or email sbdc at stonybrook.edu
Click here to download a flyer.
The Stony Brook SBDC is available to assist you with:
SBA Disaster Loan Applications
FEMA Applications
Business Insurance Matters
Temporary Unemployment Benefits Information for the "Self Employed"
During this critical time, the Stony Brook Small Business Development Center will be assisting Suffolk County, FEMA and the SBA at Disaster Recovery Centers and Business Recovery Centers across Long Island, including Stony Brook, Hauppauge and Riverhead.
SC Department of Labor
725 Veterans Highway
Hauppauge, NY
Monday - Friday
9:30AM - 7:30AM
631-853-6600
SC Department of Labor
310 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY
9:30AM-4:30PM
631-852-1955
Stony Brook Small Business Development Center
sbdc at stonybrook.edu
631-632-9837
Deadline for Filing MCTMT Protective Claims Extended
Due to Hurricane Sandy, the November 2, 2012, deadline to file the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax (MCTMT) protective refund claim has been extended to November 14, 2012.
To view more information regarding the announcement and other tax related extensions affected by Hurricane Sandy, please click here: http://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/notices/n12_11.pdf
Senators Schumer and Gillibrand outline FEMA relief efforts
U.S. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have released a joint statement concerning FEMA's disaster relief, reprinted in full below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Marisa Kaufman (Schumer) 646-438-0113
November 4, 2012 James Rahm (Gillibrand) 202-224-3873
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE FEMA HAS EXPANDED DISASTER DECLARATION TO INCLUDE ALL PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR NYC, LONG ISLAND, WESTCHESTER & ROCKLAND COUNTIES
Schumer & Gillibrand Announce That Storm-Ravaged Counties Will Now Receive Funding For Repairs to Roads, Bridges, Water Facilities, Parks & More
Initially, FEMA Provided Individual Assistance & Certain Levels of Public Assistance, But Not All-- Senators Wrote To FEMA in Support of a Major Disaster Declaration to Include All Levels of Public Assistance
Schumer, Gillibrand: This Full Declaration Let’s NYers Know Federal Govt Is Behind Their Recovery Efforts
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate has heeded their call and expanded the President’s major disaster declaration to include all categories of Public Assistance for the counties impacted by Superstorm Sandy.. Specifically, the Senators announced that the storm-ravaged counties under the disaster declaration are now eligible for full Public Assistance, Categories C – G, which are as follows: Category C: Roads and Bridges, Category D: Water Control Facilities, Category E: Public Buildings and Equipment, Category F: Utilities, Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities, and Other Items. Initially, residents in New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley were made eligible for Individual Assistance and the municipalities were made eligible for Public Assistance categories A & B, which includes debris removal, and emergency protective measures.
“It is critical that FEMA has heeded our call and expanded the major disaster declaration to include full Public Assistance for communities throughout storm-ravaged New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley,” said Schumer. “Providing this full range of federal disaster assistance is essential for repairs to everything from sewages facilities, to parklands, to the hundreds of roads and bridges that were destroyed in the storm, and I am pleased that our communities can know that the federal government will be there to help as they continue their response and recovery efforts.”
"The damage I have seen and the destruction of whole communities is just devastating," said Senator Gillibrand. "The federal government has a responsibility to stand with these families every step of the way to help them recover and rebuild better than ever before. The Obama administration promised no red-tape, and this is another example of the President backing up that commitment. I want to thank FEMA for expanding this declaration and everyone who is working so hard to get New Yorkers the relief they need to get through this crisis."
NYC, Long Island and Westchester and Rockland Counties are now eligible for the following federal aid including:
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE:
- Aid to individuals and households
- Temporary housing, where homeowners and renters receive funds to rent a different place to live
- Homeowners get grants to repair damage not covered by insurance
- Under rare conditions homeowners get money to replace a disaster damaged home
- SBA Loans (technically SBA loans fall under IA) – loans are made to replace disaster-related damages to home or personal property, to business owners to repair damaged property
- USDA financial and technical assistance to help farmers deal with on-farm damages and compensate for production losses
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE:
- Aid to public and certain nonprofit entities for emergency services and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged public facilities
- There are seven categories of public assistance:
Category A: Debris Removal
Debris Removal is the clearance, removal, and/or disposal of items such as trees, woody debris, sand, mud, silt, gravel, building components, wreckage, vehicles, and personal property.
For debris removal to be eligible, the work must be necessary to:
· Eliminate an immediate threat to lives, public health and safety
· Eliminate immediate threats of significant damage to improved public or private property
· Ensure the economic recovery of the affected community to the benefit of the community-at-large
· Mitigate the risk to life and property by removing substantially damaged structures and associated appurtenances as needed to convert property acquired through a FEMA hazard mitigation program to uses compatible with open space, recreation, or wetlands management practices
Examples of eligible debris removal activities include:
- Debris removal from a street or highway to allow the safe passage of emergency vehicles
- Debris removal from public property to eliminate health and safety hazards
Examples of ineligible debris removal activities include:
- Removal of debris, such as tree limbs and trunks, from natural (unimproved) wilderness areas
- Removal of pre-disaster sediment from engineered channels
- Removal of debris from a natural channel unless the debris poses an immediate threat of flooding to improved property
Debris removal from private property is generally not eligible because it is the responsibility of the individual property owner. If property owners move the disaster-related debris to a public right-of-way, the local government may be reimbursed for curbside pickup and disposal for a limited period of time. If the debris on private business and residential property is so widespread that public health, safety, or the economic recovery of the community is threatened, FEMA may fund debris removal from private property, but it must be approved in advance by FEMA.
Category B: Emergency Protective Measures
Emergency Protective Measures are actions taken by Applicants before, during, and after a disaster to save lives, protect public health and safety, and prevent damage to improved public and private property. Emergency communications, emergency access and emergency public transportation costs may also be eligible.
Examples of eligible emergency protective measures are:
- Warning devices (barricades, signs, and announcements)
- Search and rescue
- Security forces (police and guards)
- Construction of temporary levees
- Provision of shelters or emergency care
- Sandbagging
- Bracing/shoring damaged structures
- Provision of food, water, ice and other essential needs
- Emergency repairs
- Emergency demolition
- Removal of health and safety hazards
Category C: Roads and Bridges
Roads (paved, gravel, and dirt) are eligible for permanent repair or replacement under the Public Assistance Program, unless they are Federal-aid roads. Eligible work includes repair to surfaces, bases, shoulders, ditches, culverts, low water crossings, and other features, such as guardrails. Damage to the road must be disaster-related to be eligible for repair. In addition, repairs necessary as the result of normal deterioration, such as "alligator cracking," are not eligible because it is pre-disaster damage.
Landslides and washouts often affect roads. Earthwork in the vicinity of a road may be eligible, but only if the work is necessary to ensure the structural integrity of the road.
Road or bridge closures resulting from a disaster may increase traffic loads on nearby roads. If diverted traffic causes damage to a road, FEMA may pay to repair this damage if no alternative is available. Restoration of a damaged road may include upgrades necessary to meet current codes and standards, as defined by the State or local department of highways. Typical standards affect lane width, loading design, and construction materials.
Bridges are eligible for repair or replacement under the Public Assistance Program, unless they are on a Federal-aid road. Eligible work includes repairs to decking, guardrails, girders, pavement, abutments, piers, slope protection, and approaches. Only repairs of disaster-related damage are eligible. In some cases, FEMA may use pre-disaster bridge inspection reports to determine if damage to a bridge was present before the disaster.
Work to repair scour or erosion damage to the channel and stream banks is eligible if the repair is necessary to ensure the structural integrity of the bridge. Earthwork that is not related to the structural integrity of the bridge is not eligible. Similarly, work to remove debris, such as fallen trees, from the channel at the bridge is eligible if the debris could cause further damage to the structure or if the blockage could cause flood waters to inundate nearby homes, businesses, or other facilities.
When replacement of a damaged bridge is warranted, eligible work may include upgrades necessary to meet current standards for road and bridge construction, as defined by the State or local highway department. Typical standards affect lane width, loading design, construction materials, and hydraulic capacity. If code requires, and if the Applicant has consistently enforced that code, FEMA will permit changes in the bridge design from one lane to two lanes to include access modification for a short distance (i.e., within area of damage). This does not apply to other expansions of capacity (e.g., from two lanes to four lanes).
Permanent restoration of a road or bridge that service USACE or NRCS levees and dams, private and commercial roads, and homeowners' association roads or fall under the authority of the Federal Highway Administration is not eligible for public assistance.
Category D: Water Control Facilities
Water control facilities include dams and reservoirs, levees, lined and unlined engineered drainage channels, shore protective devices, irrigation facilities, and pumping facilities.
Restoration of the carrying capacity of engineered channels and debris basins may be eligible, but maintenance records or surveys must be produced to show the pre-disaster capacity of these facilities. The pre-disaster level of debris in the channel or basin is of particular importance to determine the amount of newly deposited disaster-related debris. Such a facility must also have had a regular clearance schedule to be considered an actively used and maintained facility.
Restoration of reservoirs to their pre-disaster capacity also may be eligible in accordance with the criteria for debris basins described above. Not all reservoirs are cleaned out on a regular basis, and evidence of pre-disaster maintenance must be provided to FEMA. In addition, removal of debris that poses an immediate threat of clogging or damaging intake or adjacent structures may be eligible.
The USACE and NRCS have primary authority for repair of flood control works, whether constructed with Federal or non-Federal funds, as well as authority over federally funded shore protective devices. Permanent repairs to these facilities are not eligible through the PA Program.
Category E: Public Buildings and Equipment
Public buildings, including contents such as furnishings and interior systems such as electrical work, are eligible for repair or replacement under the Public Assistance Program. In addition to contents, FEMA will pay for the replacement of pre-disaster quantities of consumable supplies and inventory. FEMA will also pay for the replacement of library books and publications. Removal of mud, silt, or other accumulated debris is eligible, along with any cleaning and painting necessary to restore the building.
If an insurance policy applies to a facility, FEMA will deduct from eligible costs the amount of insurance proceeds, actual or anticipated, before providing funds for restoration of the facility. FEMA will reduce public assistance grants by the maximum amount of insurance proceeds an Applicant would receive for an insurable building located in an identified floodplain that is not covered by Federal flood insurance. The reduction in eligible costs will be the larger of the two reductions just described. The owners of insurable buildings can expedite the grant process by providing FEMA with policy and settlement information as soon as possible after a disaster occurs.
FEMA may pay for upgrades that are required by certain codes and standards. Examples include roof bracing installed following a hurricane, seismic upgrades to mitigate damage from earthquakes, and upgrades to meet standards regarding use by the disabled. For repairs, upgrades are limited to damaged elements only. If a structure must be replaced, the new facility must comply with all applicable codes and standards regardless of the level of FEMA funding.
If a damaged building must be replaced, FEMA has the authority to pay for a building with the same capacity as the original structure. However, if the standard for space per occupant has changed since the original structure was built, FEMA may pay for an increase in size to comply with that standard while maintaining the same occupant capacity. A Federal or State agency or statute must mandate the increase in space; it cannot be based only on design practices for an industry or profession.
Category F: Utilities
Typical Utilities include:
- Water treatment plants and delivery systems
- Power generation and distribution facilities, including generators, substations, and power lines
- Sewage collection systems and treatment plants
- Telecommunications
The owner of a facility is responsible for determining the extent of damage incurred. FEMA does not provide funds for random surveys to look for damage, such as TV inspection of sewer lines. If disaster-related damage is evident, however, FEMA may pay for inspections to determine the extent of the damage and method of repair.
While FEMA will pay for restoration of damaged utilities, FEMA does not provide funds for increased operating expenses resulting from a disaster. Similarly, FEMA cannot provide funds for revenue lost if a utility is shut down. However, the cost of establishing temporary, emergency services in the event of a utility shut-down may be eligible.
Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities, and Other Items
Repair and restoration of parks, playgrounds, pools, cemeteries, and beaches. This category also is used for any work or facility that cannot be characterized adequately by Categories A-F
Eligible publicly-owned facilities in this category include: playground equipment, swimming pools, bath houses, tennis courts, boat docks, piers, picnic tables, and golf courses.
Other types of facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities, that are located in parks and recreational areas are also eligible and are subject to the eligibility criteria for Categories C, D, E, and F.
Natural features are not eligible facilities unless they are improved and maintained. This restriction applies to features located in parks and recreational areas. Specific criteria apply to beaches and to trees and ground cover.
Beaches. Emergency placement of sand on a natural or engineered beach may be eligible when necessary to protect improved property from an immediate threat. Protection may be to a 5-year storm profile or to its pre-storm profile, whichever is less.
A beach is considered eligible for permanent repair if it is an improved beach and has been routinely maintained prior to the disaster. A beach is considered to be an "improved beach" if the following criteria apply:
- the beach was constructed by the placement of sand to a designed elevation, width, grain size, and slope; and
- the beach has been maintained in accordance with a maintenance program involving the periodic re-nourishment of sand at least every 5 years.
Typically, FEMA will request the following from an applicant before approving assistance for permanent restoration of a beach:
- design documents and specifications, including analysis of grain size;
- "as-built" plans;
- documentation of regular maintenance or nourishment of the beach; and
- pre- and post-storm cross sections of the beach.
Permanent restoration of sand on natural beaches is not eligible.
Trees and Ground Cover. The replacement of trees, shrubs, and other ground cover is not eligible. This restriction applies to trees and shrubs in recreational areas, such as parks, as well as trees and shrubs associated with public facilities, such as those located in the median strips along roadways and as landscaping for public buildings. Grass and sod are eligible only when necessary to stabilize slopes and minimize sediment runoff.
This restriction does not affect removal of tree debris or the removal of trees as an emergency protective measure. FEMA will reimburse for the removal of tree debris and the removal of trees as emergency protective measures if the removal eliminates an immediate threat to lives, public health and safety, and improved property, or if removal is necessary to ensure the economic recovery of the affected community to the benefit of the community-at-large. However, FEMA will not reimburse for the replacement of these trees.
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