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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2012
CONTACT: Marc Cevasco
office: (202) 225-5061
email:
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“If there is any way I
can be of assistance to you and your family while you recover from the damage
done by Hurricane Sandy, please don’t hesitate to call my Hackensack office at
(201) 646-0808. However, if you are dealing with an emergency, please contact
9-1-1. In addition to reaching out to my office for recovery assistance, you
can find many useful resources listed below.”
New Jersey Emergency Information
·
Hurricane Sandy Information Center:
The State of New Jersey has set up a
website with links to various information regarding Hurricane Sandy, including Utility Restoration Plans, Business Recovery Assistance, Where to Vote, and Emergency Hotlines. To find out more information, please visit:
http://www.nj.gov/nj/home/features/spotlight/hurricane_sandy.shtml.
·
New Jersey Emergency Helpline:
Additional resources about Hurricane
help and recovery – including lists of emergency
shelters, food pantries, and soup kitchens – are available by calling
2-1-1 or (877) 652-1148 or by visiting:
http://www.nj211.org/hurricane.cfm.
·
Open pharmacies, hotels,
restaurants, and gas stations in New Jersey:
http://readynj.posterous.com/list-of-pharmacies-hotels-restaurants-and-gas?sf6985347=1&sf6985951=1
·
Power Restoration:
If you have a flooded basement,
power outage, or smell gas please call (800) 436-7734 and visit the PSE&G outage map. The public can
access Power Restoration Plans to see when service is expected to be restored
in their area by visiting the Hurricane Sandy Information Center and
selecting the link to the power utility company that serves their region.
·
Information on Road Closures/NJ
TRANSIT/Port Authority:
o
For
up to the minute transportation information including road closings, evacuation
routes, and all other breaking news, all residents should go to www.511nj.org.
o
NJ
TRANSIT customers should look for up to the minute information at www.njtransit.com or call (973)
275-5555.
o
For
up-to-date information on Port Authority facilities, visit: http://www.panynj.gov/alerts-advisories/inclement-weather.html.
·
New Jersey Voting Information
o
Text
“WHERE” to 877-877 to confirm your polling place. If, due to the storm, you are
displaced from your home or cannot reach your regular polling place, you can
vote at any polling site in New Jersey using a provisional ballot.
o
For
some, it may even be too difficult to get to any polling location. You can vote
by e-mail or fax. You may request a ballot by e-mail or fax by filling out this form before 5:00 PM on Tuesday,
November 6. All ballots must be turned in by 8:00 PM on Tuesday, November 6.
o
Information
is also available by calling 1-877-NJVOTER.
Health Services Information
·
Public Health Concerns:
To reach public health experts call
1-866-234-0964. Public Health officials are available 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays
and 10 am to 5 pm on weekends. The 2-1-1 human services hotline is open 24/7.
Governor Christie’s office has
issued guidance on the ‘Use of
Alternative Heating Devices During Extended Power Outages’ in order to
protect the safety of residents. That guidance can be found here. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) also has information about avoiding poison monoxide
poisoning from use of generators and other heating devices, which can be found
here:
http://www.cdc.gov/co/guidelines.htm.
·
Mental Health:
The Mental Health Association in New
Jersey can offer assistance through a toll free Disaster Mental Health
Helpline: 1(877) 294-HELP (4357). A TTY line is available for persons who are
deaf and hearing impaired at 1(877) 294-4356.
The federal government also has a
Disaster Distress website (http://www.disasterdistress.samhsa.gov/
and http://www.bt.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/) and
helpline that provides 24/7 crisis counseling and support resources available
at 1(800) 985-5990 or Text ‘TalkWithUS’ to 66746. The federal Helpline is
staffed by trained counselors from a network of crisis call centers located
across the U.S., all of whom provide crisis counseling for those who are in
emotional distress.
Resources for Recovering from Damage Done
to your Home
·
DisasterAssistance.gov:
The Federal Government has set up a
website dedicated to providing resources for dealing with the aftermath of a natural
disaster. Resources include ensuring your safety, financial and insurance
support, and how to go about cleaning up the damage. These resources can be
found here:
http://www.disasterassistance.gov/disaster-information/your-home.
·
Debris Removal:
New Jersey residents impacted by the
storm can call the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council at
(732) 499-0100 to request help in clearing their homes and businesses from
storm debris. The New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council
represents union bricklayers, carpenters, masons, electricians, ironworkers,
laborers, plumbers and roofers, among others.
·
Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Disaster Assistance:
FEMA has set up a webpage
specifically for victims of Hurricane Sandy, which can be accessed here: http://www.fema.gov/sandy. If you are a homeowner or a business owner
looking to apply for assistance from FEMA, first, follow these two steps:
o
STEP 1: Individuals and businesses with
damage should first contact their insurance companies. Document your damage
with photo and video. Save all receipts associated with clean-up and repair. A
list of all insurers that write home owners policies in New Jersey can be found
here.
o
STEP 2: Individuals and businesses with
uninsured or underinsured damages should register with FEMA at www.disasterassistance.gov or at m.fema.gov
on a Smartphone. You also may call (800) 621-3362 or TTY (800) 462-7585. The
toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time)
seven days a week until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should
be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent
address, and phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to
help substantiate losses.
o
Learn
what you need to know before
you apply for assistance and next steps after you apply.
o
FEMA will offer assistance to New
Jerseyans who have
been affected and displaced by Hurricane Sandy including:
-
Rental
payments for temporary housing for homes that are unlivable.
- Grants
for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by
insurance.
- Unemployment
payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs and don’t qualify
for state benefits.
-
Grants
to meet medical, dental, and other serious needs not covered by insurance.
-
Low-interest
loans for losses: residential property, business property, and personal
property.
-
Loans
for small businesses and farmers that have suffered disaster-related cash flow
problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's
adverse economic impact.
o
FEMA
has also opened three Disaster Recovery
Centers in New Jersey, and more will continue to open in order to provide
information to survivors. Specialists from the state, FEMA, and the U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA) will be on hand at the Disaster Recovery Centers
to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance
available to survivors. To find a disaster recovery center location, check out
the disaster recovery center locator at http://www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers
or by mobile phone at m.fema.gov. You may also text ‘DRC’ and a ‘Zip Code’ to
43362 (4FEMA). For example, if you lived in Hackensack, NJ you would text: ‘DRC
07601’
·
Flood Insurance Claims:
How to file a flood insurance claim
(English):
http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/preparation_recovery/file_your_claim.jsp
How to file a flood insurance claim
(Spanish):
http://www.floodsmart.gov/toolkits/spanish/downloads/spanish/consejos-para-presentar-un-reclamo.pdf
Tips on filing a flood insurance
claim: www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pdfs/Tips_for_Filing_Your_Flood_Insurance_Claim.pdf
Other Resources
·
Mortgage Relief Available for Some
Borrowers:
For information on mortgage payment
relief, homeowners should contact their mortgage servicer – the company to
which they send their monthly mortgage payment – or call Freddie Mac at
800-FREDDIE. Freddie Mac's general disaster relief policies are posted online
at:
http://www.freddiemac.com/singlefamily/service/disastermgmt.html.
·
The U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development has Announced Foreclosure Protection for Storm Victims:
Visit this link for resources:
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2012/HUDNo.12-166.
·
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
(DUA):
If you are unemployed because of the
disaster that began on Oct. 28, you should FIRST file for unemployment
insurance benefits through the Internet by going to www.njuifile.net.
The Internet processes claims faster. However, if needed, you may also file a
claim by telephone by contacting the state Department of Labor’s Re-employment
Call Centers at: North Jersey (201) 601-4100.
A 30-day deadline ending December 3,
2012 is in effect for filing DUA claims resulting from Hurricane Sandy. For
information on all New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
programs and services visit http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/index.html
and www.Jobs4Jersey.com.
For additional information regarding
Disaster Unemployment Assistance or for FEMA services please call the FEMA
emergency number at 1 (800) 621-FEMA (3362) or 1 (800) 462-7585 (TTY) for the
hearing and speech impaired. Information is also available via the Internet at www.disasterassistance.gov and www.fema.gov.
·
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Recovery Centers:
The SBA has opened Business Recovery
Centers in New Jersey. For more information, call the SBA Customer Service
Center at (800) 659-2955 or (800) 877-8339 (TTY) for the hearing and speech
impaired or visit:
http://www.sba.gov/content/2012-hurricane-and-tropical-storm-recovery-assistance-information.
·
Helping Victims of Hurricane Sandy:
If you are interested in helping
victims of Hurricane Sandy throughout New Jersey, please find resources from
the New Jersey Governor’s office here and here.
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