Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate is in New York today meeting with state and local officials and first responders, and viewing ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Sandy. The administration’s top priority is to continue supporting the State, tribal leaders and communities as response efforts continue. Community Relations Specialists are currently canvassing neighborhoods in areas damaged by hurricane Sandy, answering questions from disaster survivors and making sure they have information on how to register with FEMA. 

Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) has been approved in New York and New Jersey for eligible disaster survivors who have a continuing need for shelter because they are unable to return to their homes for an extended period of time. This initiative is intended to provide short-term lodging for eligible disaster survivors whose communities are either uninhabitable or inaccessible due to disaster-related damages. For more information, disaster survivors should call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. 

FUEL RESTORATION

The Coast Guard has re-opened the port of New York to all tug and barge traffic carrying petroleum products.  This waiver will help ensure an adequate supply of fuels in the impacted states.

Pennsylvania National Guard are deploying troops to New York and New Jersey today  to provide support and bring supplies to those states.  

The Troops main task will be to provide the hardest hit areas with about 25,000 gallons of fuel and run generators until power can be restored.

Customs and Border Protection are working to ensure air and sea ports in the affected areas are fully staffed and ready to receive passengers and cargo as they return to operation. 

At the direction of the President, a national task force has been established to increase federal, state, tribal, local and private sector coordination and restore power and fuel to people as quickly as possible.

President Obama  directed the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to purchase up to 12 million gallons of unleaded fuel and up to 10 million gallons of diesel fuel for distribution in areas impacted by the storm to supplement ongoing private sector efforts. 

On Saturday Secretary Napolitano announced the expansion of the temporary, blanket waiver of the Jones Act to also facilitate the transportation of feedstocks, blending components, and additives used to produce fuels.  On Friday, Secretary Napolitano issued a temporary, blanket waiver of the Jones Act to immediately allow additional oil tankers coming from the Gulf of Mexico to enter Northeastern ports. This will provide more fuel to the region. 

SHELTER INFORMATION 

Overnight Warm Shelter locations are listed on the NYC.gov at the following link:http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/overnight_shelter.html

Day time Warming Centers are also listed on NYC.gov at the following link:http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/warming_ctr.html

Red Cross Shelter Locator http://www.redcross.org/find-help/shelter

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

In support of New York, FEMA has transferred resources such as food, water, and fuel to the states to distribute to individuals at Points of Distribution (POD) sites. Points of Distribution are centralized points where supplies are delivered and the public travels to the site to pick up commodities following a disaster or emergency.  The state, in coordination with local governments, identifies the location of the PODs which are currently operating in hard-hit disaster areas. Individuals should contact their local emergency management office for more information.  Local officials are sharing information and available resources on public websites. New York City has posted food distribution information on their website NYC.gov for  food and water distribution  locations:http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/foodandwater.html

DONATIONS/VOLUNTEERING

The public has been an important part of the emergency management team by volunteering time, money, and energy helping disaster survivors and their communities.   The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its partner,  Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), are committed to providing their support for the Hurricane Sandy Response.  Please visit http://www.nvoad.org/ for more information.

NYC Service also has donation and volunteer information posted here. http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycservice/home.html

INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE  

Overview (as of Nov 4 @ 0130)

Total registrations: 85,666

Total assistance approved: $95,590,907

Housing Assistance approved: $93,667,668

Other Needs Assistance approved: $1,923,239

Housing inspections Assigned: 48,291

Housing inspectors in the field: 1,032

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

Overview

Effective November 3, FEMA-4085-DR was amended to include Public Assistance (Categories C-G) for Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester counties.

DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS (DRCS)

A Disaster Recovery Center is a readily accessible facility or mobile office where applicants may go for information about FEMA or other disaster assistance programs, or for questions related to their case. Disaster Recovery Centers continue to open in the hardest hit areas to provide information to survivors. Specialists from the state, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.

Total DRCs for New York: 9 in 6  counties.

To find a disaster recovery center location, check out the DRC Locator Link: http://www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers

Bronx

Edgewater Park Volunteer Fire Department

1 Adee Drive

Bronx, NY 10465

Hours 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Kings County 

Cyclone Stadium

1904 Surf Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11224

Hours 8 a.m. -  8 p.m.

Nassau County

Nassau Community College

1 Education Drive

Garden City, NY 11530

Hours 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Island Park Village Hall

127 Longbeach Rd

Island Park, NY 11558

Hours 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Queens County

Fort Tilden Park

199 Rockaway Point Blvd.

Breezy Point, NY 11697

Hours 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Duane Reade

B116 Beach Channel Drive

Far Rockaway, NY 11694

Hours 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Richmond County

Miller Field

600 New Dorp Lane

Staten Island, NY 10306

Hours 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Mount Loretto

6581 Hylan Blvd.

Staten Island, NY 10309

Hours 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Suffolk County

Opening Monday, Nov. 5th

H. Lee Dennison Building

100 Veterans Memorial Highway

Hauppauge, NY 11788

Hours:1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday

8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

REGISTRATION WITH FEMA 

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties  can apply for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).  Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.  The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.  Those in affected areas with access to the internet may register by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov, or online at www.disasterassistance.gov

SAFETY REMINDERS

Important safety reminders if you’re in an area that has been impacted by the storm:

Continue to listen to your local officials – If you evacuated and are returning home, make sure local officials have deemed the area safe to return to.

Stay off the roads - Emergency workers may be assisting people cleaning up debris. You can help them by staying off the roads and out of the way.

If your power is out, safely use a generator or candles - Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage even if doors and windows are open. Keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors and vents. Read both the label on your generator and the owner's manual and follow the instructions.  If using candles, please use caution. If possible, use flashlights instead. If you must use candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire.

Avoid downed power or utility lines - They may be live with deadly voltage.  Stay away and report them immediately to your power or utility company.