The Week Just Past: Misery Index High!

Register for FEMA Assistance

FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program

Helping Businesses Recover

Temporarily Moved?  Let the Post Office Know

 

The Week Just Past: Misery Index High!

“As I write this, it is Hurricane Sandy + 10 days and people are justifiably angry that they are among hundreds of thousands of customers still without power. Reports of power restoration are little consolation for people still without electricity!

“This huge storm was predicted for over a week before landfall so it is inexcusable that our main utilities, JCP&L and PSE&G, were not better prepared.

“Yes, we all acknowledge that Hurricane Sandy was a storm of historic proportions and damage. But it is not too much to expect that the utilities would have stepped up by now in terms of communication and accountability.

“Credit is due to Governor Christie and his Cabinet for their leadership. It will be a long road, but they have put our state on the path to recovery.

“In addition, we must recognize that members of our New Jersey National Guard, our Mayors, Sheriffs, first responders, police, firefighters, EMTs, first aid squads, our county and local Office of Emergency Management personnel and volunteers, hospital personnel, nursing home workers and in-state and out-of-state utility technicians have been working long days and nights to support our citizens.

“As recovery continues, we continue to speak to hundreds of area residents. If you have a question or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my Morristown office at 973-984-0711 or my Washington office at 202-225-5034.”

Rodney Frelinghuysen

Expanding Disaster Assistance

Earlier this week, Rodney announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had amended the federal disaster declaration for the State of New Jersey to provide Individual Assistance (IA) to residents in Morris, Sussex and Passaic County.  Essex and Somerset County received this designation last week.   

“Every hour since this storm, we are working on a non-partisan basis with Governor Christie to help New Jersey families and businesses recover from this historic disaster as quickly as possible,” he said. “This declaration is a strong step toward ensuring that our communities receive the aid they need in a timely way.”

On October 30, 2012, President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the State of New Jersey triggering the release of Federal funds to help individuals and communities recover from Hurricane Sandy. The announcement earlier this week broadens the declaration to allow “Individual Assistance” to flow to residents of three more northern New Jersey communities. It also allows small businesses to apply for Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans and triggers certain IRS business tax extensions.

The Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial help or direct services to those who have necessary expenses and serious needs if they are unable to meet the needs through other means. Up to $31,900 is available in financial help (adjusted each year), although some forms of IHP assistance have limits. 

Flood insurance may be required as indicated below. These forms of help are available: Housing Assistance (including Temporary Housing, Repair, Replacement, and Semi-Permanent or Permanent Housing Construction) and Other Needs Assistance (including personal property and other items).

Register for FEMA Assistance

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in New Jersey can apply for assistance by registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov, or bycalling 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 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. 

FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program Serves those with “Inaccessible or Unlivable” Homes

At the state’s request, FEMA has activated its Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, which allows eligible evacuees from Hurricane Sandy, who cannot return to their homes, to stay in hotels or motels until more suitable housing accommodations are available.

This federal assistance is intended to provide a place to stay for a longer period of time for evacuees whose neighborhoods are not accessible or whose houses have been destroyed. The initial period of assistance is from Nov. 1, 2012 to Nov. 14, 2012, with a Nov. 15 checkout. However, this federal program will not reimburse applicants for previously incurred hotel expenses. Applicants are responsible for their own meals and for any lodging costs above the authorized allowance.

"To be eligible to receive this federal assistance you must register with FEMA,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael J. Hall. "Keep in mind the TSA initiative is only a temporary fix. We are working diligently with our state and local partners to develop a long-term housing solution to help people until their homes and communities are repaired or rebuilt. But, again, you must register with FEMA to be able to benefit from this short-term aid."

You can register for FEMA assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (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.

Eligible evacuees must fit the following criteria:

1. FEMA must be able to verify the identity of the evacuee;

2. The primary residence of the evacuee must be in one of the counties that has been designated a disaster area; and

3. The primary residence is inaccessible or unlivable due to damage or lack of power.

TSA allows eligible individuals or families to stay in a hotel or motel for a limited time and have the cost of the room and taxes paid directly to the hotel by FEMA. Meals, telephone calls and other incidental charges are not covered.

For more information, please visit: http://www.fema.gov/news-release/fema-transitional-sheltering-assistance-activated-new-jersey-and-new-york-survivors.

Temporarily Moved?  Let the Post Office Know

TheUnited State Postal Service (USPS) wants to remind customers who have evacuated or relocated due to storm damage or a lack of electricity to submit a change of address, place mail on hold or request that mail be temporarily forwarded to their new location. 

There are three services that will help customers maintain a continuous flow of mail:

A Change of Address, General Delivery or Premium Forwarding Service (PFS). 

To sign up for all of the available forwarding and Change of Address services, please visit www.usps.com and click on the "Manage Your Mail" tab.

Helping Businesses Recover

The U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) electronic loan application (ELA) is the way for homeowners, renters and businesses to apply for a disaster loan for Hurricane Sandy damages in New Jersey. 

The ELA provides a convenient alternative to visiting a Disaster Recovery Center (soon to be opened in Morris, Sussex, Essex, Somerset and Passaic counties) or mailing in a paper loan application. The online program checks for errors, prompts for more information when needed and provides a quicker decision than the hand-written applications.

Visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela to apply online.

For more information, call the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955(800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or go to www.sba.gov.