UPDATE: Important information for constituents regarding Hurricane Sandy

As New York continues its recovery efforts, I hope that you and your family made it through this terrible time safely. I wanted to pass along some important information, tips, and reminders that may be useful to you during this time.

UPDATES:

Food, Water & Supply Distribution at City-Run Resource Sites

The City has opened food and water distribution sites in the hardest hit areas and are staffed by City employees, volunteers, the Salvation Army and National Guard. Locations and hours: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/foodandwater.html.

Shelter for Those without Heat
Evacuation shelters remain open and as of Monday morning, they were 1,464 evacuees and 450 staff.
 
•    There are six shelters operating and two locations were those in need can seek referrals to shelter sites:http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/hurricane_shelters.html.
 
•    The City also has opened daytime-only warming centers at senior centers in every borough: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/warming_ctr.html.
 
•    Those who are using generators in their homes to run their heat should be very careful to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by never using portable generators indoors, in garages or near open windows.
 
•    Early signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, confusion or sleepiness, slowed or slurred speech, stiffness in arms and legs, poor control over body movements and slow reaction.

Jobs for Unemployed

Governor Cuomo announced over $27 million was allocated in federal grants to hire workers to clean up communities impacted by Sandy.  This grant is provided to New Yorkers who lost employment due to Sandy or are unemployed and not receiving unemployment benefits.

Those interested should call 1-888-4-NYSDOL (1-888-469-7365) or complete the application here:

https://labor.ny.gov/secure/neg/2012-hurricane-sandy-form.asp
 

NEW YORKERS WARNED TO WATCH OUT FOR POST-DISASTER SCAM ARTISTS

NEW YORK – As many New Yorkers work to recover from Hurricane Sandy, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are warning of another danger: Phony building contractors and other scam artists often appear in communities struggling to recover from a disaster.

“In times of crisis, New Yorkers pull together,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “However, some people will try to take advantage of vulnerable survivors. We strongly recommend that folks take a few simple steps to make sure they’re dealing with an honest person.” 

Here are a few of the most common post-disaster fraud practices:

Phony housing inspectors: If home damage is visible from the street, an owner/applicant may be especially vulnerable to the phony housing inspector who claims to represent FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). An applicant should ALWAYS:

• Ask to see the inspector’s identification badge if he or she does not offer to show it. A FEMA or SBA shirt or jacket is not proof of someone’s affiliation with the government. All federal employees and contractors carry official, laminated photo identification.
• Do not give bank account numbers to an inspector claiming to be affiliated with the federal government. FEMA inspectors never require banking information.

It is important to note that FEMA housing inspectors verify damage, but do not hire or endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs.  They do not determine your eligibility for assistance.

Fraudulent building contractors: Damage visible from the street also can bring out fraudulent contractors who visit an applicant’s home offering to begin work immediately. When hiring a contractor: 

• Use licensed local contractors backed by reliable references, get a written estimate from at least three contractors, including the cost of labor and materials, and read the fine print.

• Demand that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. If he or she is not insured, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property.

Bogus pleas for post-disaster donations: Unscrupulous solicitors may play on the sympathy for disaster survivors. They know that many people want to help others in need. Disaster aid solicitations may arrive by phone, email, letter or face-to-face visits.  Verify legitimate solicitation:

• Ask for the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number, and web address, then phone the charity directly and confirm that the person asking for funds is an employee or volunteer. 
• Don’t pay with cash — instead, pay by check made out to the charity in case funds must be stopped later.
• Request a receipt with the charity’s name, street address, phone number and web address (if applicable). Legitimate nonprofit agencies routinely provide receipts for tax purposes.

Fake offers of state or federal aid: Beware if anyone claiming to be from FEMA or the state visits, calls or emails asking for an applicant’s Social Security number, bank account number or other sensitive information. Beware — that information may be sold to identity thieves or used to defraud. A twist on this scam is the phone or in-person solicitor who promises to speed up the insurance, disaster assistance or building-permit process. Then there are scam artists who promise a disaster grant and ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full. Here’s what to do:

• Know that federal and state workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA and SBA staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications. If in doubt, do not give out information, and report people claiming to be government workers to local police.
• Provide your Social Security number and banking information only when registering for FEMA assistance, either by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585, or going online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via a web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362.

If you suspect someone is perpetrating fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721. Complaints may also be made to local law enforcement agencies and to the New York State Attorney General’s office in New York at 212-416-8300 or go to their web site at: www.ag.ny.gov.

Disaster survivors who have any questions can call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/40805.

NYC Restore

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg launched NYC Restore to connect New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Sandy with the financial, health, environmental and residential services they need – as well as FEMA reimbursement. The initiative includes:

NYC Restoration Centers open from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM in Far Rockaway, Gravesend, Coney Island and Staten Island

Centers in Red Hook, Breezy Point and Throggs Neck-Pelham Bay will open later this week

Human Resources Administration staff will provide information on Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and temporary cash assistance

Department of Small Business Services will provide information on loans and reimbursements to small businesses

The Departments of Health, Consumer Affairs, Housing Preservation and Development and Aging, as well as the Administration for Children Services also on site

Information on NYC Rapid Repairs and FEMA reimbursements available here: nyc.gov.

Partnership with Local Food Trucks

The Mayors Fund to Advance New York City partnered with the NYC Food Truck Association, NYC Food Film Festival and local food trucks to coordinate hot food distribution in areas severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

Since the start of the partnership, the food trucks have served or donated 88,052 meals. The locations and hours are available here:http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/hot_food.html.

Volunteering, Donating and Giving Blood
 
•    To date, more than 12,800 donors from around the country have contributed over $38 million to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City in support of Hurricane Sandy relief.
 
•    Cash donations to support these and other efforts can be made through the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. Learn more here: nyc.gov/fund
 
•    Cash donations are preferable to in-kind donations because the logistics of collecting and distributing those supplies are complex.
 
•    Anyone wishing to make cash contributions can go to nyc.gov or call 311 for details.

Support to Businesses
 
            The City’s Department of Small Business Services and Economic Development Corporation have put together a package of support for NYC businesses impacted by the storm:
 
•         Emergency low-interest loans of up to $25,000 for businesses that have been interrupted and suffered damage as a result of the storm. Applications are available at any of the City’s NYC Business Solutions Centers, by calling 311 and asking for “NYC Business Emergency Loan,” or by visiting nyc.gov/contactnycbiz.
 
•         For businesses facing significant rebuilding costs, the City will provide sales tax exemptions of up to $100,000 on purchases of materials, equipment and related services needed to rebuild. Learn more here: nycedc.com/backtobusiness
 
•         For displaced businesses, the City has identified more than 170,000 square feet that will be made available free of charge, including 40,000 square feet of City space at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and more than 125,000 square feet of space that private landlords have made available, across the five boroughs. A full listing of commercial spaces and other resources is available at nycedc.com/donations.
 
•         Information on disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration is available at any of the City’s NYC Business Solutions Centers, by calling 800-659-2955, or by visiting sba.gov/disaster.
 
•         Alliance for Coney Island—a nonprofit organization formed, with the help of the City, to continue the transformation of Coney Island into a year-round, world-class recreational oceanfront destination—launched ConeyRecovers.org, a multipronged relief and recovery effort to help Coney Island residents and businesses dealing with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The Alliance is comprised of all major Coney businesses, and the City has provided them with $630,000 in funding originally allocated to the Coney Island Development Corporation which will wind down operations.

Mobile Medical Vans with Prescription Services
            The City has deployed vans staffed with primary care providers who will be able to provide medical care and distribute commonly prescribed drugs at several locations in the Rockaways, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Volunteers are also going door-to-door to reach people who may have medical needs but remain in their homes without heat and power. The location and hours are available here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/medical_vans.html.
 
Odd-Even Gasoline Purchasing System
           
An emergency order establishing an odd-even license plate system for gasoline purchases remains in effect until further notice. It operates as follows:
 
•    Vehicles with license plates ending in an even number or ‘zero’ purchase fuel on even numbered days.
 
•    Vehicles with license plates ending in an odd number purchase fuel on odd numbered days.
 
•    Vehicles with licenses plates ending in letters will be deemed as odd numbered plates and can make purchases on odd numbered days.
 
•    Commercial vehicles, emergency vehicles, buses and paratransit vehicles, Medical Doctor (MD) plates and vehicles licensed by the Taxi and limousine Commission are exempt.

Rockaway Ferry Service
            On Monday, Seastreak began ferry service between the Rockaways and Manhattan. Ferries depart from Beach 108th Street and Beach Channel Drive and stop at Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan. There are free transfer between Pier 11 and East 34th Street in Midtown. One-way fares will cost $2.00
 
            The Economic Development Corporation installed a temporary landing in the Rockaways to accommodate the temporary ferry service.

Department of Buildings Application & Fee Waiver
 
As part of the City’s ongoing recovery and assistance operations to help New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Sandy, Mayor Bloomberg signed an emergency order today waiving application and permit fees for Hurricane Sandy repair work until further notice.
 
•    Buildings with significant structural damage in need of demolition, alterations or reconstruction will have all their repair work fees waived.
•    In addition, all fees for electrical and plumbing repair work will be waived until further notice for any building damaged by the storm.

NYC Rapid Repairs
Mayor Bloomberg announced NYC Rapid Repairs, a new program to send teams of contractors and City inspectors to areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy:
 
•    Under unprecedented partnership with FEMA, City will coordinate all repair work
•    Crews work to quickly and efficiently repair damaged homes
•    Homeowners can sign up on nyc.gov or 311 to secure; they must also register for a FEMA ID number from disasterassistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362

More School Buildings Open
 
            Three schools that had been closed for repairs following Hurricane Sandy opened today, allowing 2,300 students, their teachers and staff to return from their relocated school sites. One school will reopen to students and teachers tomorrow. Thirty-three schools will remain closed and their 15,000 students will continue to attend class at other schools.
 
            Parents should continue to check the status of their schools by:
 
•         Clicking here for the school locator search or by going to www.nyc.gov/schools.
•         Call 311 or texting “nycschools” or ‘escuela’ to 877-877.
 
            The Department of Education has coordinated transportation options for families with children who have been reassigned to other school sites:
 
1.    Full reimbursement for any family of a K-8 student at a relocated school taking MTA/cab service to and from school.
 
2.    55 cents per mile reimbursement for any family of a student at a relocated school who uses their own vehicles.
 
3.    Free metro-cards will be distributed to all high school students at relocated schools who do not already have one.

Update Nov. 5:

FOOD AND WATER DISTRIBUTION:

The National Grid is preparing for water and food distribution in the areas most affected by Hurricane Sandy.  This will include ready to eat, packaged, shelf stable meals and 16 oz. water bottles for individuals.  These distribution sites will be set up in outside tents in all the areas listed below. These distributions will occur daily, through the weekend, and may be extended if needed. MONDAY, NOV 5TH 1PM-4PM. I will provide more information on this as I receive it, please check back for more details.

QUEENS (1PM-4PM, MONDAY NOV 5TH)
Rockaways

• Redfern Playground between Beach 12th Street and Redfern Avenue
• Hammel Playground between Beach 84th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard
• Beach 41st Street Houses at Beach Channel Drive and Beach 40th Street
• St. Francis De Sales Parish (129-16 Rockaway Beach Boulevard at Beach 129th Street)
• Conch Playground at Beach Channel Drive and Beach 49th Street

Brooklyn

• Corner of Brighton Beach Avenue and Coney Island Avenue
• West 25th Street and Surf Avenue
• Coffey Park (85 Richards Street between King and Verona Streets)

Staten Island

• Mill Road and New Dorp Lane
• Hunter Avenue and Father Capadanno Boulevard

Manhattan

• Pitt Street and East Houston Street
• 419 West 17th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues

Staten Island

• Corner of Mill Road and New Dorp Lane
• Father Capodanno Boulevard and Hunter Avenue

For more info please visit this site: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/foodandwater.html

INFO ABOUT SITES:
•    Each person will be able to take three meals and five bottles of water at these sites.  
•    People should bring their own bags to carry their food and water.
•    We will be distributing 500,000+ flyers in English, Spanish, and Chinese to get word out to these impacted communities.
•    400 members of the National Guard, 150 volunteers from NYC Service, and 24 staff from the Salvation Army will help implement this program, which will include going door-to-door to take meals to homebound residents.
•    Supplies are being delivered by FEMA in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Management.  
•    A number of companies have provided support in the form of supplies.
•    AT&T will bring pods that provide cell service and charging stations to the areas around the food distribution sites.
•    These distribution centers will be open for as long as they are needed.
•    We are working to add additional resources in these areas shortly.

CON EDISON TO CONTINUE DRY ICE DISTRIBUTION FOR CUSTOMERS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE
Con Edison will distribute dry ice at five locations TODAY (Nov. 5) 12pm-6pm to customers who are without power due to Hurricane Sandy. The company will also have personnel at the locations to answer customers’ questions.
These are the locations:

Brooklyn
MCU Park (Cyclones Stadium) – 1904 Surf Ave. (Between West 17th and West 19th streets), parking lot section 1B

Queens
Baisley Pond Park at 155th Street and Baisley Boulevard in South Jamaica

Staten Island
Father Capodanno Boulevard and Hunter Avenue (Parking lot near the Staten Island Parks Department)

Westchester County
Westchester County Center at 198 Central Ave. in White Plains
Yonkers Raceway - 810 Yonkers Ave. in Yonkers

Instructions for safe handling and disposal of dry ice are printed on the bag for residents who pick up dry ice. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and should be used only in well-ventilated areas. Keep children and pets safely away.
 

Staying Warm in the Cold Weather:

• Anyone who needs heat should find shelter, whether at one of our city facilities or with a friend or relative.
• We have opened warming centers in every borough: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/warming_ctr.html
• Today our distribution centers and volunteers have distributed thousands of blankets.  Our shelters are also open for those who are seeking warmth.  The list of shelters is here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/hurricane_shelters.html
•  We have buses running to take people to shelters tonight if they need a place to stay warm overnight.  The bus pickups are listed here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/overnight_shelter.html
• NYPD cars are patrolling areas without power and issuing notices over loudspeakers letting people know how they can get to one of these centers.
• Those who are using generators in their homes to run their heat should be very careful to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.  Tips for smart generator use are below.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers Operational TODAY!

Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers will be operational today from 1:00-8:00PM in the following locations:
•    Queens – Hillcrest High School, 160-05 Highland Avenue

•    Manhattan – Seward Park High School, 350 Grand Street

•    Staten Island – Susan Wagner High School, 1200 Manor Street

•    Nassau County – Nassau County Community College, 1 Education Drive, Garden City, NY 11730 (Beginning Friday: 8:00AM-8:00PM)

•    Suffolk County – Edward W. Bauer Elementary School, Montauk Hwy, Lindenhurst, NY 11757

Beginning, Monday, November 5, 2012, a permanent DRC will be at: H. Lee Dennison Bldg, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, NY 11788

FEMA personnel will be on hand to answer questions and help residents register for FEMA assistance.

 Next Steps for Power Restoration    

     To have power restored to homes and businesses follow these instructions:    

LIPA  

• Have your electrical equipment inspected and, if necessary, cleaned and repaired by a licensed electrical contractor. The contractor must then submit a completed Self-Certification form that is signed and sealed directly to LIPA. Form is provided by your licensed electrical contractor.    
• Your contractor can submit the Self-Certification Form to LIPA by faxing it to (631) 844-3643, emailing to servicecert@service.lipower.org or by delivering it to our temporary service center at Beach 108th Street and Beach Channel Drive in Rockaway Park.  

• Once certification is submitted, LIPA will issue a service turn-on for your location. Power will be restored within 24-72 hours. LIPA does the service turn-on internally and no action needs to be taken by residents.   

      In addition, beginning Tuesday, November 13, homeowners will be able sign up for NYC Rapid Repairs, a new program to send teams of contractors and City inspectors into neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Sandy to quickly and efficiently make necessary repairs to damaged homes. This can be done by going to NYC.gov or by calling 311. You will need a FEMA ID number, which you can get by registering at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

ConEdison

Here are three steps to self-certify:

• Get your energy equipment inspected, cleaned, and repaired by a licensed contractor.

•  Have your contractor download and complete a Self Certification Form (See links below).

Plumber Inspector Form

click here

Plumber Repair Form

click here

Electrician Inspector Form

click here

TEMPORARY FUEL TRUCKS to help provide gas to emergency vehicles and the general public. The trucks are provided by the U.S. Department of Defense at the direction of President Obama and are being deployed in coordination with the New York National Guard at the direction of the Governor. The 5,000 gallon trucks will be deployed throughout the morning and there are an additional 150,000 gallons of fuel available to restock the trucks throughout the day. There is a 10 gallon limit per vehicle. Cars can fill up directly off of the truck. Here are the locations:

Queens Armory
93-05 160th St.
Jamaica, NY 11433

Bronx Armory
10 West 195th St.
Bronx, NY 10468

Brooklyn Armory
1579 Bedford Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11225

Staten Island/Elizabeth Armory
321 Manor Road
Staten Island, NY 10314

Freeport Armory
63 Babylon Turnpike
Freeport, NY 11520

National Center for Disaster Fraud - Hotline, Consumer Tips for Reporting Hurricane-related fraud schemes

If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud by a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of hurricane victims, or if you discover fraudulent disaster relief claims submitted by a person or organization, contact the NCDF by phone at (866) 720-5721, fax at (225) 334-4707 or email at disaster@leo.gov.
You can also report suspicious e-mail solicitations or fraudulent websites to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at
www.ic3.gov.

Federal Disaster Assistance:
•    Anyone affected by Sandy – homeowners, renters, and businesses – can apply for federal disaster assistance.
•    They can register at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the Federal Emergency Management agency at 1-800-621-3362.
 

Volunteering, Donating, and Giving Blood:

• Cash donations to support these and other efforts can be made through the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.  Learn more here: nyc.gov/fund
• Generally speaking cash donations are preferable to in-kind donations because the logistics of collecting and distributing those supplies are complex
• Those who want to volunteer can visit NYC Service at: nyc.gov/service
  • Giving blood is incredibly helpful right now.  For more information visit: nybloodcenter.org

Safety:
Safety is still the number one priority. Please stay away from power lines, parks, damaged trees, beaches, boardwalks, and seawalls, these areas should be considered extremely dangerous and avoided. To report conditions such as fallen trees and sewer backups, please use 311 Online, text 311 at 311-692, or call 311. You can report power outages and live wires directly to ConEd (1-800-75-CON-ED) or LIPA (1-800-490-0075). Keep in mind that NY is still experiencing substantial power outages and ConEd and LIPA are working hard to restore power as quickly as possible. If you need information about applying for FEMA federal disaster assistance, please click here or call (800)621-3362.

Transportation/Roadways:
Update (11/5/12):

•    Alternate side parking will not be in effect Monday.
•    With most mass transit resuming, we expect that the severe congestion of this past week will start to lessen.
•    The 3-person HOV restriction on crossings into Manhattan expired Friday.
•    The Holland Tunnel is open with restriction. Details here: http://www.panynj.gov/alerts-advisories/inclement-weather.html
•    The Hugh Carey Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and the Midtown Tunnel are still closed.
•    Meters are in effect.
 
•    Subways, railroads, and buses are operating on a modified basis.
o    80 percent of the subway system, including service between Brooklyn and Manhattan, has been restored.
o    The Staten Island Railway has resumed limited service.
o    LIRR and Metro North are running with modifications, with large parts of the systems already restored.
o    Bus service is largely restored
o    Suspension of fares for MTA services is no longer in effect.  Customers should expect to pay full typical fare.
o    All details on MTA service status can be found at: mta.info
•    Monday, starting at 6 AM, NYCEDC, Seastreak, and DOT are partnering to provide temporary ferry service during the morning and evening rush hours tomorrow, from the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, to Wall Street/Pier 11 and East 35th Street.  Learn more.  
•    Staten Island Ferry service is running on its regular schedule.
•    The East River Ferry is running.
•    PATH service is still suspended as they continue to remove water from facilities and fix damage.
•    NJ Transit services have been restored on a limited basis.  Details are here: njtransit.com.
 

Update (11/1/12): Gov. Cuomo announced that LaGuardia Airport, which had experienced major flooding, will re-open at 7 a.m. Thursday. Both runways will be open.

•    There is very heavy traffic on the roads today.
•    To reduce the number of cars coming into lower Manhattan, the City has ordered that the four East River bridges be restricted to High Occupancy Vehicles only – meaning 3 or more people per vehicle.  This restriction will be in effect for Thursday and Friday, 6AM to midnight each day.  Exceptions to the HOV rules include commercial, emergency, and para-transit vehicles, as well as buses.  These restrictions will also be in effect on the RFK Triborough Bridge, the Henry Hudson Bridge, and the Lincoln Tunnel.
•    The Hugh Carey Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and the Holland Tunnel are both closed.  The Lincoln Tunnel is open.
•    We are establishing bus lanes on key corridors – including 3rd Avenue, Lexington Avenue, and Flatbush Avenue.
•    People should be extremely cautious when driving, particularly at intersections where traffic lights have no power.
•    We encourage people to stay off the roads if at all possible.  If they have any other option to get to work, they should use it.

For updated subway and bus info please visit: www.mta.info

Subway service will be limited Thursday, due to ongoing water remediation, infrastructure repairs and power related problems. Limited service will operate along parts of several routes between The Bronx, Upper Manhattan and Midtown. Other lines will run in parts of Queens and Brooklyn, with service terminating in Downtown Brooklyn. Since service will be limited, waits will be longer and trains will be more crowded. Customers are advised to consider changing their normal routines to travel later in the morning or later in the evening.

Bus service is operating on a near normal weekday schedule today. Some routes may be operating with minor detours due to street conditions, customers are advised to look for signage at bus stops. Customers should also expect longer waits and crowded conditions.

Building Inspections:
•    The Department of Buildings has begun inspecting buildings in hard-hit Zone A areas to assess their structural integrity. There are three areas where these inspections are happening: Staten Island, the Rockaways, and Lower Manhattan.
•    Buildings will be tagged with one of three color placards to indicate their safety:

o    Green: the building is safe to enter

o    Red: the building is not safe and may not be entered

o    Yellow: it can be occupied conditionally (i.e. one floor may be safe while another is not.) These conditions would be explained on the placard.
•    Rockaways and Lower Manhattan inspections began yesterday.
•    Building owners can also self-certify with the Department of Buildings.

Support to Businesses:
o    Emergency loans of up to $10,000 for small and mid-sized businesses that have been interrupted as a result of the storm.
o    For larger businesses that were damaged, temporary City and State sales tax deferment on materials needed for rebuilding.
o    For businesses displaced from their locations, we’re offering temporary office space free of charge at the Brooklyn Army Terminal for the next 30 days.
o    EDC has about 40,000 square feet of space at the Terminal that is now available for this use.
o    Loans up to $2 million are also available for business property losses not fully covered by insurance – and for businesses that have had cash flow problems caused by the storm and need funds to get back on their feet.

That applies to small businesses, agricultural co-ops, and most nonprofits, regardless of size.
•    To get information contact NYC Business Solutions by calling 311 or going to nyc.gov.  

Shelters:
The 76 shelters across the state will stay open until those displaced by the storm can return home or find temporary housing. NYC drinking water is safe, so if your faucet is working the water is safe to drink. NYU Langone Medical Center, Coney Island Hospital, New York Downtown, Manhattan VA Hospital have all been evacuated and will remain so until conditions are safe for return. The power needs at Bellevue Hospital and others are being closely monitored.  For food and water safety tips and how to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning when using a portable generator, please click here.

Healthcare Facilities:
•    17 chronic care facilities in Zone A have been evacuated, with 4 of those evacuations still under way.  Most of these patients were moved to other chronic care facilities, and some were moved to the 7 city shelters for those with special medical needs.  These shelters are short-term facilities, and so we are arranging for these patients to be transferred to long-term facilities by this Saturday.  All the patients from the 17 evacuated facilities are safe and being cared for.  There were no deaths from any of the evacuated facilities.
•    Bellevue Hospital is currently being evacuated.
•    Previously New York Downtown, Manhattan VA, NYU Langone, and Coney Island Hospital were evacuated.

Important Info:
•    Any food – including packaged food – that was touched by flood water should be thrown away.  The flood water may contain sewage or other contamination.
•    Other items that have been touched by flood water should be cleaned and disinfected.  This should be done as soon as possible to prevent mold growth.
•    Tap water is safe to drink.
•    Do not use generators or grills indoors.  Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious threat when these devices are used indoors.  The should only be used outside and kept away from windows and vents.
•    Everyone should have and use battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms. They should test the batteries if possible.
•    If someone experiences sleepiness, dizziness, headaches, confusion, weakness or the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, they should immediately seek fresh air and call the poison control center at 212–POISONS (212-764-7667.) They can also call 911, since poisoning is life threatening.
•    Important guides on carbon monoxide poisoning and food safety can be found at nyc.gov/health.

Parks:
Partnerships for Parks and NYC Service have joined together to host several clean- up events throughout the boroughs. Many of New York City’s parks and playgrounds were impacted by Hurricane Sandy and we are calling on New Yorkers for their help. Here are the list of parks:

Queens (Friday and Saturday only)
Brookville Park
Baisley Pond Park

If you are interested in volunteering please visit this site.

Animals:
A 24-hour hotline has been set up for New York City evacuees who were unable to bring their pets with them before Hurricane Sandy hit. Evacuees with pets still at home are urged to call New York City's Office of Emergency Management Animal Planning Task Force at (347) 573-1561 for assistance with reuniting with their companion animals.

For those New Yorkers who are able and willing to assist in the recovery efforts, you can visit facebook.com/nycservice.com. If you are a doctor or a nurse, there is great need for your assistance at shelters, details can be found here. If you would like to volunteer at Food Bank for NYC, whose network relies heavily on volunteers everyday to keep routine operations going, please visit this site.

Should you have any other questions or concerns please contact my district office at (718) 725-6000 for assistance. You can also follow me on Twitter and on Facebook for regular updates as we get them.