Recovery Information from Senator Flanagan

John J. Flanagan

Homeland Security

With Hurricane Sandy having wrought devastation on our area, this section is designed to assist you in the recovery from this massive storm. The information below contains information, phone numbers and links that will help you and your family get the assistance you need to recover from this storm.

I also welcome you to call us at 631-361-2154 if we can be of any assistance to you.

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER OR CONTRIBUTE

FEMA: Information on How You Can Help Others

Click Here To Donate To The American Red Cross To Help Your Neighbors

Because of the size of this disaster, the Red Cross is seeking volunteers to assist. Those wishing to volunteer should be in good health, and be available for assignment—throughout the region—to work 12-hour shifts, for multiple days. Training will be afforded. To volunteer, please email staffing@nyredcross.org.

Island Harvest

Please keep in mind that Island Harvest's warehouses - Uniondale, and Hauppauge - are open this weekend 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to receive food donations. Non-perishable food donations and personal care items are greatly needed! In addition, if you'd like to make a financial contribution, our office in Mineola is open as well.

They have also compiled a comprehensive list of resources that will help our neighbors as they recover and rebuild.

WABC NEWS: How You Can Help and How You Can Get Help

Newsday, News 12 and McCormick Foundation Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund

The Empire State Relief Fund - Our Mission: To provide funding, materials and services to help New Yorkers who are faced with rebuilding and restoring return to their homes and recover from the storm.

The Empire State Relief Fund is dedicated to providing resources to help recover from Hurricane Sandy and rebuild and restore homes. The challenges that New Yorkers face as a result of Hurricane Sandy are unlike any we have ever seen before. Thousands of New Yorkers saw their homes destroyed or irreparably damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Many more will face extensive, expensive repairs to make their homes habitable again. Some New Yorkers will receive a measure of assistance from private insurance, FEMA, and other government funding sources. However, in many cases, New Yorkers will face a substantial gap between the cost of repair or replacement of their home and the funds available to them to cover this cost. The Empire State Relief Fund will focus on long-term residential housing assistance to help fill the funding gap and ensure that New Yorkers can continue to call New York home.

To contribute CLICK HERE or for more information email info@empirestaterelief.com

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The Suffolk County Bar Association (SCBA) and Touro Law Center will offer free legal clinics for individuals and small business owners in need of legal advice in the wake of Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday, December 11 from 4 – 7 pm and Tuesday, December 18 from 3-6 pm. The Clinics will take place at the Suffolk County Bar Association building located at 560 Wheeler Road in Hauppauge, NY. Please click here for more information.

Assistance From FEMA

FEMA has extended the deadline for residents to register for assistance - the new deadline is January 28, 2013. Please click here for more information on how to get help

FEMA's Application Guide

FEMA Hurricane Sandy web site

FEMA Rumor Center: There is a lot of misinformation circulating on social networks regarding the response and recovery effort for Hurricane Sandy. Rumors spread fast: please tell a friend, share this page and help us provide accurate information about the types of assistance available.

Homeowners and businesses can check to see if they are eligible for disaster assistance and file applications through FEMA by visiting http://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA. According to FEMA, the toll free number will operate between 7 am to 10 pm seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA Fact Sheet

New York State Department of Financial Services

November 1, 2012: Governor Cuomo Announces Homeowners Will Not Have To Pay Hurricane Deductibles

DFS has activated a Disaster Hotline to answer consumer questions and help with problems. The Disaster Hotline number is 800-339-1759. It is staffed Monday – Friday from 8 AM – 8 PM and Saturday - Sunday from 9 AM – 4 PM.

The New York State Department of Financial Services advises residents to:

· File insurance claims with their insurers promptly and as soon as possible after losses occur. It is important to provide policy numbers and all information relevant to the loss.

· To best document losses, take photos or videos showing the extent of the losses before cleaning up damage.

· Make only necessary repairs to prevent further damage to property, like covering broken windows. Permanent repairs should not be made until after insurers have inspected losses. Damaged personal property should be kept until after an insurance settlement has been reached.

· Cooperate fully with your insurer and keep a diary of all conversations with the insurance agent, including the agent’s name, as well as the times and dates of all calls or visits.

Additionally, the Department of Financial Services set up a disaster assistance consumer hotline which consumers can call for help. Consumers can call the hotline at 1-800-339-1759 between 8 am and 8 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 4 pm on weekends.

Homeowners unable to resolve disputes with insurers can file complaints at http://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/fileacomplaint.htm.

New York State Department of Financial Services - Insurance Industry Information

New York State Department of Financial Service Disaster Information for Consumers

New York State Division of Homeland Security

New York Legal Assistance Group - As New Yorkers struggle in the wake of Storm Sandy to find safety, shelter, food, and other basic needs, legal issues related to the storm are already emerging across the five boroughs and Long Island. In response, NYLAG is mobilizing a legal aid disaster relief program to help victims of the storm deal with a range of legal issues

Community Development Corporation of Long Island (CDCLI)

Long Island residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy can access important regional, statewide and national web links and hurricane relief information by visiting the Community Development Corporation of Long Island (CDCLI) website www.cdcli.org. CDC offers several programs that may be able to assist Long Island residents, including its Emergency Home Loan Repair Program.

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Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) -For an electrical emergency - 1-800-490-0075

Report an Outage Online or call LIPA at 800-490-0075 or 631-755-6900

Click here for LIPA Outage Map

To let LIPA know if someone in your family uses life support equipment - 1-800-490-0025

National Grid Storm Central

National Grid Hurricane Sandy Recovery Page

If you are cold, consider finding shelter elsewhere. 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.

Pet Friendly Shelters In Suffolk County

Suffolk County Emergency Shelters

To find a shelter near you, visit http://www.redcross.org/find-help/shelter

American Red Cross Power Outage Checklist

Disaster Resources from Island Harvest

Updated Storm Information From Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management

Long Island 2-1-1

Disaster Assistance Guide from United Way and Long Island 2-1-1

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PLEASE CONTACT THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REPORT ANY SUSPECTED PRICE GOUGING BY CLICKING HERE OR CALLING 1-800-771-7755

Here are two informational links from the Office of the NYS Attorney General that may be helpful as we all recover from Hurricane Sandy:

Price Gouging: http://www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/ag-schneiderman-warns-against-price-inflation-necessary-goods-and-services-during

Tips for Property Owners: http://www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/ag-schneiderman-provides-guide-property-owners-they-recover-and-rebuild-hurricane-0

You can also call the hotline 1-800-771-7755 or go to the website www.ag.ny.gov
Click here for information from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) regarding service updates and advisories.

MTA Customer Service Phone Numbers MTA also advises customers to call 911 if you have information of an emergency nature to communicate to the MTA - for all other MTA services, dial 511, the New York State transit and traffic line.

For the latest info on road closures and speed restrictions, visit:
http://www.511ny.org/

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New York State Office of Emergency Management

Link to Governor Andrew Cuomo's Hurricane Sandy Website

Health and Welfare Council of Long Island

Pet Safe Coalition

New York State Division of Homeland Security

National Department of Homeland Security

Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emergency Preparedness and Response

Home Insurance.org Complete Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide - Simply click on the Emergency Preparedness button on top of the page

SPECIAL EVACUATION INSTRUCTIONS
If you must evacuate, take only necessities from the Household Preparation List, including items under "documentation"

ALSO:
Bring blankets or sleeping bags and pillows, extra clothing, eye glasses, rain gear, toiletries and hygiene products, quiet games, reading material, tools, etc.
Also, take a map, since you may encounter detours.
Be prepared to turn off electrical power when there is standing water, fallen power
lines, or before you evacuate.

Turn off gas and water supplies before you evacuate. Secure structurally unstable building materials.

Click here for evacuation planning information from
the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management

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LOCAL LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS

SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

1st Precinct 555 Route 109, West Babylon - 854-8100
2nd Precinct 1071 Park Ave, Huntington - 854-8200
3rd Precinct 1630 5th Ave, Bay Shore - 854-8300
4th Precinct 345 Old Willets Path, Hauppauge - 854-8400
5th Precinct 125 Waverly Ave, Patchogue - 854-8500
6th Precinct Route 25 / Middle Country Rd, Coram - 854-8600
7th Precinct 1419 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley - 852-8700

Town of Smithtown Department of Public Safety - 631-360-7553

Hurricane Sandy Information from the Town of Smithtown including information on garbage pickup, cell phone charging station and ice distribution information

Town of Brookhaven Department of Public Safety - 631-451-6291

Hurricane Sandy Information Page from Town of Brookhaven

Town of Huntington Public Safety - 631-351-3266

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION : IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND WEB SITES

Storm Recovery Assistance Scams

· Protect yourself from home repair and other scam artists, who may try to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners who suffered property damage from Storm Sandy.

· Please be aware that the only ways to register for FEMA help are to call 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) or visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov (or m.fema.gov from a smartphone or Web-enabled device).

· There is never a fee to apply for FEMA disaster assistance or to receive it and there is no fee for FEMA or U.S. Small Business Administration property damage inspections.

Some scams to watch out for:

· Form completion services. Beware of people charging a fee to help you complete disaster assistance forms, such as FEMA or SBA, or obtaining assistance checks. These services are provided free through FEMA and the Red Cross.

· Phony Inspectors. Never let anyone in until you have verified they have the appropriate credentials. Always ask for a telephone number so you can confirm the inspector is working for an authorized agency.

· Government Grant Offers. Be aware of entities offering "free grant money" for flood repair or disaster relief. A true grant is free and never requires any upfront fees or repayment. Check with a regional or state economic development office to see if they know of grant programs for which you might qualify, or contact your local social service agency for information or assistance.

· Advance Fee Loans. Advance fee loans are illegal. Ignore any company that “guarantees” you will receive a loan. Dishonest operators will charge a processing fee, and then promise they will find a lender. It is illegal to charge an up-front fee.

· Water Testing & Purifiers. Monitor local news media for instructions from health authorities regarding water safety and purification. Avoid offers for “free” home water testing, and be skeptical of claims that an in-home test shows your water is unsafe. If you have questions about the safety of your water, contact your local public health authority.

These are some warning signs that tell you to avoid a contractor or salesman.

Beware of anyone who:

· Comes to your home or calls you on the phone and offers to make repairs.

· Tells you that you must make repairs immediately.

Talks too fast to confuse you and pressures you to sign a contract immediately.
Tells you that they are doing work in your neighborhood and that they have extra materials left from another job.
Offers a discounted price or discounts if you refer others, but only if you buy today.
Tells you something that sounds too good to be true. It probably is not true!
Is not an established local business, but has come to the area from somewhere else to “help.”

Deadlines to apply for Public Assistance (PA) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been extended for 30 days. Counties, municipalities and certain non-profits that provide essential services of a governmental nature may qualify for PA funding to help reimburse eligible costs for rebuilding infrastructure such as bridges, roads and public utilities.

The deadline for Requests for Public Assistance (RPA) is now extended from the original deadline which was 30 days after each county was designated as part of President Barack Obama’s Hurricane Sandy New York disaster declaration.

The extended deadlines for Suffolk County is now Dec. 29, 2012

Michael F. Byrne, FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer, granted the extension following a request from the New York State Office of Emergency Management. The PA program provides for the reimbursement of 75 percent of eligible costs.

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