Important News and Contact Information for Nyc Residents:

As you probably know, Hurricane Sandy has wreaked havoc on New York, creating historic damage to our City's transportation systems. Flooding, fallen trees and branches, and a lack of power have devastated the MTA’s  infrastructure in every single borough of the city and every single county in the MTA region. Officials from all levels of Government along with utility workers are doing their best to move forward with the recovery effort. Please refrain from using roadways at this time, unless it is an emergency, so that emergency personnel can effectively continue the clean-up and rescue efforts. If you are in a safe place you are advised to stay there as travel conditions are still very dangerous.

The President has officially declared a major disaster for New York. Those impacted by Hurricane Sandy may contact FEMA for disaster assistance: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) / disasterassistance.gov.

Please know that my Albany office is open and available to assist you. You can contact them via Facebook, by calling 518-455-3215 or by emailing lanza@nysenate.gov.

If you have an life-threatening emergency call 911.

If you cannot return home and have immediate housing needs. Text SHELTER +your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).

If you have become separated from your family, call the American Red Cross at (877) 733-2767 or register at the “Safe and Well” website: https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php.

To report a downed tree text 311692.

There are more than 750,000 New Yorkers without power and more than 2 million state wide. Please try to be patient as our utility companies work towards restoration -- this will inevitably take time. To report outages contact Con Ed at 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633), or go to www.coned.com.

Please be advised that NYC Public Schools will remain closed tomorrow, October 31.

The Port Authority has reopened the Outerbridge, Goethals and Bayonne bridges, however, drivers are asked to refrain from using them as conditions are still dangerous and emergency teams are trying to do their jobs. The Verrazano-Narrows bridge will remained closed until further notice.

There is a volunteer effort underway at the Petrides complex. You should contact them by emailing staffing@nyredcross.org.

MORE TIPS:

Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it's not contaminated.

Stay out of any building if you smell gas, floodwaters remain around the building or your home was damaged by fire and the authorities have not declared it safe.

Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

NEVER use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.

Again, please remain where you are if you are in a safe place.