NEWSLETTERLast Updated: March 12, 2013 at 12PM
Emergency Services Available in New York City:
NYS Emergency Management:
Hurricane Sandy Relief Line: 1-888-769-7243
Emergency contact numbers for all of New York State.
NYC Restoration Centers: NYC Restore helps New Yorkers in the areas most affected by Hurricane Sandy get access to important information and services to help them recover. NYC Restoration Centers in Coney Island, Red Hook, Gravesend, Fort Tilden, Far Rockaway, and Staten Island provide Food and Nutrition Assistance, Temporary Housing Information, Health and Medical Benefits, Counseling services, and more. Open daily, from 8AM-8PM (Updated 11/15/12 at 10:45AM).
NY Department of Labor is Hiring Clean-up Workers: (888) 469-7365
New York State has received $27.8 million in federal National Disaster Emergency Grant funds to hire clean-up workers to recover communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy and put unemployed New Yorkers back to work. Must be unemployed due to the hurricane, or be long-term unemployed. Call the number above, or contact your local Disaster Recovery Centers, or Workforce1 Career Centers.
To submit a preliminary application, please click here.
NY State Hurricane Health Tips: The NYS Governor’s page posts numerous tips for those affected by Hurricane Sandy. There is information on prescription medications, health care insurance information, as well as additional flood related information.
Mobile Medical Vans: Mobile medical vans staffed with primary care providers who will be able to provide medical care and distribute commonly prescribed drugs are now available at several locations in the Rockaways, Brooklyn, and Staten Island (Updated 12/7/12 at 5:00PM).
Occupy Sandy Relief: Live updates of emergency service sites all over New York City (Live updates).
Google Crisis Map: Map with up-to-date locations of gas stations, shelters and other service sites in New York City (Live updates).
NYC Food & Water Distribution Centers: Offering food and water distribution. AT&T will set up pods for cell coverage and charging stations (Updated 11/29/12 at 12:51PM).
Click here for all sites distributing prepared food (Updated 1/28/13 at 6:30PM).
Salvation Army: Constantly updated list of emergency food locations (Updated 11/5/12).
Citymeals (for Seniors):Delivers shelf-stable meals to seniors. If you come across senior housing, please notify Rachel@citymeals.org.
Food Bank: Link to the Food Bank of New York City’s main page.
Daytime Warming Centers and Nighttime Warming Centers: With the drop in temperatures, the City is providing warming centers located within Senior Centers in the five boroughs for a place to get out of the cold during the day and night (Updated 3/10/13 at 5:00PM).
FEMA: Text “SHELTER” + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: “SHELTER 10030″).
FEMA Housing Portal: The FEMA Housing Portal consolidates rental resources identified and provided by federal agencies in order to help individuals and families, who have been displaced by a disaster, find a place to live.
FEMA NYS Federal Aid Programs: A list of all federal aid programs available to those affected by Hurricane Sandy, including rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable: initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters.
Red Cross: Provides shelter, including hot meals, essential relief supplies, emotional support and health services like first aid (Updated every 30 minutes).
Salvation Army: Offers locations of shelters (Updated 11/5/12)
Neighborhood-specific Recovery Pages (Updated daily):
- Lower East Side: (646) 580-7473
- Astoria: (347) 709-4636
- Red Hook: (347) 770-1528
- Staten Island: (347) 934-9927
- Hoboken
Disaster Aid Available in New York City:
Disaster Assistance: An online questionnaire to asses eligibility for government benefits (English and Spanish).
National Immigration Law Center: For immigration-status related questions.
NYCEDC Back to Business: The City of New York is coordinating various programs and services to help businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy. These programs include emergency loans for working capital, repairs/replacement of real estate, equipment, inventory and other business assets. Additional resources include temporary work spaces as well as employee retention and assistance programs to help retain your staff during this time.
Property Tax Relief Initiative: New York City has issued an interest-free extension on the next property tax bill for residential properties damaged beyond repair or in need of extensive structural repairs before they can be re-inhabited. The grace period will postpone payments due on January 1, 2013 to April 1, 2013. There is also a proposal to reimburse homeowners for a portion of the property taxes due this Fiscal Year so that the payments more accurately reflect properties’ post-storm values.
Legal Services NYC City-Wide Sandy Recovery Hotline: (347) 592-2411 Available 10AM-3PM: Legal Services NYC Legal staff can help answer any questions you may have about how the recovery affects your public benefits, foreclosure, employment, housing, how to access assistance, and more. This hotline is able to take calls from all non-English speakers.
Click to download Disaster Relief Legal Assistance Manual
Make the Road By Walking: Free legal assistance for Spanish-speaking and immigrant New Yorkers in NYC: they can help you find and access emergency services and make sure that language access and immigration status do not prevent anyone from getting the shelter, supplies and help they need.
Legal Aid Society Disaster Relief Hotline: 888-663-6880
Beginning in the immediate aftermath of the storm, Legal Aid staff members have been providing comprehensive disaster relief legal assistance at the shelters for homeless and displaced New Yorkers, at the disaster centers, at community-based organizations, and through the Society’s Mobile Justice Unit. The Legal Aid Society has targeted disaster relief services in the most affected communities in Far Rockaway, Coney Island, Red Hook, and Staten Island.
NYLAG Storm Relief Effort: (212) 584-3365 or StormHelp@nylag.org NYLAG has placed their staff at disaster relief centers and community-based organizations and hospitals in New York City. Attorneys and volunteers will be onsite to provide legal advice to victims dealing with issues including FEMA claims, housing disputes, consumer matters and emergency public benefits.
The Family Center: (212) 766-4522 x150 Free legal services to families and individuals impacted by Hurricane Sandy. These services include legal counseling and representation for hurricane-affected New Yorkers who are experiencing difficulty with housing or public benefits, such as social security or food stamps.
Touro Law Center – Hurricane Emergency Assistance and Referral Team: For Long Island residents only: The Center will provide help in assessing eligibility and completing application forms for the wide range of emergency assistance available to storm victims, both individuals and small businesses (e.g., food stamps, government loans and grants); free legal consultation and advice on storm-related legal issues (e.g., insurance, landlord-tenant, consumer complaints, unemployment); assistance to members of the Touro Law community who are in need.
FEMA Federal Aid Programs:
Click here to apply online.
Click to download FEMA Declaration and Release Form
Loans up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance, and loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact.
Small Business Association: Physical disaster loans for small businesses.
Repair and Replacement Grants:
FEMA Federal Aid Programs:
Click here to apply online
Click to download FEMA Declaration and Release Form
Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs.
FEMA Federal Aid Programs:
Click here to apply online.
Click to download FEMA Declaration and Release Form
Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance:
Individuals ineligible for regular unemployment insurance (e.g. self-employed individuals) can receive disaster unemployment assistance.
- To apply online, click below:
New York State Governor’s Office: The Department of Labor has extended the date of certification of unemployment benefits for individuals impacted by Hurricane Sandy to November 17, 2012.
To apply for unemployment benefits or disaster unemployment assistance, those affected by the storm and have lost their job or income should call the Department of Labor’s Telephone Claims Center (TCC) at 1-888-209-8124 by February 4, 2013.
US Department of Labor: Click here to apply online; to apply by phone, call 1-888-209-8124 for New York State residents, 1-877-358-5306 for out-of-state residents (8AM-5PM, Monday-Friday).
Resources for Non-Profit Organizations:
Community Resource Exchange:
The Community Resource Exchange has compiled resources for nonprofits that have been impacted by Hurricane Sandy relating to City, State, Federal, Legal, Funding, and Volunteer support. Nonprofits that need specific help can fill out a form here. Contact pdicent@crenyc.org to post a resource.
Grant Support and Technical Assistance:
Direct Relief International:
An organization that that provides medications, vaccines, first aid supplies, nutritional products (including infant formula), syringes and other medical equipment to healthcare providers who care for vulnerable people on an ongoing basis and during emergencies. Note: In order for organizations to be eligible, they need to have a FT physician/medical director on staff and be able to store medicine and other products according to regulations. If interested, email Katie Lewis at klewis@directrelief.org.