nysandyresources-blog

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Legal resources for Hurricane Sandy recovery

National Disaster Legal Aid posted the following:

Legal Help Disaster Legal Services hotlines for low-income survivors will be set up after recovery operations are underway. These hotlines will be set up by the ABA Young Lawyers division at FEMA's request and posted here. In NY, please call 1-800-699-5636. In the meantime, visit www.LawHelp.org to find local legal services organizations that might be able to help.

Click here to read more. 

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Schedule a time to donate blood here

Click here to schedule an appointment with the New York Blood Center to donate blood and assist in hurricane recovery efforts.

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Contact Information and Outage Maps for Utility Companies

 From Gov. Cuomo's site:

Central Hudson: http://stormcentral.cenhud.com/default.aspx, or 1-845-452-2700 or 1-800-527-2714 Con Ed: http://apps.coned.com/stormcenter_external/default.html or 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) LIPA: http://www.lipower.org/stormcenter/outagemap.html or 1-800-490-0075 National Grid: https://www1.nationalgridus.com/PowerOutageMap-NY-RES or 1-800-867-5222 (Upstate Electricity), 1-800-892-2345 (Upstate Gas), 1-718-643-4050 (Metro Area Gas), 1-800-490-0045 (Long Island Gas) NYSEG: http://outagemap.nyseg.com/ny/?style=newyork or 1-800-572-1121 Orange & Rockland: http://apps.coned.com/stormcenter_external_oru/default.html or 1-877-434-4100 RG&E: http://outagemap.rge.com/ny/?style=rge or 1-800-743-1702

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Check Out Google's Crisis Map

You can search for gas, pharmacies, restaurants, hotels, traffic conditions, damage assessments and fuel inventory here.

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Voting information for New Yorkers - (866) VOTE NYC

Update -- if you are displaced by Sandy, you can vote at any precinct in your home state. For New Yorkers, here's the statement from the New York Board of Elections: "The Board of Elections (BOE) staff has been working diligently around the clock to make sure that we are prepared for Election Day. Hurricane Sandy and the loss of electricity have made our task more challenging. Our phone banks are now fully operational, and available to answer any voter questions on poll site changes, shuttles to poll site locations for displaced voters, and any other voting-related questions. Our phone bank number is 1.866.VOTE.NYC, and will be fully staffed today and tomorrow, November 6, Election Day. The BOE appreciates the patience of voters as we continue to recover from the effects of Hurricane Sandy." Click here for more information.

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Free Goods and Services for Hurricane Sandy Victims

MEDICAL SERVICES

The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic in NYC is open and operational! To find out about eligibility or to make an appointment, call 212.489.1939. 

https://plus.google.com/102176483354371680469/about?gl=us&hl=en

NEW YORK SPORTS CLUB OFFERS FREE SHOWERS AND OTHER SERVICES TO SANDY VICTIMS

All of our clubs are opening their doors to Hurricane Sandy victims allowing full use of our facilities. If you need to take a hot shower, charge your cell phone, or recharge your body with a stress-reducing workout, our club is your club. All we ask is that nonmembers bring a towel.

http://www.mysportsclubs.com/regions/

FREE WIFI

http://betabeat.com/2012/11/free-wifi-new-york-manhattan-starbucks-barnes-and-noble-ace-waldorf/

FREE PHONE CHARGING 

FREE phone charging in front of the Ace Hotel on 29th and Broadway. Also YOTEL on 42nd and 10th is offering their common areas for FREE wifi and to charge your phones and computers. 

Time Warner is deploying mobile wi-fi hotspots and recharging stations in Lower Manhattan. Follow @TWCable_NYC to learn location of the vehicles, which'll make extended stops in Chinatown, Flatiron district and West Village. 

http://www.twcableuntangled.com/2012/11/we-are-deploying-mobile-wi-fi-hotspot-and-recharging-stations-in-lower-manhattan/

FREE DRY AND WET ICE IN NYC AND WESTCHESTER 

Con Edison will distribute both dry and wet ice at six locations to customers without power due to superstorm Sandy.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/10/31/con-ed-distributing-dry-and-wet-ice-in-nyc-westchester/

FREE FOOD AND WATER DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS

A list of NYC food and water distribution locations. Check regularly for updates and the weekend schedule.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/foodandwater.html

FREE WiFI, COFFEE & POWER TO CHARGE MOBILE DEVICES

Roger Smith Hotel has opened their lobby to people in need of power and comfort. 

501 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017 

Direct 212.755.1400 | Toll Free 800.445.0277

For Twitter updates about their free Sandy services - https://twitter.com/RSHotel  

YOGA TO THE PEOPLE OFFERS SHOWERS AND MOBILE DEVICE CHARGING

Yoga to the People is open at the 27th Street studio to those who need a hot shower or to charge their phone! They should bring their phone charger and a towel and come within the 1/2 hour before or after any class (classes at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 5pm, and 7pm). 

http://yogatothepeople.com/hurricane-sandy/

POST-SANDY FREE WORKSPACES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES  

Need a desk, power or internet? Here is a list of offices and coworking spaces that are open for business and ready to help!

http://www.nycedc.com/blog-entry/hurricane-sandycoworking-spaces-small-businesses

Free desks are available through the Coalition for Queens at 47-40 21 Street until Sunday, November 4th. Contact david@coalitionforqueens.org for more information. http://www.coalitionforqueens.org/

Free desks are available through the Sunshine Bronx business incubator located at 890 Garrison Ave until Monday, November 12th. http://bronx.sunshineny.com/

List of availabilities (some free and some not) courtesy of BetaBeat http://betabeat.com/2012/10/free-office-space-sandy-coworking-mirror-alleynyc-bitmap-local-response/

Short-term "swing" office space at Brooklyn Army Terminal available free of charge for the next 30 days. Contact Doug Roberts at (212) 312-3876 or droberts@nycedc.com. ?

Pivot Desk's Hurricane Sandy Coworking Map with several options - http://nycsandy.pivotdesk.com/

#SandyCoworking CrowdMap with several options - https://sandycoworking.crowdmap.com/

New York City Economic Development Corporation: For any business temporarily displaced, NYCEDC may have short-term "swing" office or storage space: information at www.nyc.gov/nycbusiness.

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STATEN ISLAND RESOURCES

Rick's Cafe, 695 Bay St., Clifton, is offering free, hot food to residents without power or displaced from the storm on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m

Worship & Praise Community Church, 11 Olympia Blvd., South Beach, is distributing hot coffee, juice, sandwiches, soup, canned food and baby food. They're seeking donations of blankets, pillows, sweaters, shoes, baby diapers, baby formula and more. They also have free Wifi and places to charge cell phones available.

Canlon's Restaurant, 1825 North Railroad Ave., in Oakwood is open and willing to help any neighbors in need of power to charge their phones or laptops. His ice machines are working, too, for those who need ice.

Ariana's Grand & The Loft at Ariana's Grand open its unfinished 3rd location to help hurricane victims at 192 Ebbitts Street. Owner & Chef Frank DiMattina and family will provide fresh hot meals as well as collect clothing, blankets, baby food, diapers, non-perishable foods and any other items for those in need. Donations can be made at the site from 10 a.m. Food will start serving at 12 p.m.

Arena Restaurant, 4916 Arthur Kill Rd., Tottenville, is accepting donations and distributing hot food. "We will be distributing items to anyone who needs them -- clothing, blankets, bottled water and more," said Ralph Mattioli, Arena general manager. "People can come in to charge their iPones and iPads. We will also fill your cooler up for free with ice."

2 free spots for Staten Islanders to charge phones, make local calls - http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/11/post_371.html

Food and Water Distribution http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/foodandwater.html

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Hurricane Kit for Children by Sesame Street

Hurricanes, storms, and other natural disasters can be difficult for young children who may not fully understand what's going on around them. These tips, activities, and videos can help them feel safe, cope with emotions, and understand that there is hope for the future.

Watch now here 

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Helping Children Cope With Disaster

Disasters can leave children feeling frightened, confused, and insecure. Whether a child has personally experienced trauma, has merely seen the event on television or has heard it discussed by adults, it is important for parents and teachers to be informed and ready to help if reactions to stress begin to occur.

Children may respond to disaster by demonstrating fears, sadness or behavioral problems. Younger children may return to earlier behavior patterns, such as bedwetting, sleep problems and separation anxiety. Older children may also display anger, aggression, school problems or withdrawal. Some children who have only indirect contact with the disaster but witness it on television may develop distress.

RECOGNIZE RISK FACTORS

For many children, reactions to disasters are brief and represent normal reactions to "abnormal events." A smaller number of children can be at risk for more enduring psychological distress as a function of three major risk factors:

Direct exposure to the disaster, such as being evacuated, observing injuries or death of others, or experiencing injury along with fearing one’s life is in danger.

Loss/grief: This relates to the death or serious injury of family or friends.

On-going stress from the secondary effects of disaster, such as temporarily living elsewhere, loss of friends and social networks, loss of personal property, parental unemployment, and costs incurred during recovery to return the family to pre-disaster life and living conditions.

VULNERABILITIES IN CHILDREN

In most cases, depending on the risk factors above, distressing responses are temporary. In the absence of severe threat to life, injury, loss of loved ones, or secondary problems such as loss of home, moves, etc., symptoms usually diminish over time. For those that were directly exposed to the disaster, reminders of the disaster such as high winds, smoke, cloudy skies, sirens, or other reminders of the disaster may cause upsetting feelings to return. Having a prior history of some type of traumatic event or severe stress may contribute to these feelings.

Children’s coping with disaster or emergencies is often tied to the way parents cope. They can detect adults’ fears and sadness. Parents and adults can make disasters less traumatic for children by taking steps to manage their own feelings and plans for coping. Parents are almost always the best source of support for children in disasters. One way to establish a sense of control and to build confidence in children before a disaster is to engage and involve them in preparing a family disaster plan. After a disaster, children can contribute to a family recovery plan.

MEETING THE CHILD’S EMOTIONAL NEEDS

Children’s reactions are influenced by the behavior, thoughts, and feelings of adults. Adults should encourage children and adolescents to share their thoughts and feelings about the incident. Clarify misunderstandings about risk and danger by listening to children’s concerns and answering questions. Maintain a sense of calm by validating children’s concerns and perceptions and with discussion of concrete plans for safety.

Listen to what the child is saying. If a young child is asking questions about the event, answer them simply without the elaboration needed for an older child or adult. Some children are comforted by knowing more or less information than others; decide what level of information your particular child needs. If a child has difficulty expressing feelings, allow the child to draw a picture or tell a story of what happened.

Try to understand what is causing anxieties and fears. Be aware that following a disaster, children are most afraid that:

The event will happen again.

Someone close to them will be killed or injured.

They will be left alone or separated from the family.

REASSURING CHILDREN AFTER A DISASTER

Suggestions to help reassure children include the following:

Personal contact is reassuring. Hug and touch your children.

Calmly provide factual information about the recent disaster and current plans for insuring their safety along with recovery plans.

Encourage your children to talk about their feelings.

Spend extra time with your children such as at bedtime.

Re-establish your daily routine for work, school, play, meals, and rest.

Involve your children by giving them specific chores to help them feel they are helping to restore family and community life.

Praise and recognize responsible behavior.

Understand that your children will have a range of reactions to disasters.

Encourage your children to help update your a family disaster plan.

If you have tried to create a reassuring environment by following the steps above, but your child continues to exhibit stress, if the reactions worsen over time, or if they cause interference with daily behavior at school, at home, or with other relationships, it may be appropriate to talk to a professional. You can get professional help from the child’s primary care physician, a mental health provider specializing in children’s needs, or a member of the clergy.

MONITOR AND LIMIT EXPOSURE TO THE MEDIA

News coverage related to a disaster may elicit fear and confusion and arouse anxiety in children. This is particularly true for large-scale disasters or a terrorist event where significant property damage and loss of life has occurred. Particularly for younger children, repeated images of an event may cause them to believe the event is recurring over and over.

If parents allow children to watch television or use the Internet where images or news about the disaster are shown, parents should be with them to encourage communication and provide explanations. This may also include parent’s monitoring and appropriately limiting their own exposure to anxiety-provoking information.

USE SUPPORT NETWORKS

Parents help their children when they take steps to understand and manage their own feelings and ways of coping. They can do this by building and using social support systems of family, friends, community organizations and agencies, faith-based institutions, or other resources that work for that family. Parents can build their own unique social support systems so that in an emergency situation or when a disaster strikes, they can be supported and helped to manage their reactions. As a result, parents will be more available to their children and better able to support them. Parents are almost always the best source of support for children in difficult times. But to support their children, parents need to attend to their own needs and have a plan for their own support.

Preparing for disaster helps everyone in the family accept the fact that disasters do happen, and provides an opportunity to identify and collect the resources needed to meet basic needs after disaster. Preparation helps; when people feel prepared, they cope better and so do children..

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Click here to make a donation to the American Federation of Teachers Disaster Relief Fund.

Tens of thousands of AFT members—especially in New York and New Jersey, but also up and down the East Coast—are among those struggling to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.

Whether they’re...

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Unions Can Meet the Emergency Needs of Local Unions

Members belonging to Local Unions in New Jersey and Southern New York have been greatly affected by this storm, along with those in Pennsylvania, Deleware and Connecticut. Visit Smartdisasterrelief.org to find a list of supplies and materials needed by members at each Local Union or to make a donation.

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Disaster Loans through the Small Business Administration

From SBA.gov:

Disaster Loans

SBA provides low interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery & equipment, inventory and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster.

SBA now offers you the option of filing your home and business disaster loan applications through the Electronic Loan Application (ELA).

Disaster Center Offices

SBA has disaster offices located strategically around the country. Learn more about and/or contact these offices.

Types of Disaster Loans

Through its Office of Disaster Assistance (ODA), SBA provides low-interest, long-term loans for physical and economic damage caused by a declared disaster.

Disaster Loan Fact Sheets

Applying For A Disaster Loan

Current Disaster Declarations

Disaster Loans Use of Proceeds

Disaster Policies and Procedures

Disaster Loan Payments

Employment with SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance

2012 Drought Disaster Assistance

2012 Hurricane and Tropical Storm Recovery Assistance Information

    For more information, click here.

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Disaster Distress Resources

From the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:

Stress, anxiety, and depression are common reactions after a disaster.

Call 1-800-985-5990. It's Free. It's Confidential.

Are you experiencing signs of distress as a result of a disaster?

Signs of distress may include any of the following physical and emotional reactions:

Sleepling too much or too little

Stomachaches or headaches

Anger, feeling edgy or lashing out at others

Overwhelming sadness

Worrying a lot of the time; feeling guilty but not sure why

Feeling like you have to keep busy

Lack of energy or always feeling tired

Drinking alcohol, smoking or using tobacco more than usual; using illegal drugs

Eating too much or too little

Not connecting with others

Feeling like you won't ever be happy again

Rejecting of help.

The Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, year-round crisis counseling and support.

The Helpline is staffed by trained counselors from a network of crisis call centers located across the United States, all of whom provide:

Crisis counseling for those who are in emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster

Information on how to recognize distress and its effects on individuals and families

Tips for healthy coping

Disaster-specific resources and referral information.

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Department of Labor Hurricane Recovery Assistance

Department of Labor is assisting in the recovery efforts in communities affected by Sandy's hurricanes.

The Department of Labor support includes the following income and job assistance:

Unemployment Insurance (UI)

National Emergency Grants (NEGs)

Occupational Safety and Health

Worker Claims 

Health and Retirement Benefits

Wages

Click here for more information.

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Reporting Power Outages and Checking Power Restoration Status

From Con Ed: "Customers can report outages and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.conEd.com. They can also call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, customers should have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available."

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Quick Reference for MTA Subway Service

Thanks to TWU Local 100's Twitter account, here's a great quick reference for MTA's subway service status as of November 2nd.

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Free Charging Stations Available Until Dusk

Consumers needing to charge their wireless or other devices may visit any AT&T store that is open across the Northeast region. Store representatives are on hand to help and extra power cords have been added to assist customers. AT&T also has set up temporary charging sites outside of its stores.

As of Monday, Nov. 5, charging stations are available at the following locations. The stations are open to the general public.

Brooklyn:

Red Hook East and West - Coffey Park at Richards Street 

Corner of Brighton Beach Avenue and Coney Island Avenue

Surf Avenue Playground - West 25th Street and Surf Avenue

Manhattan:

Fulton Street Houses - 419 West 17th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues

Hamilton Fish - Pitt Street and East Houston Street

Queens:

Hammel Playground - Beach 84th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard

Conch Playground - Beach 44th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard

Mott Avenue at Beach Channel Drive

St. Francis de Sales Parish - 126-16 Rockaway Beach Boulevard at Beach 129th Boulevard

Staten Island:

Midland Beach - Hunter Avenue and Father Capadanno Boulevard

Parking Lot - Mill Road and New Dorp Lane 

Other New York Locations:

Floral Park (store) - 181 Jericho Turnpike

New Jersey Locations:

Edgewater Square (store) - 75 River Road 

Watchung (store) - 1592 Route 22 East

Point Pleasant Beach (The Wireless Experience - Authorized Retailer) - 3122 Route 88 and Highland Drive

http://blogs.att.net/consumerblog/story/a7785324