Hurricane Sandy Info - Westchester County

HURRICANE SANDY INFORMATION 

Donations Donate Funds Online or by Check Food Pantries in Need of Food Corporate Donation Opportunities Drop-Off Sites   Updates & Alerts Gas Shortage Update Health Alerts Mental Health Services Power Outage Updates Road Closures / Transportation   Shelter Assistance Find a Shelter Near You  Shelters that Allow Pets Transitional Shelter Program (FEMA)

Food/Water Assistance Food Pantries  Soup Kitchens Disaster Food Stamps (D-SNAP) Food Stamp Replacement Due to Storm Dry Ice and Water Distribution Sites Food Safety   Financial Assistance Individual Assistance FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers Disaster Unemployment Assistance Deadline Extensions   Storm Clean-Up

 

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DONATIONS

Westchester County Disaster Recovery Fund  Click Here to Donate Online and Get More Information
You can also mail checks to
United Way of Westchester and Putnam
336 Central Park Avenue
White Plains, NY 10606
Please make checks payable to: United Way of Westchester and Putnam
with a notation for "Westchester County Disaster Recovery Fund"

 

Food Pantries in Need of Food
First United Methodist Church, Contact: Ron Mitchell 914-668-3334
Salvation Army/Peekskill, Contact: Rena Murray 914-737-0280
New Rochelle CAP, Contact: Benita Hamlett 914-636-3050
Eastchester CAP, Contact: Charlene Lambrecht 914-337-7768

 

Corporation Donation Opportunities
Thank you for expressing an interest in donating items to help with the Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts.  Please send an email to afarrell@uwwp.org  outlining the type of items, and amount of items you would like to donate.  The various local agencies, who are handling these donations, have asked us to give them a few days to fully assess the needs for our communities.  Therefore, a member of the United Way staff will contact you within 3 business days with a list of locations that will be prepared to accept your delivery of donated items. 

Please understand that it is currently not possible for donation locations to pick up your donations.

Needed items:

• Clothes/socks/jackets
• Diapers and formula
• Water
• Non perishable food items
• Blankets
• Garbage bags
• Rubber gloves
• Personal hygiene items
• Pet supplies
• Batteries
• Paper products, etc.

St. Thomas Church
Collecting items for the Far Rockaway and Breezy Point victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Items Needed (NO CLOTHES, please):
Work Gloves, Batteries, Flashlights, Thick Black Contractor Bags, Baby Cough Medicine, Band-Aids, Neosporin, Ace Bandages, Advil, Tylenol, Baby Wipes, Mops, Brooms, Shovels, Bleach, Clorox, Buckets
Drop Off Time: Every weekday from 9:00 am-3:00 pm or Sunday after Church
Drop Off Location: Heathcote Hall, 168 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY

 

Westchester County Warehouse: Furniture Sharehouse www.furnituresharehouse.org urgent needs include kitchen or dining room tables and chairs and dressers for clothes. Visit website for furniture donation guidelines. 914-834-1294. Drop off: Furniture Sharehouse warehouse at Westchester County Airport; Wednesdays and Thursdays 9:30-11:30am.

 

Irvington: Red Barn Bakery is collecting clothing, blankets, sheets, towels, etc. Items are for Staten Island hurricane victims. Drop off: leave items in bags at the bakery’s back door (NOT NEAR TRASH CANS) at 4 South Astor Street, Irvington, 914-321-7779.

 

Elmsford: Food Bank donations needed: tuna, bananas, oranges, apples, shelf-stable milk, cereal, granola bars, crackers, peanut butter or cheese crackers, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, tissues, cold cuts. (no glass containers please). Drop off: weekdays at 3pm at the warehouse located at 200 Clearbrook Rd., Elmsford. 914-923-1100.

 

Chappaqua: Chappaqua Wellness Center is collecting winter jackets, gloves, hats (no other clothes), blankets, bottled water, diapers, rubber boots, batteries, and heavy-duty garbage bags. Visit www.jencook.com for list of items in need. Drop off: 400 King Street, Suite 4; leave supplies in front of door if not open). Supplies to be distributed in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens. Contact Jen Cook for more information: jen@jencook.com. 

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Gas Shortage Update
Gas stations in the area are now back to normal service.

Chronic Renal Patients on Dialysis: For those who have had disruption to their dialysis treatment due to the storm, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) is advising renal patients in need of dialysis to first contact their dialysis facility to schedule treatment. If the facility is unable to deliver the needed dialysis treatment, patients should call the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network 24 Hour Hotline: 1-800-238-3773 to obtain information on outpatient dialysis facilities that can provide needed treatment.

Mental Health
Storm-Related Counseling: A toll-free help line is available, 1-800-LIFENET (543-3638), to provide confidential, 24 hour/day, information and referral by professionally staffed individuals in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and TTY for the hearing impaired.

 

PLEASE NOTE: If your neighborhood comes back on line, but you still do not have power, then it is very important for you to re-register your address with Con Ed at 1-800-752-6633 or on the website: www.coned.com. By re-registering your address, you can ensure that Con Ed is aware that problems in your neighborhood persist.

• CON EDISON 800-752-6633
• ORANGE & ROCKLAND (O&R) 1-877-434-4100 Electric / 1-800-533-5325 Gas or Website: http://www.oru.com
• CENTRAL HUDSON 1-800-527-2714 Electric / Gas or 1-845-452-2700 Electric / Gas or Website: http://www.centralhudson.com/
• NYSEG 1-800-572-1131 Electric / 1-800-572-1121 Gas or Website: http://nyseg.com/

All roads are now passable. 

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To find the shelter closest to you that is open, please download the Red Cross Hurricane App or visit: http://www.redcross.org/nss.

• Bedding for each member of the family 
• Diapers and formula for children
• Prescription medicines
• Toiletries
• Food for special dietary needs

All area shelters are closed.

 

• Wear several layers of loose, warm clothing
• Keep your head, hands and feet covered when outdoors
• Avoid alcoholic beverages
• Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia: stiff muscles, shivering, puffy or swollen face, cold skin, slow breathing and mental confusion

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If you lost food purchased with SNAP benefits due to Hurricane Sandy, there is help available. Current SNAP households that have lost food purchased with their benefits as a result of the storm are entitled to replacement benefits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has agreed to provide current SNAP recipients in disaster designated areas with 50%percent of their October monthly benefit amount. Contact your local department of social services or visit website: http://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/dss.asp\ or call 1-800-342-3009.
Click Here for frequently asked questions.  Please note that Food Stamp (SNAP) recipients will be able to continue using their Replacement SNAP EBT card and SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods and prepared food items at authorized SNAP retailers through January 31, 2013.

Distributions of dry ice and water have been discontinued.
 

The Department of Health cautions residents to follow certain steps to determine if food is safe during and following a weather emergency.

• Never taste food to determine its safety.
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed to maintain the cold temperature.
  
• Generally a refrigerator will keep food safely cold for approximately 4 hours; a freezer for about 24 hours.
  
• Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
  
• Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after 4 hours without power.
• When in doubt, throw it out.  

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A federal disaster declaration now offers Individual Assistance to residents of Westchester County.

Individual Assistance (IA)
IA is disaster assistance directed to families, individuals, and businesses within a disaster area. Applications can be submitted by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or filing on-line by logging onto www.disasterassistance.gov. Hearing impaired individuals can call a TTY line at 1-800-462-7585.  Deadline to register is January 28, 2013.

A helpline to aid residents and business on how to apply for financial help after the storm.
HURRICANE SANDY HELPLINE 1-855-697-7263 or check website: www.dhses.ny.gov

DRCs will open for homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Specialists from the state of New York, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. The recovery centers act as a one-stop-shop for eligible survivors where they can meet with both state and federal workers and get help as quickly as possible. Visiting with a recovery specialist is not a requirement for survivors who want disaster assistance, but the centers are an excellent way for people to get answers to their questions about disaster aid and help applying for it.
County Center, 98 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606
Hours: Monday-Saturday - 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (until December 21, 2012)

 

Federal disaster unemployment assistance is now available to all New Yorkers who lost their jobs as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Disaster unemployment benefits are available to provide financial support to anyone who has lost their job and live or work in the Bronx, Kings, New York, Richmond, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and Westchester counties. 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 December 3, 2012.
Claimant Extension Date
Because of the loss of power and phone service in the storm impacted areas, many Unemployment Insurance claimants were unable to certify for their weekly benefits. The Department of Labor will extend the date of certification of unemployment benefits for individuals impacted by Hurricane Sandy from November 3, 2012 to November 10, 2012. These individuals will need to call 1-888-209-8124 and speak to an agent to receive benefits for the prior week. If you are unable to access a phone to obtain benefits, individuals can visit any of the agency’s career centers.
http://www.governor.ny.gov/ 

 

Hurricane Sandy Housing Initiative
The Bridge Fund of Westchester is committed to helping working poor Westchester residents recently impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy. The Bridge Fund of Westchester will provide moderate financial assistance to secure housing for those who have been impacted and who can provide verification that the assistance will keep them safely in their apartments. The household must show current ability to be financially stable moving forward.
Click Here for More Information
Application Procedure
Application Form

 

Medicare Deadline Extended for Seniors Affected by Hurricane Sandy
Medicare beneficiaries who have been affected by this disaster and wants to ensure that all beneficiaries are able to compare their options and make enrollment choices for 2013. CMS encourages all beneficiaries to make their enrollment choices by December 7. This will ensure that their enrollment in health and prescription drug coverage is in place for January 1, 2013. Please share this message with your network.

Individuals affected by Hurricane Sandy who are unable to make a plan selection by December 7 can still enroll in health and prescription drug coverage for 2013 by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Representatives at 1-800 MEDICARE have information available to help beneficiaries review their plan options and make a choice, and can complete an enrollment even after December 7.

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Hazardous Waste
Household Material Recovery Facility Accepting Walk-Ins:
No appointment needed to deliver household hazardous waste to help with hurricane cleanup
Click Here for Clean-up Information
Spill Reporting: To report an oil or chemical spill, such as from a home oil furnace damaged by flooding, call the NYS Spill Hotline at 1-800-457-7362. For more information on General Permits, please visit:http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/76659.html

• Debris Removal / Roadway Clearing
  
• Buildings/Grounds Cleanup
• Other projects as required