Hurricane Sandy Info - Rockland County

HURRICANE SANDY INFORMATION 
 
ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY (Updated December 26, 2012) 
Donations
Donate Funds Online or by Check
Food Pantries in Need of Food
Corporate Donation Opportunities
Drop-Off Sites
 
Gas Shortage Update
Health Alerts
Mental Health Services
Power Outage Updates
Safety
Road Closures / Transportation
 
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
 
Individual Assistance
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Deadline Extensions
 

 

                   

 

 

DONATIONS

Drop-Off Sites Before dropping off donations, call to confirm.

Donations of food will be accepted at the Ramapo High School during the day, 400 Viola Road in Spring Valley.

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

Health Alerts

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.  


Power Outage Updates

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/

Utility Companies are not responsible for reimbursement of spoiled food due to an act of God. 

 

Road Closures / Transportation 

Metro-North's West-of-Hudson Line, the Pascack Valley Line, is out of service and will remain suspended because of severe track damage caused by Hurricane Sandy for an unspecified time. To provide a regional transportation option to those Rockland boarders that would like to access the Hudson Line in Tarrytown, Transport of Rockland will provide additional TZx bus service from the Palisades Mall to the Tarrytown train station. Additional TZx buses will be added at rush hour at the Commuter Park-n-ride at the Palisades Mall Lot J as well as to the Tarrytown train station for return trips.
There will be no charge for Metro-North Pascack Valley monthly and weekly ticket-holders - just show your pass from October or November to the driver as you board.

 

SHELTER ASSISTANCE

 

Find a Shelter Near You

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

 
The Red Cross Shelters will provide food, beverages, a safe place to sleep, health and mental health services for those in need. People coming to the shelters should bring:
  • Bedding for each member of the family 
  • Diapers and formula for children
  • Prescription medicines
  • Toiletries
  • Food for special dietary needs
Please note that the only animals permitted in Red Cross shelters are service animals; for safety and health reasons. 

 

 Transitional Shelter Program (FEMA)

1. Register with FEMA, call (866) 863-8673 or visit website: http://www.fema.gov/apply-assistance
2. FEMA will assess eligibility
3. If applicant qualifies for temporary shelter, than an autodial will go to caller with a website (http://www.femaevachotels.com/) that they can go to for a list of hotels
4. Caller must bring to hotel:
     Photo ID
     FEMA registration ID #

 
Staying in homes without heat, protect yourself and family:
  • 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
 

FOOD/WATER ASSISTANCE
FALSE RUMOR- There is NO Food Vouchers or Food Reimbursement help. 

Click Here for Food Pantries  

Click Here for Soup Kitchens  

 

Disaster Food Stamps (D-SNAP)
DSS will NOT be giving out D-SNAP (Disaster Food Stamps).

 

Food Stamp Replacement Due to Storm

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. 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.

 

Dry Ice and Water Distribution Sites

Distributions of dry ice and water have been discontinued.


Food Safety

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.
 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Rockland has been designated for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance Category A and B, as well as Direct Federal Assistance (D.F.A.).
 

FEMA 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.


FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)

All DRCs are now closed.  Residents can register online or by phone for Individual Assistance.

People applying for assistance will be asked for the following information:

Address of damaged home or apartment
Description of disaster damages
Insurance Information
Social Security Number
Contact Phone
Address for receiving mail
For direct deposit-bring bank information, and account and routing numbers


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

 

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

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.

 

Deadline Extensions 

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.

 

STORM CLEAN-UP
 
1. The Saddle River Pool has been approved as a DEC debris drop-off site.
2. All homeowners who wish to remove debris from their property must take it to the Saddle River Pool for free drop-off anytime from dawn to dusk.
3. All landscapers must transfer their debris to any DEC approved site or any Solid Waste Authority site, whichever is convenient.
4. Landscapers are not to pile debris along the roadway. Any landscaper who leaves a pile of debris along the roadway will be charged for the transport by the Town of Ramapo.

Click Here for More 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 

 

Temporary Employment Opportunity

New York State Department of Labor and the Suffolk County Department of Labor were awarded a grant to hire temporary workers to assist in recovery of damages caused by Hurricane Sandy.

Eligibility: if you are a worker who temporarily or permanently lost your employment due to Hurricane Sandy or if you are currently an unemployed or dislocated worker.
Duties may include:

  • Debris Removal / Roadway Clearing
  • Buildings/Grounds Cleanup
  • Other projects as required
Salary: $14.89 per hour
Duration: up to 12 weeks; 35 hours per week