Hurricane Sandy Information Updates

 NASSAU COUNTY     (Updated Nov. 12th)

 

• All Town Programs and activities remain cancelled until further notice
• All Town Parks are closed
• The Town Ice Skating Center will continue to act as a designated ‘charging center’ for residents to come and charge their electronic devices.
• Normal Sanitation and S.O.R.T. collection has resumed
• The Department of Intergovernmental Affairs cannot be reached at its normal phone number. In the interim, IGA can be reached at 516-677-5704

 

DONATIONS

Donations of food, water, clothing, baby food, etc. are needed.  Drop off at East Rockaway Village, Main Street Fire House.  

 

 

DRY ICE AND WATER DISTRIBUTION 

• Nickerson Beach Park, 880 Lido Beach
• Walbaums, 85 E. Park Avenue, Long Beach, 1-3 pm
• Inwood, Sheridan & Mott Avenue, 3-5 pm

 

 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE  

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

 

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/

 

TAX FILING AND PAYMENT DEADLINE EXTENSIONS

Certain tax filing and payment deadlines for taxpayers who were directly affected by Hurricane Sandy have been extended to November 14, 2012. This covers filings and tax payments due during the period beginning October 26, 2012 and ending on or before November 13, 2012.  

Additionally, the extension applies to all claims for refunds, including a protective claim associated with the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax. All 62 New York State counties are eligible for these extensions since Governor Cuomo had declared a state of emergency in New York and President Obama has authorized federal aid and assistance for the State.  For further information, visit http://www.tax.ny.gov/bus/multi/sandy_relief.htm 

 

 

 

FOOD   (updated Nov 11th 1:00 pm)

FALSE RUMOR- There is  NOT  Food Vouchers or Food Reimbursement help at this time. There is only Food Stamp Replacement or Disaster-Related Food Stamps.

Click Here for Nassau County Food Pantries

Click Here for Nassau County Soup Kitchens 

 

 

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.   

Click Here for frequently asked questions.

 

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

 

 

The Red Cross has opened Mobile Meals distribution centers, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Meals, water, and comfort kits will be distributed at the following locations.

• Seaford:  Cedar Creek Park, 3340 Merrick Rd.
• Lido Beach, Nickerson Beach Park, 880 Lido Blvd.

• Christopher Morley Park, 500 Searingtown Rd., Roslyn, NY

Island Harvest will distribute up to sandwiches and drinks to residents on the streets of the following neighborhoods today through a Mobile Distribution Center:

•   Freeport


•   Island Park


•   Massapequa


•   Seaford

 

Oyster Bay distributing Meals Ready to Eat, Water and Clothing

Food and Water Distribution Sites (10 am-2 pm)

• Bayville:  Stehli Beach, Bayville Avenue
• Woodbury: Syosset-Woodbury Community Park, Jericho Tpke (also distributing clothes 9 am-5 pm)
• Massapequa: Marjorie Post Community Park, Unqua Road (also distributing closthes 9 am-5pm)

 

 

HEALTH ALERTS  

Chronic Renal Patients on Dialysis:  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.    

 

Nassau County Department of Health Issues A Do Not Consume Water Order for the Water Districts of Long Beach and Mill Neck Estates

All residents who are customers of these water districts are advised not to drink or use tap water for personal use.  This includes brushing teeth, drinking and bathing.  The water cannot be made safe by boiling.  Further, all Nassau County residents are advised to conserve water in order to maintain water pressure for emergency and fire responders

•  Avoid contact with sewage;
•  Wear gloves and use soap and water for any required clean-up, followed by disinfecting the area with a 10% household bleach solution; and
•  Items which cannot be cleaned must be discarded.

Until further notice, a Conserve Water Order is now active and residents of the Bay Park Sewage District are directed to:

•  Limit water usage immediately, including a ban on watering grass and washing cars;
•  Limit laundry and washer/dryer usage to full loads;
•  Shorten shower time; and

•  Limit flushing toilets.  

 

Curfew Rules:   Motorists and pedestrians are prohibited south of Montauk Highway in Babylon Village, Lindenhurst and Copiague from dusk until dawn. Montauk Hwy. will remain open to traffic.

 

FOOD SAFETY DURING AN EMERGENCY 

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.   

 

• Assistance 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.

 

 

POWER OUTAGES 

LIPA 800-490-0075 

NATIONAL GRID/NIAGRA MOHAWK   800-867-5222 (Power Outages) or  800-642-4272 (Customer Support) 

  

 

SHELTERS  

 

Click here for shelter information

• NassauCommunity College – P Building – located at 1 Education Drive in Garden City East, with Special Needs availability.
• Levittown Memorial High School – located at 150 Abbey Lane in Levittown.
• LocustValleyHigh School – located at 99 Horse Hollow Road in LocustValley.
• SUNY Old Westbury – located at 223 Store Hill Road in Old Westbury.

1. Pet Shelter  at Nassau County Mitchel Athletic Complex, AdministrationBuilding, in Uniondale.
2. Orthodox Shelter at West HempsteadHigh School – located at 400 Nassau Boulevard in West Hempstead.

 

Transitional Shelter Program (FEMA)

1.   Register with FEMA 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 #

Residents with non-life threatening emergencies should dial 1-888-684-4274 for assistance with down trees and roadside issues.  All those with life threatening emergencies should dial 911. 

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. 

 

Showers

The following facilities are allowing anyone impacted by the storm shower facilities each day until further notice.

Cantiague Park,  West John Street in Hicksville.  (516) 571-7057,  Open from 8:00 am to 11 pm

The Nassau County Aquatic Center,  Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.  (516) 572-0501, Open from 8:00 am to 11 pm

The Mitchel Athletic Complex, Lindbergh Boulevard in Uniondale. (516) 572-0400, Open from 8:00 am to 11 pm

Echo Park Indoor Pool and Athletic Complex,  399 Nassau Boulevard in West Hempstead,  Open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

 

Warming Stations  

 The following locations will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. as warming centers:

• Oceanside HS, 3160 Skillman Ave, Oceanside.  Hot showers, recharging phones, hot meals all day, soup hot coffee.  Also mobile feeding in the community.
• Baldwin Senior Center, 1810 North Grand Avenue, Baldwin
• Bellmore Senior Center, 2000 Bellmore Avenue, Bellmore
• Elmont Senior Center, 138 Elmont Road, Elmont
• Franklin Square Senior Center, 1182 Martha Place, Franklin Square
• Green Acres Senior Center, 400 Flower Road, Valley Stream
• Levittown Senior Center, 555 Newbridge Road, Levittown
• Rosa Parks Senior Center, 2 Babylon Turnpike, Roosevelt
• Salisbury Senior Center, 460 Salisbury Park Drive, Westbury
• Uniondale/Hempstead Senior Center, 840 Uniondale Avenue, Uniondale
• Uniondale/Merrick Senior Center, 750 Jerusalem Avenue, Uniondale
• Wantagh Senior Center, 1150 Seamans Neck Road, Wantagh
• Merrick Road Golf Course Clubhouse, 2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick
• Echo Park Pool, 399 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead

Hempstead Town is distributing Coats, Clothing, and Blankets in Oceanside, Basldwin and Bellmore 

If you are 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

  

 

STORM CLEAN-UP

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

• Helping Hands at 347-709-0438
• Methodist Church NY Conference 914-615-2233