HURRICANE SANDY-ONE WEEK LATER

Fairfield Beach, Conn., Nov. 5, 2012 -- Salt water entered the homes in this neighborhood destroying heating systems, furniture and appliances. FEMA will be assisting in the cleanup effort with Public Assistance funding. Photo by Marilee Caliendo-FEMA

FROM:  FEMA
More than $210 Million Approved in Individual Assistance

One week ago today, millions of Americans from North Carolina to Maine braced for Hurricane Sandy. For more than 12 hours, hurricane and tropical storm force winds, storm surge, and flooding impacted 12 states; and more than eight million people lost power. Transportation systems in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, DC came to a halt, and more than 12,000 commercial flights were grounded. And for the first time since 1888, the New York Stock Exchange was closed for two consecutive days because of a natural disaster. But we are a resilient nation:

As of 3 p.m. Monday, November 5, more than 234,000 individuals in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey have registered for assistance, and more than $210 million has been approved in FEMA Assistance. Individuals and businesses should visit www.disasterassistance.gov for more information on how to register with FEMA.
Disaster Recovery Centers continue to open in the hardest hit areas. Twelve Disaster Recovery Centers are open in New York, two in New Jersey and three in Connecticut and more continue to open.
To find a disaster recovery center location, check out the disaster recovery center locator at FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by mobile phone at m.fema.gov.
To search for emergency shelters operated by the American Red Cross, you can visit the Red Cross website.
In support of New York and New Jersey, FEMA has transferred resources such as food, water, and fuel to the states to distribute to individuals at Points of Distribution (POD) sites. These POD sites can be located by visiting: http://www.nyc.gov/html/index.html; www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/foodandwater.html; http://nj211.org/hurricane.cfm; http://statenislandusa.com/; http://www.governor.ct.gov and http://www.governor.wv.gov/Pages/StormUpdate.aspx.
Specialists from the state, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors.
FEMA has activated, at the request of the states, its Transitional Sheltering Assistance program for New Jersey and New York. This program allows eligible survivors who cannot return to their homes due to damages caused by Hurricane Sandy to stay in participating hotels or motels until more suitable housing accommodations are available.
Looking ahead to the winter storm forecasted to hit the East Coast Wednesday evening, FEMA is urging residents to be safe as cold weather temperatures threaten areas impacted by the Hurricane Sandy. The risk of fires increases with the use of supplemental heating, such as space heaters and any fuel-burning appliances in the home, including furnaces and fireplaces, are a potential carbon monoxide source. Ensure both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working and if using a generator keep it as far away from your home as possible – away from doors, windows or vents that could allow deadly carbon monoxide into the home.

FEMA SAYS INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED OVER $100 MILLION IN ASSISTANCE FOR HURRICANE SANDY DISASTER

FROM: FEMASoldiers from the 249th Engineer Battalion walk past their pumps in Battery Park in lower Manhattan, New York City, Nov. 2, 2012. The pumps are draining an underpass flooded by Hurricane Sandy. DOD photo by EJ Hersom

Latest Updates from the FEMA Blog: FEMA’s Assistance to Individuals Over $100 Million
Release date:
November 3, 2012
Release Number:
HQ-12-135
As many people across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic continue to recover from Hurricane Sandy, members of the entire emergency management team, including the federal, state, tribal, and local governments, the faith based and non-profit communities, and the public, are working tirelessly to support those across the impacted area. As of this morning, more than 122,000 people have registered for disaster assistance and more than $107 million in assistance has already been approved. Here’s a breakdown of disaster assistance by state:
New York: over 69,000 registered; more than $75 million in assistance approved
New Jersey: over 49,000 registered; more than $31 million in assistance approved
Connecticut: over 2,400 registered; more than $368,000 in assistance approved
These numbers continue to increase as residential power is being restored and those affected are able to register for assistance with FEMA online, as well as through the 800 number. If you’ve live in an eligible county and have been affected by Hurricane Sandy, we encourage you to apply for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) TTY 1-800-462-7585 or if you have access to the internet, applying online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

Additionally, as many people have been without power for several days, fuel continues to be a top priority for FEMA. Under direction of President Obama, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) purchased up to 12 million gallons of unleaded fuel and up to 10 million gallons of diesel fuel for distribution in areas impacted by the storm to supplement ongoing private sector efforts. Tanker trucks have distributed fuel throughout New York, New Jersey and other communities impacted by the storm. There are currently 10 fuel sites throughout New York and New Jersey where residents can refuel their cars and get gas for generators and other necessities. We are committed to continuing our support in Hurricane Sandy response and recovery efforts.

To read more and to view photos highlighting our ongoing response and recovery efforts as we work to assist those residents affected by Hurricane Sandy, see today’s FEMA Blog.