Ida Flooding

President Biden has approved an expedited Major Disaster Declaration that will help provide federal financial relief for New Yorkers recovering from the flooding damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The counties covered by the declaration include: Bronx, Queens, Kings (Brooklyn), and Richmond (Staten Island).

Apply for disaster assistance and report damage to your property:

• Visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
• Call 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET, 7 days a week:
>1-800-621-3362 (711 or VRS available)
>TTY: 1-800-462-7585
If you use a relay service (a videophone, InnoCaption, CapTel, etc.), please provide your number assigned to that service. FEMA must be able to contact you. Be aware that phone calls from FEMA may appear to come from an unidentified number.

Hurricane Ida Relief for Undocumented New Yorkers

To get connected with assistance, impacted residents should call the ONA Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 9:00am to 8:00pm, Monday through Friday or visit the partner not-for-profits starting September 27. Hotline assistance is available in over 200 languages.

The City of New York is releasing two new resources to support the recovery of households impacted by Hurricane Ida.

A verified contractors list now exists to identify vetted licensed contractors agreeing to:
• Prioritize repair work to damaged homes
• Conduct home visits within 24 hours of contact
• Secure necessary permits within 24 hours of a contractual agreement
• Complete contracted work within three months
A supplemental funds program is established for homeowners who applied for FEMA benefits but did not receive enough funding to make their home habitable. In combination with FEMA benefits, this new program can provide up to $72,000.

A pamphlet is available for more information and distribution to Ida impacted households.

The following NYC organizations are providing assistance:
Bronx – Catholic Charities Community Services, 402 East 152nd Street, Bronx, NY 10455
Brooklyn – Chinese American Planning Council, 4101 8th Ave, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Queens – MinKwon, 133-29 41st Avenue, Suite 202, Flushing, NY 11355
Queens – Make the Road, 92-10 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Staten Island – Make the Road, 161 Port Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302

For more information about the announcement visit NYS website or call the ONA Hotline at 1-800-566-7636.

New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system. Through Notify NYC, New Yorkers can receive phone calls, text messages, and/or emails alerts about traffic and transit disruptions and other emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC to receive free emergency alerts and updates in your preferred language, register by visiting NYC.gov/notifynyc, calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115), following @NotifyNYC on Twitter, or getting the free Notify NYC mobile application for your Apple or Android device.

The City has collocated service centers with FEMA’s disaster recovery centers to provide resources to New Yorkers affected by this emergency.

The following locations are open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Beginning Saturday, October 9, hours of operation will change to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Service centers are open Columbus Day, October 11.

• Queens
Queens College: Student Union
152-45 Melbourne Avenue
Flushing, NY 11367

• Staten Island
College of Staten Island: Gymnasium Building R1
2800 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10314

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers
The following locations are FEMA disaster recovery centers — providing federal disaster assistance only — and are open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Beginning Saturday, October 9, hours of operation will change to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Service centers are open Columbus Day, October 11.

• Bronx
Hostos Community College: East Academic Complex
500 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451

• Brooklyn
Medgar Evers College: Classroom P23
231 Crown Street
Brooklyn, NY 11225

The Manhattan service center location is now closed. Impacted Manhattan residents can call 311 or visit a center in a different borough to access City services.
Businesses can also call the Small Business Hotline at 888-SBS-4-NYC (888-727-4692).

Transportation to Service Centers
People who have no other transportation options to visit one of New York City’s service centers, especially those disabilities or other access or functional needs, may request transportation assistance by contacting 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115).

Donations
The City is not accepting in-kind donations at this time. Do not drop off any donations to the service center locations or any affected areas.

Before donating any goods, including food or clothing, wait for instructions from local officials or check with a specific organization. Unneeded items overwhelm the recovery effort and may go to waste.

• Find local places to donate goods through donateNYC.
• Make a food donation through Food Bank for New York City or City Harvest.

Referral Guides
• Referral guide in English
• Referral guide in Spanish
• Referral guide in Simplified Chinese
• Referral guide in Arabic
• Referral guide in Bengali
• Referral guide in French
• Referral guide in Haitian Creole
• Referral guide in Korean
• Referral guide in Polish
• Referral guide in Russian
• Referral guide in Urdu

Comptroller’s Office
New Yorkers can file a water damage or loss claim form for damages from Hurricane Ida.
• Get the form in PDF

FEMA Individual Assistance:
FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs. IHP assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet your basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.

Eligible Counties: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester
Deadline to Apply for Individual Assistance: November 5, 2021

Apply for Disaster Assistance:
The fastest way to apply is through DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply by calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) or through the FEMA mobile app.

Learn More about the application process.

Hebrew Free Loan Society

1. Storm Damage Loans– Up to $12,000
   • For any and all expenses incurred due to storm damage
   • Repayments of no more than $300/month for up to 40 months
   Apply Here.
2. Storm Damage Loans for Homeowners – Up to $30,000
   • For home repairs and property damage due to the storm
   • Repayments of no more than $300/month for up to 100 months
   Apply Here

Realtors Relief Foundation Grants (Queens, Nassau & Suffolk Homeowners)
The Long Island Board of REALTORS is helping those displaced by Ida’s flooding. Have you been negatively affected by Hurricane Ida and need housing assistance? You may be eligible to receive housing assistance. LIBOR, in partnership with the REALTORS Relief Foundation and New York State Association of REALTORS, is providing assistance to those in need.

Assistance is available to qualified applicants towards one of the following options:
1) Monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged by the Hurricane Ida Disaster or;
2) Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the Hurricane Ida Disaster.

Relief assistance is limited to a maximum of $2,000 per applicant per household. Please read application for complete requirements, eligibility and restrictions on use. Deadline for application submission is October 31, 2021.

DOWNLOAD AND PRINT APPLICATION HERE
APPLY ONLINE HERE

Mail or email application with attachments to the attention of:

IDA RELIEF APPLICATION
c/o Long Island Board of REALTORS®
300 Sunrise Highway
West Babylon, NY 11704

• Brooklyn: homeowners should email rich@bnmls.com (Rich Hagerty), for an application.
• Staten Island: https://sinymls.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Idaapp.pdf
• Queens: https://www.lirealtor.com/ida-relief

For Inquiries:
Phone: 518.463.0300 ext. 210
Email: idarelief@lirealtor.com idarelief@lirealtor.com

Click Here for Official Press Release

Small Business Administration (SBA)

Deadline to Apply for SBA Physical Damage Loan: November 4, 2021 (Homeowners/Renters/Businesses)
Eligible Counties: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester

Deadline to Apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL): June 6, 2022
(Businesses)
Eligible Counties: (Primary Counties) Bronx, Kings, Nassau, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester; (Contiguous Counties) New York (NY), Orange (NY), Putnam (NY), Fairfield (CT), Bergen (NJ), Passaic (NJ)

The SBA has Customer Service Representatives on site at Disaster Recovery Centers in the declared New York counties. Seven days a week | 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov | 1-800-659-2955

Hebrew Free Loan Society:

STORM DAMAGE LOANS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS – Up to $50,000
• For business needs related to storm damage
• Repayments of $1,000-$2,000/month for 24-48 months
Apply Here

In addition, the following resources are available:
• In-person assistance – to request, call hotline 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692) or visit https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sbs/businesses/contact.page.
• Commercial lease assistance – learn more by visiting NYC.gov/commlease.
• Business financing – ​get help applying by visiting NYC.gov/financingassistance.

New Yorkers can call for live, one-on-one assistance: 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692)

Post-loss insurance tips for businesses:
• Immediately contact your insurance company or broker/agent.
• Carefully read your insurance policy to understand what losses are covered.
• Take photographs or a video of the damaged areas and assets to help with your claim.
• Don’t remove any damaged property until the insurance adjuster has assessed the damage and made an official report.
• Make only those repairs necessary to prevent any further damage; if you make permanent repairs unauthorized by the insurance company, they may not be covered.
• Keep all receipts for repairs and temporary business expenses.
• To help establish the value of your claim, prepare a detailed inventory of all damaged or destroyed property (item, quantity, date of purchase, cost at purchase, age, and estimated replacement cost), along with your pre-loss photographs.
• Accompany the adjuster to point out damage during the inspection.
• If the settlement offered by the insurance company seems unfair, contact the New York • State Insurance Department by visiting www.dfs.ny.gov.
• If the insurance company denies any part of your claim, get the denial in writing, and keep copies.
• Always contact your insurance company and claims adjuster any time you find additional damage not previously reported.

New York State Department of Financial Services
The New York State Department of Financial Services can provide residents and business owners impacted by the storm with insurance information regarding policy coverage for losses and suggestions on how to document their losses and safeguard their property.

New Yorkers can call the New York State Department of Financial Services’ (NYS DFS) Disaster Hotline at 800-339-1759, daily, 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. and by accessing the website at www.dfs.ny.gov.

Insurance Information
• If you rent your home, renter’s insurance will insure the items inside your apartment. If you are a homeowner, make sure your home is properly insured. Note: Protection against property loss due to flooding is typically not covered under renters and homeowner’s insurance policies. For more information, visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531.
• If you have a flood insurance policy (either as a homeowner or renter) and experienced flood damage from Ida, you should submit your loss to your insurance agent as soon as possible and begin documenting the damage. You’ll need to provide proof of loss to your insurance company within 60 days of the flood. For more details on the claims process, follow these steps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
• Anyone in New York City is eligible for flood insurance.
• Flood insurance covers losses directly caused by flooding. In simple terms, a flood is an excess of water on land that is normally dry, affecting two or more acres of land or two or more properties.
• Homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.
• If you do not have flood insurance, consider buying it to be protected from the next flood.

Governor Hochul and Mayor DeBlasio announced $27 million available to provide hurricane Ida relief to Undocumented New Yorkers. Funding will be distributed through grants to an established network of community organizations and provided to New Yorkers who are not eligible to receive storm recovery assistance through FEMA or other means.

Office for New Americans (ONA) Hotline: 1-800-566-7636, 9am-8pm Mon-Fri.

Over 200 languages available.

The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army offers services including a food pantry, soup kitchen, clothing, and spiritual counseling.
• Soup kitchen: Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
• Food pantry: Tuesday – Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Contact the Salvation Army Corps Community Center nearest you.

Catholic Charities of Brooklyn & Queens
Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens services include food pantry referrals and case management.
• 718-722-6001
• Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City Harvest
City Harvest provides a food pantry, soup kitchens, and mobile markets.

American Red Cross in Greater New York
The American Red Cross offers general assistance including sheltering and immediate needs. Call 1-877-733-2767.

Human Resources Administration (HRA)/ Department of Social Services (DSS)
The Human Resources Administration (HRA) ACCESS HRA website and free mobile app allow you to get information, apply for benefit programs, and view case information online. The income-based HRA programs offer move in assistance through the One-Shot Deal program, security deposits, HomeBase housing assistance, financial counseling, landlord and family mediation and community social services. It also provides food stamps, cash assistance, and Medicaid.

Visit The Human Resources Administration (HRA) ACCESS HRA website for emergency help with apartment expenses. After submitting an application, HRA will call you within seven (7) days. Documents may be required.

IDNYC
IDNYC is a free government issued photo ID card for all New York City residents ages 10 and above and provides access to a wide range of services and discounts. IDNYC applicant’s information is confidential. Immigration status does not matter. Renew your card online by visiting NYC.gov/idnyc. To request an updated card or to replace a lost card, make an appointment to visit an enrollment center by going to NYC.gov/idnyc or by calling 311.

Immigrant Affairs
If you have questions about immigration or how to access City services, help in your language is available. Call the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) hotline at 212-788-7654 from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email askmoia@cityhall.nyc.gov.

The Animal Care Centers of NYC and ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) offer veterinary/medical care for pet(s), short-term emergency boarding, surrender services, and pet supplies.

• ASPCA: Call 1-800-738-9437, Monday – Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• ACC: For assistance with Lost & Found services, call 212-510-7107.

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) offers 24/7, confidential and multilingual crisis support services for those struggling with emotional distress or other mental health concerns, Vibrant Emotional Health administers the national Disaster Distress Helpline for SAMHSA, available to anyone in U.S., including territories, and Vibrant Emotional Health operates NYC Well for the NYC DOHMH, available to anyone in New York City.

• 24 hour hotline: 888-NYC WELL (888-692-9355)
• Text “WELL” to 65173
• Disaster Distress Helpline (24/7 hotline): 1-800-985-5990. For Spanish, press 2.
• MS text “TalkWithUs” to 66746. For Spanish text “Hablamos” to 66746.
• Visit: disasterdistress.samhsa.gov

New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS)
New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) provides referrals to spiritual care providers and trained disaster chaplains.

• Call 212-669-6100
• Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Salvation Army Greater New York
The Salvation Army Greater New York provides emotional and spiritual care services.

• Call 212-337-7200
• Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Keep children, pets and people with compromised immune systems away until the area has been cleaned and disinfected.

• Use protective eyewear and waterproof gloves and boots when cleaning or coming in contact with sewage.

• Remove standing shallow water. Make sure to dry all objects and surfaces thoroughly to avoid mold growth.

• Deep water and extensive flood damage may require professional cleanup and restoration.

• Throw away any food (including packaged food) that may have been touched by sewage water.

Use soap and water to clean surfaces contaminated with sewage.

To disinfect, wipe surfaces with a bleach solution (half cup bleach in one gallon of water). Non-bleach sanitizers can also be used.

WARNING: Never mix bleach with ammonia or detergents containing ammonia products since dangerous gases may be created. Bleach can damage some materials, so use with caution.

Wash clothes, bedding and other fabrics contaminated with sewage with detergent and water. Dry them thoroughly. Dry clean items that cannot be washed.

If fuel is found floating on top of water in a flooded basement, please refer to NYS Department of Environmental Conservation – Guidance on Oil Cleanup for information on cleanup and reporting oil spills. The oil should be removed before the water is pumped out. If the oil is not removed first, the floors and walls will be coated with oil as the water is removed.

After you finish cleaning, disinfect your boots and gloves with a solution of one half cup household bleach in one gallon of water. Rinse with clear water and allow the boots and gloves to air dry.

• Remove all wet, porous materials.
• Fix leaks or report them to your building owner as soon as possible.
• Use dehumidifiers if available. If the power is out, open windows for ventilation.
• Visit the Health Department’s Mold webpage for more information on preventing mold growth.
• Basement Flooding and Cleaning Up After a Storm in PDF

• DOHMH Mold Page
• How to Prevent and Get Rid of Mold
• Basement Flooding and Cleaning Up After Storm
• What Tenants Should Know about Indoor Allergens
• Homeowners’ and Renters’ Guide for Mold Cleanup and Debris Removal
• 8 Tips to Clean Up Mold
•Here’s the NYC VOAD module with great resources on mold from DOHMH, on other services from NYCEM, and on navigating the disaster benefits landscape from SBP

FEMA’s Building Science Branch is proud to announce the release of the updated Building Codes Toolkit. The updated Building Codes Toolkit is intended to provide building owners and occupants with knowledge that will allow them to better understand the importance of building codes, as well as how to go about incorporating building codes into their own building or structure.

The toolkit includes new materials as well as updates to many sections from the 2014 edition. They are:
• Building Codes 101
• History of Building Codes
• Checklist to Acquire a Building Permit
• Checklist to Ask Your General Contractor
• Role of the Insurance Industry
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Resources

Download the Toolkit Here

The toolkit can be read as one publication or can be read as separate documents to give readers information specific to their needs. Step-by-step guidance and background information about building codes are provided to help readers make informed decisions.
Readers will learn the importance of building codes and how to use them in building designs. It includes checklists and a notes section so users can track their learning progress.
This toolkit is meant to encourage more people to adopt and support building codes and standards. Areas that adopt building codes become safer and stronger against natural hazards, resulting in less damage, lower costs and fewer deaths and injuries caused by the disaster. The FEMA Building Codes Toolkit can help building owners and occupants become one step closer to living in an area that is safer and stronger against natural hazards.
For additional information on building codes, visit the FEMA Building Science Branch website

Rumors that the City’s Department of Buildings (DOB) is going door-to-door in neighborhoods unannounced, asking for access into homes to conduct illegal conversion inspections, are false.

In the interest of protecting our fellow New Yorkers, we are conducting safety inspections of properties to check for structural damage and other immediately hazardous conditions. The Department of Buildings is triaging these storm damage notifications as they come in, and our teams of inspectors responding to these specific locations are looking to ensure these structures are safe to occupy.

If the DOB finds storm-related damage during these inspections, staff are notifying the property owner of the conditions, and providing guidance on how to go about making repairs. Vacate Orders are only issued as a last resort, when occupancy of a building poses an immediate life safety threat. To date, our inspection teams conducting these self-reported storm damage safety inspections have not issued any Vacate Orders for illegal conversion conditions.

• Hurricane Ida Storm Recovery Resources Toolkit
• State of New York – Ida webpage
• American Red Cross in Greater New York
• NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Help Now NYC
• Report Damage Following an Emergency
• Substance Use/Abuse Resources