Category Archives: Help

FEMA Assistance for Sandy Victims

President Obama at FEMA HQ planning help for Sandy victims
Información en español

Get general aid information and FEMA application information for specific counties in states Sandy hit hardest – Connecticut, New York, New Jersey & New Hampshire – that can apply right now. After a resident applies for assistance, a FEMA inspector will be assigned to assess the damage and determine what assistance the resident qualifies for. Then a check can be issued, or in the case of business owners, a referral will be made to the Small Business Administration for low-interest loan assistance.

  • Apply for FEMA Aid
  • Apply Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
  • Apply via a smartphone at m.fema.gov
  • Apply by Phone: Call (800) 621-3362

These are the kinds of assistance available from FEMA:

  • Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements.
  • Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary, and functional.
  • Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs.
  • Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals.
  • Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans are available up to $200,000 for the primary residence and $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans are available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance.
  • Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, nonprofit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact. This loan, in combination with a property loss loan, cannot exceed a total of $2 million.
  • Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers, and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence.

Emergency help in New Jersey towns (post-Sandy)

As we learn of help and resources available in New Jersey towns for victims of Hurricane Sandy, we’re posting them, along with special information about school closures and other important local information.

  • Very Important Tips/Announcements

  • If you bought a generator from Costco DO NOT USE IT! Its causing FIRES!

Municipal Closures and Enforcement Changes

  • Fair Lawn

  • Emergency Information: Overnight parking restriction suspended (you may park on the street) until Monday, Nov. 5 2012. Check for parking updates at 201-794-5399
  • Garbage pick-up is suspended temporarily. Residents may bring household garbage and recyclables to the DPW at 20-05 Saddle River Road
  • Charging Stations
    Fair Lawn Community Center on Kipp Street and Berdan Road on Thursday 11/1 Friday 11/2 7am-9pm Sat 11/3 9am-9pm & Sun 11/3 9am-5pm. Fair Lawn High School has charging stations from 10am-2pm Fri on 11/2
  • Showers
    Showers available at the Community Center on Kipp Street and Berdan Road
  • Contacts
    Kurt Peluso 201-410-1558
  • Hackensack

  • Emergency information: for all emergencies call 911. City offices re-opened Thursday, Nov. 1 2012. They are experiencing limited telephone service. Curfew is in effect from 6pm to 6am daily until further notice. Schools are closed until Monday, Nov 5 2012.
  • Local businesses open
    Target on Hackensack Ave
    Home Depot on Hackensack Avenue
    Costco on So. River Street
    Burger King on Hackensack Avenue
    711 on Main Street & State Street
    Deli Mart on Main Street
    Farmers Market on Passaic Street
    Lucky Farms on South Summit Avenue
  • Hoboken

  • FOOD
    A food truck capable of serving hundreds of meals will be at the Capital One Bank parking lot (3rd and Washington) serving free meals to the public this afternoon. Food trucks from throughout the region are invited into Hoboken to help feed our community.
  • The Elks Club will also be serving food to the public this afternoon. The Fire Department pumped out the loading dock for the A&P supermarket, which is expecting a delivery and hoping to open today.
  • Water tankers are available at 1st & Washington and 315 Hudson St (bring your own container)
  • Irvington

  • Resources are being organized and communicated by Mayor Wayne Smith. Call his cell at 973-219-5245 or text him a number so he can call you back. Mayor Smith’s Facebook Page
  • CITY CONTACT INFO (may not be working)
    • Fire Dept: 973-399-6555
    • Police Dept: 973-399-6600
    • Mayor Office:973-399-6639
  • SHELTERS
    First Congressional Christian United Methodist Church at 1240 Clinton Avenue Irvington Ave (off civic Square). Call if you have mobility difficulties and need transportation.
  • Chris Gatling Center at 285 Union Avenue Irvington 973-399-6597
  • STORES
    There are food stores open on Springfield Avenue in Irvington from Grove Street up to the Maplewood line
  • Jersey City

    Emergency information: Curfew is in effect from 7pm to 7am daily until further notice.

  • Newark

  • Resources and advisories are being communicated by the mayor via Twitter @corybooker or for non-emergency assistance call 973-266-4111 (if not working try 973-877-9323, 973-733-9326, 973-733-9321 or 973-733-9325)
  • FOOD
  • Hot meals are being served daily to residents in Newark affected by Sandy at these locations
  • 502 Summer Avenue
  • 595 Mt. Prospect Avenue
  • 444 Mt. Prospect Avenue
  • 136 Tiffany Boulevard
  • 1 Court Street
  • 2 Speedway Drive
  • 285 Burnett Street
  • 1060 Broad Street
  • Shabazz High School
  • JFK High School
  • SHELTERS
    NPS is hosting shelters for those in need at West Side, MX Shabazz, and Samuel Berliner. You can go to a shelter to stay overnight or just to warm up, and you can shower at some of them. Some serve food too.
  • SCHOOLS
    • Newark Public Schools closed Monday and Tuesday (Nov 5&6) for CHILDREN
  • STORES OPEN
  • Xtra Super 930 Broadway; meat counter open till 8pm store open till 9pm (973) 484-7200
  • Pathmark Supermarket 281 Ferry St Open 24 hours (973) 589-3922
  • Met Food Market 514 Ferry St Open till 8 pm (973) 817-9333
  • Extra Supermarket 125 Avon Ave Open till 8 pm (973) 504-9696
  • C Town Supermarket 120 Clinton Ave #Newark Open till 6 or 7. Call (973) 642-3363
  • Brothers Supermarket 525 Springfield Ave #Newark (973) 481-6499 Open till 8 pm
  • Bravo Supermarket 260 Roseville Ave Open till 8 pm (973) 485-6170
  • Twin City 611 Broadway open till 8 pm.
  • Fatima Supermarket 111 Wilson open till 10 pm, lines are not long.
  • Pathmark 167 Bergen St. restocking shelves now. Open 24 hours with average lines.
  • Seabra’s Ferry Street & Wilson Ave. locations are open. Chestnut Street is closed
  • MORE INFORMATION
  • Newark Pulse website and Facebook Page
  • On Twitter: @newnewark @sustainablenwk Newark Green Drinks/Green Wei
  • CHARGING STATIONS & WIFI
  • Newark Museum Free to public Sat/Sun Nov 3&4 12-5pm
  • Nubian Flavor Restaurant at 410 Springfield Avenue 973-242-2238 – Free coffee and charging stations till 7pm
  • A BREAK & A BIT OF FUN
  • Newark Museum writes: As we deal with the aftermath of the storm, we invite you to come in, relax, get warm, and enjoy the beautiful art in our 80 galleries. The Museum is offering free admission this Saturday and Sunday, and we welcome you to participate in art and science activities for children, and group tours; charge your smart phone; and enjoy free WiFi.
  • New Brunswick

  • New Brunswick Elks Lodge is hosting a FREE SOUP KITCHEN to help those that would like a warm meal and something warm to drink.
  • Passaic

  • Street parking enforcement suspended through 11/4
  • UPO on Myrtle Avenue by #11 school is open Fri/Sat/Sun Nov 3-4 12-5pm. All are welcome to come and drink coffee, charge your phone or plan a meeting.
  • Plainfield/Fanwood

  • Emergency information: Curfew is in effect from 7pm to 6am daily.
  • CONTACTS
    Rebecca Williams on Facebook
  • SHELTERS
  • Washington School 427 Darrow Street between West 7th & West 4th Streets! (hot food, charging stations, cots)
  • CHARGING STATIONS & RESOURCE CENTERS
  • Fire Division Engine 3 Station (1147 West Third Street) has been set up as a food distribution center and charging station.
  • Emerson School is being used as a resource center
  • List of other shelters throughout New Jersey

  • Bergen County: Bergen Community College, 400 Paramus Road, Paramus
  • Cumberland County: Red Cross Shelters at: Cumberland County College, 3322 College Drive., Vineland
  • Cumberland County:  Vo-Tech, 601 Bridgeton Ave., Bridgeton
  • Essex County: Codey Arena at the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange can house 150 people.
  • Maplewood: DeHart Community Center in DeHart Park, 120 Burnett Road
  • Caldwell Community Center, 1 Provost Square – is open as a warming center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Livingston High School and Seton Hall University are open as overnight shelters
  • Red Cross Shelter: JFK Recreation Center, 211 West Kinney Avenue, Newark
  • Middlesex County: Carl Sandburg Middle School, Route 516, just off of Route 9 North in Old Bridge.
  • Woodbridge Community Center 600 Main Street – for area residents in need of continuous supervised medical care. Pets accepted.
  • Carteret: Carteret Middle School, Carteret Ave.
  • Nathan Hale School, Haywood and Roosevelt Avenues
  • East Brunswick, Trinity Baptist Church, Cranbury Road
  • Edison: Edison Senior Center, 2963 Woodbridge Avenue
  • Milltown, Firehouses on Cottage Avenue and South Main Street
  • Monroe High School
  • Sayreville Historical Museum, 425 Main Street, Sayreville
  • Medical-needs and special needs shelter has opened at Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main Street
  • Monmouth County: MAC Center at Monmouth University in West Long Branch
  • Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center, 4240 Allaire Road, Farmingdale
  • Salem County: Salem Community College
  • Somerset County: Hillsborough Municipal Building, 379 South Branch Road, Hillsborough
  • North Plainfield High School, 100 Brooks Blvd. – accepting pets but owner must stay at separate location.
  • Somerville Branch of the Somerset Valley YMCA, 2 Green Street – open to all who lost power from 5 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. call (908) 722-4567
  • Union County: Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Street – pets accepted
  • Emerson Elementary School, 305 Emerson Avenue, Plainfield
  • Ralph Froehlich Public Safety Building, lower lobby, 300 North Avenue East, Westfield – free public mobile phone(only) charging station, laptops and other devices cannot be charged here.
  • Warren County: The Trinity Church, 213 Main Street – overnight shelter for Hackettstown residents only, bring own pillows, blankets, food, medicines, books, games, or sleeping bags. Charging station – NO PETS

Sandy in New Jersey – News & General Resources

These resources are mostly for New Jersey residents – good luck to everyone out there! My family and I hope you stay safe, warm and dry. Please post any other resources you know as a comment. Please check in on friends, neighbors and seniors you know and help out if you can. Together we are strong and will overcome every challenge. (Post will be updated as information becomes available.)

Hurricane Sandy puts Hoboken train station under water

  • Very Important Tips

  • If you bought a generator from Costco DO NOT USE IT! Its causing FIRES!
  • Homeowner’s Insurance Issue: when Sandy touched down in New Jersey, it was not technically a hurricane. Many insurance policies will not pay for hurricane damage, but in this case, they cannot deny New Jersey residents insurance coverage for damage their properties have sustained. Check it out!

  • Shelters

  • Try calling your town’s police or county Office of Emergency Management (OEM) for up to date shelter and aid information. You can also use your phone to search for open Red Cross shelters by texting: SHELTER and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA). Example: Shelter 01234 (standard rates apply) or visit the Red Cross website.

    Another way to look is using the search terms Google search for local shelters

    If you book into a shelter, please remember to bring any clothes, medications for yourself and/or family members, and linens if you can. They will have food, but you might also want to bring a book. If you bring a pet please bring a carrier case or crate, leash, pet food, any medications, a water bowl, and waste bags.

  • Pet friendly shelters on Jersey Shore
  • Pet friendly shelters in Morris County
  • Bergen County Regional Shelter (special needs accommodations and pet-friendly) is open at Bergen Community College, 400 Paramus Road, Paramus NJ
  • Shelters in Greater Newark, NJ.
    • Newark’s JFK Recreation Center on West Kinney Street is a pet-friendly shelter. Newark Stage Shelters (go there for transportation to a full-service shelter) are Berringer and Shabazz High schools.
    • Irvington Shelter at Chris Gatling Center 285 Union Avenue 973-399-6597 or call Police at 973-399-6600 or Fire Department 973-399-6555
    • Corey Arena in West Orange
    • Park Avenue School and Lincoln Avenue School in Orange are Staging Shelters.
  • Pets

    NJ pet owners who were separated from their pets during Sandy, please call 1-855-407-4787

  • See list of pet-friendly shelters listed under shelters

  • Safety Tips & Reporting
  • Don’t drive through water – most flood-related deaths occur in cars. Also, stay put as much as possible to keep roads free for emergency personnel until travel is safe.
  • Report downed wires, outages and gas leaks to your electric and gas provider:
  • How to eat and be well without electricity due to an emergency
  • Drinking water safety Connecticut DPH website tells us to check well and public water by sight and smell. Don’t use water that is dark, has an odor, or has floating pieces. Also, listen to the news or check with your water company.
  • Road Closures

  • Call 511 or visit 511 websites 511 NJ or 511 NY
  • How to Help

  • President Obama points out that the best way to help Sandy victims is to donate money or volunteer. Supplies not specifically asked for, create the need for emergency personnel to sort and manage the donations, and this creates a burden on their time and energy.
  • Facebook friend Kaia Shivers says “Donate directly to people in need NOT AMERICAN RED CROSS, ETC. (Kimi edit: so all of your money goes to help and not administrative fees). American Red Cross still has not explained the millions of dollars that disappeared in the Haiti Relief.”
  • Shuan In the City has some good ideas for New Yorkers who want to help.