Staying Safe Returning Home:

When you are getting ready to return home, make some plans before you travel. There are many challenges to staying safe while making repairs and cleaning up debris after a storm, according to state and federal emergency management officials.

Put together a cleanup kit before you go back home. Your kit should include: rubber gloves, cleaning products, bleach, sponges, goggles, spatula, cleanup suits, rubber boots, odor-control products, trash bags, hydrogen peroxide, adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointments and work towels.

Safety Tips: Before Entering a Building

Utility checks: Check for downed or loose power lines and gas leaks. Gas leaks will smell like rotten eggs. Call the utility company (1-800-75-CONED) immediately if you suspect you have a gas leak. If you see a downed power line, move away from the line and from anything touching it and contact your utility company. Do not try to move either the downed power line or anything in contact with it by using another object such as a branch, stick or broom. Do not drive over a downed line.

Look for external damage: Examine the foundation, roof and chimney for cracks or other damage. Inspect porch roofs and overhangs. If you find obvious damage or have serious doubts about safety, contact a building inspector before you go inside.

Enter the building slowly and carefully: If the door sticks at the top as it opens, it could mean the ceiling is ready to cave in. If you force the door open, stand outside to avoid being hit by falling debris. If in doubt about the safety of a building, do not enter. If the ceiling is sagging, or there are other signs the building is in a weakened condition or about to collapse, leave the building immediately.

Safety Tips: After Entering a Building

Double check and re-check for gas leaks: To be safe, assume there COULD be a gas leak in the house. Return to your home during daylight to avoid turning on lights. Do not light candles, cigarettes or operate electrical switches in the house until it has been inspected and is safe.

If you smell gas or hear a hissing or blowing sound, open a window and leave immediately. Turn off the main gas valve from the outside, if you can. Call the gas company from a neighbor's residence or from a cell phone away from the building.

Be careful around electricity: If possible, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If the situation is unsafe, leave the building and call for help. If you are wet, standing in water, or are unsure of your safety, do not check the electrical system. You may want to have an electrician inspect your wiring. Do not turn on the lights until you are sure they're safe to use.

Once the electrical power is turned off, unplug all appliances: Clean them out and let them dry. Then have them checked by a professional before using them again.

Check water and sewage systems: If pipes are damaged, turn off the main water valve. Check with local authorities to make sure the water is not contaminated. As of 9:00am today the Mayor's office has declared the water safe for drinking, although it may taste slightly different as extra chlorine was added as a precaution.

Safety Tips for Cleaning Up

Protective clothing: Wear protective clothing and make sure your hands, arms, feet and legs are covered. If you have cuts on your hands or other body parts, protect them from contact with water or debris. You will want to protect yourself from inhaling harmful odors or fumes while cleaning up. Even people with no known risk factors for mold should wear filtering face masks and gloves if they plan to do anything more than look around.

Use extreme caution as you begin clean!

Applying for disaster assistance:

Call FEMA: 800-621-3362 (TTY for the Deaf: 800-462-7585) The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday until further notice. 

Online: DisasterAssistance.gov ; Smartphone users can visit: m.fema.gov

Assistance for affected individuals and families can include as required:

*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 available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses.  Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance.

*Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, and most private, non-profit 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.

*Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.

You will need the following information to complete the registration:

Social Security Number

You will be asked to provide your social security number. If you do not have a social security number, your household may still be eligible to receive assistance if there is a minor child in the household who is a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National, or Qualified Alien with a social security number. If you are registering for a business, enter the social security number of the responsible party for the business, the social security number will be used for an identifier only.

 - Insurance information

You will be asked to identify the type(s) of insurance coverage you have.

- Financial information

You will be asked to enter your family's gross total household income at the time of the disaster.

- Contact information

Along with the address and phone number where the damages occurred, you will be asked for information on how FEMA can contact you. It is very important that you provide FEMA with your current mailing address and phone numbers where you can be contacted.

- Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Direct Deposit Information (optional)

If you are determined to be eligible for assistance and would prefer that funds be transferred to your account, you will be asked for your banking information, which includes; the institution name, type of account, routing and account number.

- Declaration and Release Form

If you have applied for assistance and need to complete a Declaration and Release Form (OMB form 009-0-3), please fill it out and send it to:

FEMA - Individuals & Households Program

National Processing Service Center

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

Or fax it to: 1-800-827-8112. If you need help filling out this form, please call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

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 For more information, please visit our website:

www.nypdcommunityaffairs.org

·         May 7, 2011 – Udall’s Cove Park Ravine is hosting an annual Wetland Clean UP (local event) for more info please visit: www.littleneck.net/udallscove/cleanup.htm

·         May 21, 2011 - It's My Park Day (Citywide) For more info please visit: www.itsmyparkday.org and call 718-520-5948

GOING GREEN IN QUEENS
On Saturday, March 26th the Al Oerter Recreation Center at 131-40 Fowler Avenue in Flushing is hosting a greening, education and networking conference. There will be giveaways, food, exhibits and you can tour the new pool building. For information call 718 341-1395 or visit www.goinggreeninqueens2011.eventbrite.com. Free parking is available.

CON EDISON
Con Edison customers can apply to schedule a home energy survey. For $50.00 an energy professional will evaluate lighting, heating and cooling equipment and appliances and offer suggestions to save energy and money and provide free energy-savings items including compact florescent bulbs, power strips and will make minor repairs. Call 800-430-9505 for more info or go on line at www. ConEd.com/home.

THINK SUMMER
The Dept. of Parks and Recreation is starting recruitment efforts for lifeguards. Qualifying tests for entry is being offered at locations around the City. Visit the website www.nyc.gov/parks for locations or email lifeguard@parks.nyc.gov for more information. Training is free and lifeguards will earn at least $13.57 an hour.

TAXI, TAXI!!!
The Taxi and Limousine Commission have introduced a new proposal to allow a new category of livery cars to make on-street pickups outside of Manhattan, just like yellow cabs do. TLC would like to hear from the public about what they think about this new proposal for taxis and car service. The online survey is available at www.nyc.gov/tlc.

WHAT DO YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT?
For the first six months of this fiscal year, July, 2010 through January, 2011 the most service requests received by 3-1-1 from CB 11 residents were complaints to the Dept. of Parks, 3,557 in total. All but 68 were requests for pruning and maintenance of damaged or dead trees and for root damage to sidewalks and for new trees. The second most number of complaints are directed to the NYPD for blocked driveways (384) and illegal parking (362) and noise (253). The Dept. of Transportation comes in at number 3 with 993 for various conditions, from street sign damage to street, sidewalk and curb conditions. The Department of Environmental Protection numbers are counted separately. In December they clocked in 281 calls, with the most being for leaks, catch basin clogged or flooded and sewer back- ups. Based on service request statistics from3-1-1 you will be pleased to know that residents of CB 11 in Queens have a lot less to complain about than all other district in the City (except 2 in Brooklyn and 2 in Manhattan). So, what’s your complaint?