1. Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance Now Available to New Yorkers Affected by Hurricane Sandy
New Yorkers Who Work and Live in Bronx, Kings, New York, Richmond, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and Westchester Counties Can Apply
Department of Labor Staff to Deploy to Disaster Areas to Register Impacted New Yorkers
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that 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.
This assistance will supplement New York’s existing unemployment insurance system and will expand eligibility to include individuals who might otherwise not be covered. The United States Department of Labor has committed to providing additional assistance if needed.
Department of Labor staff will be deployed to hard-hit communities to help register impacted New Yorkers for Disaster Unemployment Assistance in person.
Anyone unemployed due to Hurricane Sandy is immediately eligible and can submit a claim to the Department of Labor. The criterion for collecting disaster assistance is broader than for collecting regular unemployment benefits. Specifically, an individual can collect disaster assistance in any of the following cases:
- Injured in the disaster and unable to work, whether the person is an employee or self-employed.
- Workplace is damaged, or destroyed, or the person cannot work because of the disaster.
- Transportation to work is not available because of the disaster.
- Cannot get to work because must travel through the affected area, which is impossible due to disaster.
- Planned to begin working, but cannot because of the disaster.
- Derived most of income from areas affected by the disaster, and business is closed or inoperable because of the disaster.
Examples of self-employment include small business owners, independent taxi drivers, vendors, independent commercial fisherman, and farmers.
State Department of Labor Commissioner Peter M. Rivera said, “These people want to work and are unable to because of circumstances far beyond their control. This money will directly help workers who have families to feed and bills to pay. Contact the Department of Labor and we will determine which program you qualify for.”
To apply for unemployment benefits or disaster unemployment assistance, those affected by the storm and have lost their job or income should call the Telephone Claims Center (TCC) at 1-888-209-8124, or 1-877-358-5306 if they live out of state. Applicants should answer the questions to indicate they lost their job due to Hurricane Sandy. In order to receive benefits you must apply by December 3, 2012.
2. After Sandy, Family Health Centers Are Open in the Bronx – Everyone Welcome
The Institute for Family Health, a non-profit organization, announced that its six family health centers in the Bronx are open following Hurricane Sandy. Doctors and mental health staff are available to see patients of all ages – babies, children and adults. The health centers accept all patients, regardless of their insurance type or ability to pay.
The Institute invites anyone in need of primary care or mental health services to visit its centers. “There is no need to wait to see a doctor, or go to the emergency room if you don’t absolutely need to,” said Dr. Neil Calman, the Institute’s president and CEO. “We know everyone has had a very difficult few days. We are here to help. If you need health care, please visit us in the Bronx at any of our six locations.”
A list of the Institute’s Bronx health centers, including phone numbers and hours of operation, is attached. For more information about the Institute or its Bronx health centers, please visit www.institute2000.org
3. Partnership to Help New Yorkers Find Poll Sites on Election Day by Text Message
New Yorkers seeking information about where to vote on Election Day will be able to locate their poll site by text message starting today. While Hurricane Sandy has forced last-minute changes to many planned poll sites in Tuesday’s election, up-to-date information on voting locations is now only a text message away.
Text “NYCVOTES” to 877-877
Message and data rates may still apply. Customers can text ‘STOP’ to opt out of further messages.
Spanish speakers can text “DONDE” to 877-877 to receive prompts in Spanish.
The text system allows users to look up multiple poll sites. Follow the instructions provided to enter the address of the voter whose poll site you believe may have changed.
“During this especially trying week, Tuesday’s election is only one among many pressing concerns,” said Art Chang, Chair of the Voter Assistance Advisory Committee. “With many poll sites affected by the storm, it’s even more important that we help New Yorkers find their way to the polls to make their voices heard. Thanks to this service, voters need only a cell phone to keep themselves informed.”
The poll site locator was developed by Mobile Commons, a mobile strategy company based in DUMBO and is being provided pro bono to New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Mobile Commons uses official elections information provided by the Voting Information Project and powered by Google for their Polling Place Locator that will help millions of Americans locate their polling place this election cycle. The Voting Information Project is a partnership between election officials, the Pew Center on the States, Google, Microsoft, and several other technology partners with the shared goal to bring official election information to voters wherever, whenever they need it.
4. Health Department Issues Food Safety and Water Guidelines for New Yorkers as Power is Restored in Some Areas
To help restaurants reopen safely, the Health Department is suspending regular restaurant inspections until Tuesday, November 12.
The Health Department is announcing food safety and water guidelines to help New Yorkers stay healthy and safe as power is restored in neighborhoods across the City. Food that came into contact with flood waters is potentially contaminated and may cause serious illness or death and must be discarded. When frozen food thaws, and refrigerated food warms, bacteria and other pathogens grow that can also cause serious illnesses, and also needs to be discarded.
5. Health Care for Hurricane Sandy Workers and Volunteers
Mount Sinai Irving J. Selikoff Centers for Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Hurricane response and cleanup activities can put your physical health and emotional wellbeing at risk. For those workers and volunteers responding to Hurricane Sandy, you might be exposed to physical hazards and emotional stressors during the course of your work or volunteer effort.
Such hazards might include:
- Electrical hazards, such as electrocution from downed wires. Be extra cautious around downed wires that might still be alive with electricity.
- Injuries from electricor gas-powered tools, including chain saws. Always wear a full face mask, gloves and hearing protection when using a chain saw.
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Falls
- Fires
- Exposure to toxic chemicals and contaminated water
- Traumatic and stressful situations
How can the Mount Sinai Selikoff Centers help me?
- Our doctors, nurses, and social workers have over 30 years of experience in the identification and treatment of occupational and environmental health problems. We can provide:
- Confidential medical exams and treatment for health problems related to your Hurricane Sandy work
- Confidential counseling services to help you cope with the emotional stress of your Hurricane Sandy work
- Social work services to help you identify benefits and resources you and your family might need
- Assistance with Workers’ Compensation, line of duty injury, and other benefits to which you may be entitled.
How Much Do Services Cost?
No one will be turned away due to an inability to pay. If you are eligible for Workers’ Compensation or line of duty injury benefits, you will not be billed. For charges not covered by workers’ compensation, line of duty injury, or other insurance, we have a sliding fee scale.
How do I get help?
If you think you have been injured or made ill by your Hurricane Sandy work or volunteer activities, please contact the Mount Sinai Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine at 212-241-5555.
We have clinic locations in:
Manhattan
345 East 102nd Street, Suite 215
New York, NY 10029
212-241-5555
Yonkers
1020 Warburton Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10701
914-964-4737
For more information, please visit our websites athttp://coemnyc.org/about or http://www.mountsinai.org/selikoff
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