Greetings!
On March 30 and 31 Rhode Island experienced a flood of historic proportions. We are only just beginning to understand the level of damage this storm has left behind.
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, in partnership with other state agencies, cities, towns and community groups, is committed to helping artists and arts organizations affected by this storm and its aftermath. Over the next weeks and month (for we expect this to be a long-term effort) we will attempt to assess the level of damage experienced by our colleagues in the arts community, provide information and assistance where possible, and seek resources to help in the recovery effort.
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Assessing the damage
Help us understand how this storm has affected you and your work
 Was your studio flooded? Did you lose valuable works of art, equipment, tools? Was a performance affected, causing you to lose revenue? We need to gather information about facilities and equipment damage, what
this may mean to budgets - loss of earned income because performances
have to be stopped and/or exhibitions canceled, and whether people have
any insurance to cover these loses. Moreover, we need to get information on
what this means to individuals - artists and administrators - in terms
of your homes, studios, equipment, damaged work.
We need to gather this information in order to make the case -- and seek support -- so that others
understand how the entrepreneurs (artists) and small businesses in
our field are facing the same things others are.
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Tell us what you can - then keep talking to us
 Click on the image to send us an email. Tell us, with as much detail as possible, what affect the storm and flood has had on your work. Are you covered by insurance, and how much damage won't be covered? How will your income be affected? What items will need to be replaced as a result of damage from the storm? Did you experience structural damage? Have you had to shut down or move? What costs or expenses are related to this, and (again) how much of this will NOT be covered by insurance?
Send us this information via email ("Click Here" should open an email form, but if not send it to me at randy@arts.ri.gov). As things change drop us an email and provide additional information. Be sure to include contact information. This information will help us prepare requests for support to state and federal sources, and forward to you information that may help in your personal or organizational recovery effort.
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Register With FEMA
All Rhode Islanders in need of flood
disaster assistance should register with FEMA at www.fema.gov or
1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585). |
Links that help
The Rhode Island Foundation has established a list of links for flood assistance resources. Go to http://www.rifoundation.org/News/Floodassistanceresources/tabid/705/Default.aspx
for valuable information. The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce has a resource page at http://www.providencechamber.com/floodrounup.aspx for business-related information.
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If you are self-employed
From the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce: Self-Employed Now Eligible for Unemployment Benefits
Even if you are self-employed and generally file a 1099 form, you may be
eligible for flood-related unemployment insurance. Under a program
called DUA (Disaster Unemployment Assistance), the federal government is
accepting claims from business people. The Rhode Island Department of
Labor and Training urges potential claimants to visit the DLT website
and file online. Officials tell us that the turnaround time is virtually
immediate for these and other claims affecting workers --- self
employed or otherwise. |
www.ArtsReady.org
An excellent website with lots of good information on recovering from a natural disaster (hit the Recovery tab)and how to be prepared for the next one.
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Help for Craft artists
Emergency
Relief & Recovery
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund's (CERF's) emergency relief and recovery programs provide assistance to help
sustain a craft artist's career when an emergency occurs.
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Loans for Arts Orgs
From Lori Foley, Director of Preservation Services at the Northeast
Document Conservation Center in Andover, MA.
Arts organizations ARE eligible to apply for loans. See Heritage
Preservation's
"Guide to Navigating FEMA and Small Business
Administration Disaster
Aid for Cultural Institutions," at
https://www.heritagepreservation.org/PDFS/GuidetoNavigatingFEMASBA.pdf.
FEMA's Region I
Environmental and Historic Preservation Officer is helping
coordinate
recovery efforts in the New England states, and RISCA hopes to stress the importance of cultural institutions, including arts organizations, as part of this recovery effort. |
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