Update
From the Rev. Stephen Harding
Diocesan Response Coordinator
Sunday, November 4, 2012
9:00am
Good Morning -
Nor'easter Coming
This weather update is from our friend and colleague Katie Mears, Program Manager, USA Disaster Preparedness and Response, Episcopal Relief and Development: "I just wanted to make sure you are all aware about the storm expected next week. A nor'easter is expected Wednesday-Thursday. Hopefully gov't warming shelters will be coming on line, but especially in areas without power, it might be worth preparing now to shelter people or otherwise help those who have been staying in homes without power. "
http://www.nycareaweather.com/2012/11/nov-2-2012-noreaster-expected-next-week.html#more
Please start making preparations now to either open your churches (if you have power) to those who do not and to make sure that your parishioners are situated in an environment safe for them. The elderly, the shut ins, and those at risk are of greatest concern.
Update:
Staten Island:
Chuck Howell reports that the two tractor trailer trucks full of food went to the Pentecostal Church for food distribution and that a truckload of clothes arrived from Brooklyn. Food that was going to be used for the Marathon is reportedly making its way to the churches. There is a need for blankets, winter coats, socks, and underwear, men's women's and childrens.
NYC:
Power is coming back in Manhattan. It was great to see the Volunteer spirit at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery this morning: lots of Volunteers, smiles, and a woman who gave me $1.46 in change for the food she went home with. Thanks to the Rev'd Winnie Varghese for opening St Mark's as a neighborhood center.
Region II: Details are emerging that Rockland County is still mostly without power. Putnam seems to be in a similar situation, and Susan Fortunato reports that many people in Northern Rockland have lost their homes. Details are few about Westchester County at this point.
The Rev'd Alon White 914 525-5924 (cell); 845 358-1297 (office);
therevalon@gmail.com, has been appointed as Region II Coordinator. Please call or email her with any needs, issues, or concerns in Region II so that we can get you the resources you need.
Mid-Hudson:
Up, running, and working to support Region II.
Services: FEMA and SNAP
You may need to help your parishioners with these forms. A training of Church Volunteers to help parishioners through the process may take place later.
FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency)
provides disaster assistance to those who have lost homes or property due to a disaster. If your parishioners have lost their home or property as a result of Hurricane Sandy, they should file with FEMA and start the process.
Disaster assistance is financial or direct assistance to individuals and families whose property has been damaged or destroyed as a result of a federally-declared disaster, and whose losses are not covered by insurance. It is meant to help you with critical expenses that cannot be covered in other ways. This assistance is not intended to restore your damaged property to its condition before the disaster. (Source: FEMA website at
)
The FEMA link is
and their number is (800) 621-3362.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Senator Gillibrand's office yesterday announced that
the federal government has authorized that every current SNAP recipient in the impacted areas/zip codes for the storm automatically will get 50% of October's benefits placed on their cards.
FNS is authorizing the replacement of 50 percent of the October benefits for households in Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan and Westchester Counties and the 76 designated ZIP codes in New York City. We estimate the total benefit replacement amount to be approximately $65,000,000.
The federal government also approved the state waiver to allow SNAP recipients that reside in areas that currently have individual assistance designations (i.e. Bronx, Kings, Richmond, Queens, New York, Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester) to have the ability to purchase hot foods and hot food products with SNAP benefits, and to consume them on-premise, where practical, through November 30, 2012.
HRA has a special fax line for replacement FS/SNAP requests, for SNAP recipients who lost food due to Hurricane Sandy: 917-693-1111. HRA has asked that requesters include their address, SSN and contact phone number on the form.
Here are links to the forms in English and other languages
Food collection in the Bronx and Manhattan from congregations this week:
please email me at
sharding@mindspring.com if your parish has food to be picked up. Please put "EDNY Food Collection Pickup" in the subject line. Plans are being made to pick up your donations and bring them where they are needed.
Thank you all for your hard work and commitment to help others. What you are doing is making a difference and making life a little easier for those affected by the storm.
Keep up the good work, and God bless you all.
Stephen+
