Homeless in Ocean County: Coping with Hurricane Sandy

Dealing with the Aftermath:

· Have a need and don't know where to turn?

Call 211 or go to: http://www.nj211.org/hurricane.cfm

Asbury Park Press (www.app.com) has extensive Hurricane Resource Center on their website.

· NJ Office of Emergency Management

http://ready.nj.gov/programs/sandy_recovery.html

Phone: 732-341-3451

Latest updates: http://readynj.posterous.com/

· FEMA:

http://www.fema.gov/sandy and NJ specific http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086

Residents and business owners who suffered damage in Ocean County during the storm can begin applying for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance. To register go to www.disasterassistance.gov, m.fema.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). The phone numbers will operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Saturday until further notice. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.

Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

· Disaster Unemployment Assistance:

http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/552012/approved/20121101b.html

If you are unemployed because of the disaster that began on Oct. 28, you should FIRST file for unemployment insurance benefits through the Internet by going to www.njuifile.net.

The Internet processes claims faster. However, if needed, people may also file a claim by telephone by contacting the state Department of Labor’s Re-employment Call Centers at:

North Jersey - (201) 601-4100

Central Jersey - (732) 761-2020

South Jersey - (856) 507-2340

A 30-day deadline ending December 3, 2012 is in effect for filing claims resulting from Hurricane Sandy.

· Need guidance on filing insurance claims?

http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/552012/approved/20121031l.html

· Important Utility Contact Info (electric, gas, water, phone, etc)

http://www.state.nj.us/bpu/assistance/utility/

· Dealing With Power Outages:

Red Cross Power Outage Checklist: http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4340180_PowerOutage.pdf

Keeping your house safe during long-term power outages in cold weather:

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/em/em_004.cfm

JCPL Power Outage Map: http://outages.firstenergycorp.com/nj.html

· Shelter, Food & Supplies:

NJ Shelter Info: http://www.nj211.org/hurricane.cfm#volunteer

Odd-even gas sales in 12 New Jersey Counties: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/552012/approved/20121102n.html

List of ShopRite stores closed due to the hurricane:

http://www.shoprite.com/severe-weather-alert/

Updates from Wawa, including a list of Wawas that are closed:

http://www.wawa.com/WawaWeb/Alerts.aspx

Need emergency food? Contact the FoodBank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties at 732-918-2600 or see their list of places for assistance at: http://www.foodbankmoc.org/?page_id=35

· Disaster Crisis Counseling:

Toll free Disaster Mental Health Helpline: (877) 294-HELP (4357). A TTY line is available for the deaf and hearing impaired at (877) 294-4356.

Suggestions for coping: http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhs/disaster/

· Need to know when schools are opening around Ocean and Monmouth?

http://blogs.app.com/learning/2012/10/31/superstorm-sandy-school-closings-this-week/

· Searching for family and friends? Want to register yourself as safe and well?

https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/

· If your pet is missing:

Gov. Chris Christie unveiled a hotline for residents to call to report their missing pets. The hotline is 1-855-407-4787. The hotline is open 24 hours a day.

http://www.fema.gov/helping-pets

· Traffic & Transportation:

Getting ready for a flight from a New York airport and want some tips?

http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/three-travel-tips-to-navigate-the-storm/

Heading to NYC and looking for basic info about what's running and open?

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/10/30/nyregion/storm-service-updates.html

NJ Transit Updates

http://www.njtransit.com/sa/sa_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=CustomerNoticeTo&NoticeId=2299

NJ traffic alerts from NJDOT

Call 511 or go to http://www.511nj.org/

· How can I vote in Ocean County?

http://brick.patch.com/articles/displaced-ocean-county-voters-can-vote-by-mail-in-ballot

For updates about how voting and vote-by-mail ballots, call:

Ocean County Clerk Election Services: 732-929-2018, 609-597-1500, or 1-800-722-0291

http://www.clerk.co.ocean.nj.us/CountyClerk/ElectionServices.aspx

Ocean County Board of Elections - 732-929-2167 or 1-800-452-5254

http://www.co.ocean.nj.us/electionboard/

· Social Media Outlets:

Jersey Shore Hurricane News: http://www.facebook.com/JerseyShoreHurricaneNews?ref=stream

A bottom-up, two-way news outlet, JSHN is news for the people, by the people. JSHN covers breaking news, traffic, and weather. "News you can use." JSHN is also a community resource (events, missing people, lost animals, etc).

Have an urgent tip? Email jerseyshorehurricanenews@gmail.com or text (908-565-4270)

Twitter tags to follow:

#njopen: for what’s open

#njgas: for gas stations

#njpower: for power reports

Go to www.patch.com to find links to local Patch sites for news and information.

· Talking to kids about the storm and helping families cope:

A collection of resources gathered by the CDC: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/

Elmo talked about the hurricane on the radio in New York:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2012/oct/30/elmo-explains-hurricane-sandy/

Ways to Help:

· Looking to volunteer?

Contact the New Jersey volunteer emergency response hotline at 1-800-JERSEY-7 or backup hotline numbers (which are being answered): 609-775-5236 or 908-303-0471.

· American Red Cross:

People can donate money to the American Red Cross by texting REDCROSS TO 90999 for a $10 donation, calling 1-800-REDCROSS or clicking the “make a donation” option on www.redcross.org

· United Way Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund
With leadership from United Way of New York City, United Ways along the Eastern Seaboard have established the United Way Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund to address near-term and long-term recovery needs of communities most affected by the hurricane. Contributions to the Fund will be used by United Ways in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, DC and West Virginia to address recovery needs in communities that FEMA has declared disaster areas. Visit UWSandyRecovery.org to donate to the Fund. You can also use your cell phone to text RECOVERY to 52000 to make a $10 donation.

· Animal Shelters:

ALL THREE of the AHS shelters are collecting donations for those shelters, as well as for shelters throughout NJ, our shelters, and NJ residents that need supplies for their pets. Food, blankets, towels, and other pet supplies can be dropped off at:

AHS/Popcorn Park; 1 Humane Way; Forked River, NJ 08731

AHS/Tinton Falls; 2960 Shafto Road; Tinton Falls, NJ 07753

AHS/Newark; 124 Evergreen Ave.; Newark, NJ 07114

Again, residents affected by the storm that need assistance caring for their pets are also welcome to come to our shelters for supplies.

Tips for Preparing for Future Emergencies:

· Disaster Preparation:

http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes

http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/pfd.pdf

Help your children understand how to prepare for emergencies:

http://www.ready.gov/kids

http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/toolkits/ready

· Need reviews of emergency supplies, to try to order now or get for next time?