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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 416-12
November 11, 2012

UPDATE ON CITY RECOVERY AND ASSISTANCE OPERATIONS

The following is an update of City Government's Storm Response as of 2:30 PM on Sunday, November 11, 2012

Power Washing
Today, teams including FDNY, Department of Environmental Protection and other City agency workers began power-washing streets in areas that experienced flooding and accumulated sand and other debris as a result of Hurricane Sandy.

The teams are operating today in the zone between Beach Channel Drive south to Rockaway Freeway and east to west from Beach 73rd Street to Beach 94th Street.

Day of Service
Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg kicked off a day of service to assist New Yorkers and clean-up areas damaged by Hurricane Sandy:
  • 1,000 volunteers participated in the latest of several City-organized service days
  • 19 different sites in Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island
  • Service work included hot food preparation and service; distribution of non-perishable food, water and other supplies; boardwalk and parks clean-up; and games and activities for children.
  • An additional 1,825 volunteers have assisted in City parks cleanup at 16 different sites between Friday and Saturday
Those who want to volunteer can visit NYC Service at: nyc.gov/service 

Food, Water & Supply Distribution at City-Run Resource Sites
The City has opened food and water distribution sites in the hardest hit areas and are staffed by City employees, volunteers, the Salvation Army and National Guard. Locations and hours: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/foodandwater.html.

From Thursday, November 1 through Saturday, November 10, the following have been distributed:
  • More than 1.97 million meals
  • Nearly 539,640 bottles of water
  • 146,950 blankets
  • 1,248 cases of diapers
  • 183 cases of baby wipes
  • 670 cases of baby formula
  • 8,500 units of new underwear (kids and adults)
  • 3,840 thermal blankets
  • 1,552 winter hats
  • 389 scarves
  • 2,586 socks
  • 8,550 blankets
  • 4,000 hand-warmers
  • 6,252 D batteries
  • 9,972 C batteries
  • 335 cases of garbage bags
  • 3,399 flashlights/lanterns
  • 476 cases of toilet paper
  • 837 cases of bleach
  • 20,000 cases of Ziploc bags
  • 6,000 masks
  • 10,000 boxes of cleaning wipes
  • 1,500 work gloves
  • 878 bars of soap
  • 140 cases of toothbrushes
  • 750 units of toothpaste
  • 584 bath towels
Canvassing
The City continues to coordinate canvassing operations to check on homebound New Yorkers. Volunteers have canvassed more than 15,100 apartments and reached more than 15,000 people in NYCHA properties, rental buildings and single-family homes.

Power Customers Out
  • Total Con Ed customers without power: 27,060
  • Total LIPA customers without power: 39,100
NYC Rapid Repairs
Mayor Bloomberg announced NYC Rapid Repairs, a new program to send teams of contractors and City inspectors to areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy:
  • Under unprecedented partnership with FEMA, City will coordinate all repair work
  • Crews work to quickly and efficiently repair damaged homes
  • Homeowners can sign up on nyc.gov or 311 to secure; they must also register for a FEMA ID number from disasterassistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362
Rockaway Ferry Service
The City, with Seastreak, will provide temporary ferry service between the Rockaways and Manhattan beginning Monday, November 12:
  • Ferries depart from Beach 108th Street and Beach Channel Drive and stop at Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan
  • Free transfers between Pier 11 and East 34th Street in Midtown
  • Service runs from 5:45AM and depart regularly until 9:20 AM
  • Regular service resume at evening rush hour
  • One-way fares will cost $2.00
The Economic Development Corporation installed a temporary landing in the Rockaways to accommodate the temporary ferry service.

NYCHA Facilities
  • The City has assessed all NYCHA housing in Zone A and found no major long-term structural issues. All NYCHA buildings flooded in the storm have been pumped dry.

  • Power has been restored to 369 of the 402 buildings that were impacted by the storm.

  • Heat and hot water have been restored to 290 of the 386 buildings that were impacted by the storm.

  • NYCHA has set up warming centers in Red Hook and additional warming centers are being established. NYCHA staff and volunteers have been providing blankets to residents who have not had heat or hot water restored.
Trees and Debris
  • The City has received 26,102 tree requests to date.

  • Of those requests, 15,468 were for trees down.

  • The City has addressed 9,406 of these emergency tree conditions and crews continue to work around the clock to address conditions.
Sanitation 24-Hour Debris Cleanup Continues; Recycling Resumes 
Mayor Bloomberg directed the Department of Sanitation to adjust collections schedule so that 24-hour cleanup could continue in the hard-hit areas of Staten Island, Queens and Brooklyn.

Areas normally receiving three times a week collection may only receive two collections per week, while areas that receive two times per week collection may only receive one collection while the emergency debris removal work continues.

Recycling resumed today, Sunday, November 11.

Recycling collections on Sunday have begun with regularly scheduled Saturday recycling. Regularly scheduled Monday recycling will be picked up on Monday, November 12, even though the day was originally scheduled as a holiday in observance of Veterans' Day.
  • 728 pieces of sanitation equipment are working on debris removal, including 270 trucks, 234 mechanical broom, 114 front end loaders and 110 cut down dump trucks.

  • Sanitation crews have collected more than 225,000 tons of trash, debris and tree as a part of storm cleanup operations.
The heavily-impacted areas will continue to receive collection and debris removal around the clock.

Odd-Even Gasoline Purchasing System 
Mayor Bloomberg signed an emergency executive order today establishing an odd-even license plate system for gasoline purchases to reduce wait times and lines at gas stations. The temporary system will remain in effect from until further notice and will operate as follows:
  • Vehicles with license plates ending in an even number or 'zero' purchase fuel on even numbered days.

  • Vehicles with license plates ending in an odd number purchase fuel on odd numbered days.

  • Vehicles with licenses plates ending in letters will be deemed as odd numbered plates and can make purchases on odd numbered days.

  • Commercial vehicles, emergency vehicles, buses and paratransit vehicles, Medical Doctor (MD) plates and vehicles licensed by the Taxi and limousine Commission are exempt.

  • The use of legal walk-up fuel containers by individuals is not affected by the executive order.
Mobile Medical Teams for Far Rockaway and Coney Island 
The City has deployed mobile medical teams consisting of a paramedic and member of the National Guard to the Far Rockaways and Coney Island. The teams will go door-to-door in tall residential buildings from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM to:
  • Ensure residents' medical needs are met
  • Conduct medical assessments to determine if residents are safe
  • Connect residents with prescription medications
  • If needed, take residents to a field clinic or hospital for medical care
Mobile Medical Vans with Prescription Services 
The City has deployed vans staffed with primary care providers who will be able to provide medical care and distribute commonly prescribed drugs at several locations in the Rockaways, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Volunteers are also going door-to-door to reach people who may have medical needs but remain in their homes without heat and power. The location and hours are available here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/medical_vans.html.

Support to Businesses 
The City's Department of Small Business Services and Economic Development Corporation have put together a package of support for NYC businesses impacted by the storm:
  • Emergency low-interest loans of up to $25,000 for businesses that have been interrupted and suffered damage as a result of the storm. Applications are available at any of the City's NYC Business Solutions Centers, by calling 311 and asking for "NYC Business Emergency Loan," or by visiting on.nyc.gov/contactnycbiz.

  • For businesses facing significant rebuilding costs, the City will provide sales tax exemptions of up to $100,000 on purchases of materials, equipment and related services needed to rebuild. Learn more here: nycedc.com/backtobusiness 

  • For displaced businesses, the City has identified more than 170,000 square feet that will be made available free of charge, including 40,000 square feet of City space at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and more than 125,000 square feet of space that private landlords have made available, across the five boroughs. A full listing of commercial spaces and other resources is available at nycedc.com/donations.

  • Information on disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration is available at any of the City's NYC Business Solutions Centers, by calling 800-659-2955, or by visiting sba.gov/disaster.

  • Alliance for Coney Island-a nonprofit organization formed, with the help of the City, to continue the transformation of Coney Island into a year-round, world-class recreational oceanfront destination-launched ConeyRecovers.org, a multipronged relief and recovery effort to help Coney Island residents and businesses dealing with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The Alliance is comprised of all major Coney businesses, and the City has provided them with $630,000 in funding originally allocated to the Coney Island Development Corporation which will wind down operations.
All City Schools Open 
City schools are open to all students, and those students and staff who have been reassigned from buildings that sustained structural damage went to other school sites. Parents should continue to check the status of their schools by:
  • Clicking here for the school locator search or by going to www.nyc.gov/schools.
  • Call 311 or texting "nycschools" or 'escuela' to 877-877.
The Department of Education has coordinated transportation options for families with children who have been reassigned to other school sites:
  1. Full reimbursement for any family of a K-8 student at a relocated school taking MTA/cab service to and from school.

  2. 55 cents per mile reimbursement for any family of a student at a relocated school who uses their own vehicles.

  3. Free metro-cards will be distributed to all high school students at relocated schools who do not already have one.
The City has conducted extensive outreach to families, making 1.2 million robo-calls to parents; direct messages were sent from principals and parent coordinators to parents; full page advisories ran in three of New York City's newspapers; text messages were sent to parents and families enrolled in the Department of Education's texting program; and information was provided to television and radio outlets.

Air BNB Temporary Housing 
Air BNB, an on-line service that connects people seeking temporary housing with those who have unused space, has launched a new platform to link New Yorkers displaced by Hurricane Sandy to New Yorkers who want to offer free places to stay. Air BNB is providing with service at no fee, and information is available at airbnb.com/sandy.

Partnership with Local Food Trucks 
The Mayors Fund to Advance New York City has partnered with the NYC Food Truck Association, NYC Food Film Festival and local food trucks to coordinate hot food distribution at 21 sites in areas severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. The locations and hours are available here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/hot_food.html.

Shelter for Those without Heat 
Cold weather in the city will continue and increases the risk of hypothermia. Anyone who needs heat should find warm shelter, whether at City facilities or with a friend or relative.

Evacuation shelters remain open and as of Sunday morning, they were 2,194 evacuees and 731 staff.

There are 6 shelters operating and two locations were those in need can seek referrals to shelter sites: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/hurricane_shelters.html.

The City also has opened daytime-only warming centers at senior centers in every borough: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/warming_ctr.html.

Those who are using generators in their homes to run their heat should be very careful to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by never using portable generators indoors, in garages or near open windows.

Early signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, confusion or sleepiness, slowed or slurred speech, stiffness in arms and legs, poor control over body movements and slow reaction.

Disaster Assistance Service Centers 
The City's Human Resources Administration in cooperation with FEMA, operates three sites to provide information about applying for emergency social and economic benefits and to connect residents with recovery resources. The list of sites can be found here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/dasc.html.

Community Recovery Directors Assist with Immediate Needs in Impacted Areas 
Mayor Bloomberg appointed senior level New York City managers this week to identify urgent needs, stay in close contact with the community leader and deploy resources to meet needs. The City's Community Recover Directors are:
  • Haeda Mihaltses, Staten Island

  • Matt Mahoney, Manhattan and the Bronx

  • Nazli Parvizi and Diane Billings-Buford, Brooklyn and Queens
Brad Gair Appointed Director of Housing Recovery Operations 
The Mayor appointed Brad Gair, one of the nation's top emergency management professionals, to lead the effort to address challenge of providing longer-term housing for New Yorkers displaced from their homes by Hurricane Sandy. Many buildings that were flooded are going to be out of commission for a long time because of damage to boilers and electrical systems. This includes public housing, as well as private apartments and houses.

Alternate Side Parking
  • Alternate Side Parking regulations are not in effect on Sunday, November 11, and will also be suspended for Veterans Day, Monday, November 12, as previously scheduled.

  • All other parking regulations remain in effect.
Volunteering, Donating and Giving Blood
  • To date, more than $35 million supporting Hurricane Sandy relief has come into the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City from more than 10,000 donors from around the country.

  • Cash donations to support these and other efforts can be made through the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. Learn more here: nyc.gov/fund

  • Cash donations are preferable to in-kind donations because the logistics of collecting and distributing those supplies are complex.

  • Anyone wishing to make cash contributions can go to nyc.gov or call 311 for details.






MEDIA CONTACT:


Marc La Vorgna/John McCarthy   (212) 788-2958



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