Press Release COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

Press Release COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
H. Lee Dennison Building
100 Veterans Memorial Highway
P.O. Box 6100
Hauppauge, New York 11788-0099
(631) 853-4000


Steven Bellone SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Press Release
November 5, 2012
4:15pm

Contact Information:
Vanessa B. Streeter
(Office) 631-853-7801
(Cell) 631-885-2298

Suffolk County Update
8:15 PM

Newest information includes: additional warming centers and overnight shelters; extension of temporary assistance and SNAP (food stamps); additional small business assistance center opened at Babylon Town Hall; SC Department of Health information on preventing house fires; FEMA application status.


NEW: SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE CENTER AVAILABLE at BABYLON TOWN HALL
In addition to Small Business Assistance Recovery Centers in Hauppauge and Riverhead (see 4:15 update), the Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale State College has partnered with the Town of Babylon to provide a Small Business Counselor on-site at Babylon Town Hall to assist small businesses with damage documentation and paperwork preparation. A counselor will be available from 9 am to 4:30 pm, beginning Monday, November 5, in the Town Board Room at 200 E Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst.


FEMA UPDATE on DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROCESS
Residents who have suffered a loss due to Tropical Storm Sandy should register with FEMA as soon as possible. Before applying to FEMA, residents should contact their homeowners' insurance, and then register with FEMA through their Website at www.disasterassistance.gov <http://www.disasterassistance.gov/>  or call FEMA direct at 1 (800) 621 - 3362.  Once an application has been completed, FEMA is contacting applicants within 48 hours.  A FEMA agent will come to your home to assess the damage.  FEMA is making decisions regarding grant awards within days. 

Residents should NOT wait for insurance agents or FEMA to arrive before cleaning up areas that may be hazardous. Document the damage for insurance purposes with photographs of effected areas.  Also keep receipts for services and goods. 

Small businesses needing recovery assistance should contact the Suffolk County Department of Labor (SCDOL) at (631) 853 - 6600.  Through the SCDOL and Department of Economic Development & Planning, the County is hosting Small Business Assistance Recovery Centers at SCDOL offices in Hauppauge and Riverhead beginning on Wednesday, 11/7.  Hours:  H. Lee Dennison 9:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. & Riverhead SCDOL 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

WARNING: FEMA interviewers who come to assess damage will NOT ask personal questions, such as social security number or bank account number, or other questions applicants would have already answered when applying for assistance.  If anyone asks these kinds of questions, the individual is NOT FEMA.  FEMA agents will carry official credentials on badges.  


SUFFOLK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES
SCDHS advises residents NOT to include household hazardous waste (pesticides, oil, paint, solvents etc) with regular trash items. Further instructions regarding proper disposal and collection of household hazardous waste will be forthcoming shortly.

SCDHS brochure on "How to Prevent a Fire When Heating Your Home" is attached.  This brochure explains how to prevent a fire in your home if you use a fireplace, kerosene heater, electric heater, or wood stove to heat your home. 

WARMING CENTERS (Partial List Updated as of 8:00 p.m. Tonight)
The following warming stations are provided by local houses of worship, fire departments, recreational facilities and town facilities.  Each station provides a different combination of services.  Please make note in each case of hours and services provided.  Only Lights of Salvation is providing food.  See separate list of meal distribution sites. 

Town of Brookhaven
The Town of Brookhaven has extended the hours of operation of seven warming centers located throughout the community.  Residents who do not have heat can visit from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.  These extended hours will be in effect until further notice.  For residents without access to transportation, call (516) 807 - 7203.

Rose Caracapa Senior Citizen Cultural & Wellness Center
739 Route 25A, Mount Sinai / (631) 476 - 6449

Bay Area Nutrition Center
369 Neighborhood Road, Mastic / (631) 281 - 7679

New Village Recreation Center
20 Wireless Road, Centereach / (631) 744 - 2601.

Robert E. Reid Senior Recreation Center
Defense Hill & 25A, Shoreham / (631) 744 - 2601

Saint Michaels Recreation Center
Wilson Avenue, Gordon Heights / (631) 698 - 3254

Mastic Recreation Center
15 Herkimer Street, Mastic / (631) 281 - 7655

Henrietta Acampora Recreation Center (Bluepoint Cottage)
39 Montauk Highway, Bluepoint / (631) 363 - 5193

Town of Huntington
Dix Hills Ice Rink, 575 Vanderbilt, Dix Hills
Hours: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday - Friday / (631) 462 - 5883

Central Presbyterian Church, 240 Main Street, Huntington 
Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Use rear entrance. / (631) 421 - 3663


Temple Beth El, 660 Park Avenue, Huntington,
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Monday - Thursday / (631) 421 - 5835

Huntington YMCA, 60 Main Street, Huntington
Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. / (631) 421 - 4242

Lights of Salvation Church, 1599 New York Avenue, Huntington Station
Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.  Monday - Saturday / (631) 421 - 4375

St. Hugh of Lincoln RC Church, New York Avenue & E. 9th Street, Huntington
Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday & Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. 


Salvation Army East Northport Service Center, 319 Clay Pitts Road, East Northport
Hours: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Seven Days a Week


Town of Southampton /Shelters & Warming Centers

David W. Cohan Community Center, 655 Flanders Road, Riverside
Open at 5 PM this evening (Nov. 5) providing overnight shelter and meals for 36 occupants. Rest rooms, no showers.

United Methodist Church, 160 Main Street, Southampton Village
Provides overnight lodging, rest rooms (no showers), light snacks and charging station for electronic devices.
Open this evening starting at 7 PM. No animals permitted. Contact: Reverend Leslie Duroseau (516-457-8577)

St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 165 Ponquogue Ave., Hampton Bays
Open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 PM beginning tomorrow Nov. 6. No overnight lodging. Contact: Jennifer (631.728.0776)

RED CROSS MEAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS
Serve Lunch from 11:00 a.m. and Dinner from 4:00 p.m.


Dennison building in Hauppauge, 100 Vet's Highway, Hauppauge


Riverhead County Center 210 Center Drive, Riverhead

Mastic Fire House, 1088 Mastic Road, Mastic

RED CROSS SHELTERS 
·        Sachem East High School
·        Walt Whitman High School
·        Robert Frost Middle School

DEPARTMENT of SOCIAL SERVICES
The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has received a waiver to extend Temporary Assistance and SNAP (Food Stamps) cases that are currently due to expire on 11/30/12.  This, mass -reauthorization will be done by OTDA with no Local DSS involvement.


The New York State Department of Health has received a waiver to extend Medicaid cases that are currently due to expire on 11/30/12.  Similarly, this mass -reauthorization will be done by DOH with no Local DSS involvement.

Current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient households that have lost food purchased with SNAP benefits due the disaster are entitled to a replacement issuance of SNAP benefits provided that:
*       The household reports the loss within 10 days of the date of the onset of the disaster or misfortune; and
*       The household returns a signed and completed form LDSS-2291 "Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with Food Stamp Benefits" within 10 days of the date of the report of loss.
*       OTDA has received approval (via a waiver) from the USDA to replace 50% of the October SNAP (Food Stamps) benefit.  The benefits will be placed electronically on the clients EBT card via a mass reauthorization by OTDA for all SNAP households receiving benefits during October 2012. This mass --reauthorization will be done in the next few days by OTDA with no Local DSS involvement.


WATER QUALITY
Public Health Hotline: (631) 787 - 2200
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) has received reports of fuel spills and potential sewage releases in areas that continue to be affected by standing floodwater, including Lindenhurst, Mastic and several other low-lying areas of the County that have been flooded by Tropical Storm Sandy.  Please ensure the public is advised of the following:
.        Residents are advised to avoid contact with residual floodwaters. 
.        Standing flood water can be a source of diseases such as tetanus.  Ensure tetanus immunization is up to date.
.        Exposure to fuel can lead to respiratory problems (inhalation) and to skin conditions (direct contact.) 
.        Reports of fuel discharge, such as visible floating products, sightings of detached tanks, or significant persistent odor, should be provided to NYSDEC at 1(800) 457- 7362.  NYSDEC will manage fuel problems through their Spills Program.

.        In general, foods that have come into contact with floodwaters are NOT safe to eat, and areas that have been subjected to flooding should be decontaminated prior to reoccupation. 

For additional guidance for specific health safety concerns go to Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management Website.