Navigating the Path to Recovery - A Guide for Small Businesses from Public Advocate Bill de Blasio

7/31/2019 Navigating the Path to Recovery - A Guide for Small Businesses from Public Advocate Bill de Blasio

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This guide was produced by New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio to assist smallbusinesses that were impacted by Hurricane Sandy and as a result are now sufferingincredible hardship and economic uncertainty. The Public Advocates office is committed tohelping these businesses navigate through these difficult times and pave a path to recovery.New York Citys small businesses are anchors of our neighborhoods and a cornerstone of oureconomy. Small businesses provide essential services, employ thousands of city residents andfoster the entrepreneurial spirit that makes New York thrive. Our success as a city isintrinsically linked to the success of our small businesses.

Depending on the type of damage to yourproperty and its cause, you may be eligible toreceive some payments from either your floodinsurance, homeowners or renters insurancepolicy. All insurance policies are ultimately

governed by their terms so it is important that youcontact your insurance agent for details of yourparticular policy. Standard homeowners or rentersinsurance does not cover flooding, but it maycover other types of water damage from storms.While the terms of insurance policies can vary asto what damages they cover, for insurancepurposes, flooding generally refers to water thatenters your house at the ground level as theresult of the rising and overflowing of a body ofwater onto normally dry land. Water damage, bycontrast, generally refers to when water damagesyour home before coming in contact with theground (for example, if rain soaks through yourroof).

1. Contact your insurance agent or insurancecompany representative to notify them thatyou have damage and want to make a claim,and prepare a Notice of Loss form. It isimportant to begin this process immediately.

All insurance policies require you to giveprompt written notice of loss.

2. Separate damaged items from non-damageditems. Take photos and/or video of damageditems. Although it is generally not advised tothrow anything away before an adjuster hasseen it, the New York State Department ofFinancial Services has instructed insurers toaccept homeowners documentation, includingphotos and video, of losses.

Type of Damage Who Can Help?

Water damage Flood insurance*from flooding (or FEMA)

Damage from Homeowners orRain or wind rental insurance*

(or FEMA)

Making repairs not FEMAcovered by insurance

Replacing essential FEMAhousehold items notcovered by insurance

Lost wages NYS Departmentof Labor

Temporary housing FEMA

Structural damage Small Businessto my business not Administration

covered by insurance (SBA) loans


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3. Create a list of any structural damageto show the adjuster and photographthe outside of the premises, showingany damage or flooding. You shouldalso photograph the inside of thepremises, showing the damagedproperty and the height of the water ifyour property was flooded. You

should also conduct a completeinventory of all damaged property.

All damage should be photographed(see details on the right). A sampleDamage Assessment Report forinventory is also included on the nextpage.

4. Report your storm damage to theCity of New Yorks Office ofEmergency Management by calling

311 or visitingwww.nyc.gov/hmtl/oem/html/nycsevereweather/ damage_form.shtml

5. Arrange a visit with an adjuster fromthe insurance company. Generally,your adjuster will contact you within24-48 hours after receiving yournotice of loss. The New York StateDepartment of Financial Servicesrequires companies to start investigating within 15 days of a filed claim. When the adjuster

visits your property, let him or her know if you need an advance or partial payment of loss.

6. Your claim is payable after you and the insurer agree on the amount of damages and theinsurer receives your complete, accurate and signed Proof of Loss.

Source: National Flood Insurance Program (http://www.floodsmart.gov); National Flood Insurance Program, FloodInsurance Claims Handbook, FEMA F- 687, February 2009 (http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2184);and FEMAs Tips for Filing an Insurance Claim (http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/claim.shtm).

It may be tempting to immediately get rid ofeverything which has been damaged in the storm

please dont! It is important that you documentall damage with photos or video and dont throwanything away before an adjuster has seen it. If

needed, move the damaged items outside.

For claims under homeowners insurance, ifdwelling debris must be removed before theadjuster is able to examine it, homeownersshould:

Inventory all the damaged items.

Take individual color photos of the damagedproperty, targeting any high ticket items. Ifpossible, videotape the damage items.

Have the camera set to record the date / time.

If possible, take samples or swatches ofcarpeting, wallpaper, furniture upholstery,window treatments, and other items wherequality will be a claims factor.

The inventory should reflect the correspondingpicture for validation.

Keep this information in a secured location toshare when the adjuster arrives.
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2184http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/claim.shtmhttp://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/claim.shtmhttp://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/claim.shtmhttp://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2184


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DAMAGED OR LOSTPROPERTY ITEMS

REPAIRS &REPLACEMENT

NEEDED

ESTIMATED TIMENEEDED FORREPAIRS &

REPLACEMENT

REPAIRS ORREPLACEMENT

STATUS

Completed By: ________________________ Date: ____________ Time: ____________


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1) I have received a settlement from my insurance company and it is not enough tocover my losses. What should I do now?

FEMA recommends the following: Read over your settlement documents carefully and be sureyou understand your policy. If you believe a mistake has been made, contact your insurance

agent. If you are still not satisfied, your agent can tell you how to contest the settlement. Next,call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA. FEMA and other agencies may be able to help cover thoselosses that are uninsured and otherwise eligible.

2) Are insurance deductibles covered under FEMA's programs?

FEMA does not cover insurance deductibles. If your insurance settlement does not meet yourdisaster related need you may be eligible for assistance from FEMA.

3) What documents does FEMA want from my insurance company?

If you apply for help from FEMA because your insurance does not cover all of your disasterrelated needs, you need to write a letter to FEMA explaining your situation and include a copyof a settlement or denial letter from your insurance company. FEMA cannot duplicate anyinsurance coverage. If you do not file a claim with your insurance company FEMA help may belimited.

4) My insurance company told me it would be weeks before they come to see mydamages. Can FEMA help?

If a decision on your insurance settlement has been delayed longer than 30 days from the timeyou filed the claim you may be eligible for an insurance advancement from FEMA. These fundsare considered a loan and must be repaid to FEMA once you receive your settlement from yourinsurance company. Contact FEMA if your insurance settlement is delayed. FEMA will sendyou a Request for Advancement and Signature letter. You must complete and return this letter

before FEMA can evaluate your request for assistance.

Source:http://www.fema.gov/disaster-assistance-frequently-asked-questions

5) What should I do if I have been unable to reach my insurance company via web,phone or email?

You should first document how and when you tried to reach company. To file a complaintabout an insurance company, call the Department of Financial Services storm hotline at 800-339-1759. You should be prepared to provide your name, property address, name ofinsurance company, claim or policy number, and the nature of complaint.

6) How does a policy holder dispute a settlement?

The exact process for disputing a settle will depend on the insurance company and specificpolicy. The policy holder can hire their own contractor to evaluate damage and file a complaintwith Department of Financial Services by calling 800-339-1759. If the dispute is solely aboutthe amount (not the scope of damage), each policy has an appraisal clause that requiresmandatory mediationand that's binding. The policy will explain how to set that in motion.

Source: New York State Department of Financial Services
http://www.fema.gov/disaster-assistance-frequently-asked-questionshttp://www.fema.gov/disaster-assistance-frequently-asked-questions


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On October 30, 2012, New York City wasdeclared a major disaster zone by thePresident and the U.S. Department ofHomeland Securitys Federal EmergencyManagement Agency (FEMA) announcedthat federal disaster aid had been madeavailable to New York.

Supplementing these efforts, New YorkCity, including the Department of SmallBusiness Services (SBS) and New YorkCity Economic Development Corporation(NYCEDC), is coordinating a set of servicesto assist small businesses.

Business owners and individuals in disaster zones may be eligible for the followingtypes of assistance:

Low-interest loans to rebuild your home or business

Grants to individuals to make home repairs or replace damaged property

Payments for temporary housing

Compensation for up to 27 weeks of lost income

The City of New York and Goldman Sachs are providing emergency loans to help New YorkCity businesses damaged by Hurricane Sandy. NYC Business Solutions and the New YorkBusiness Development Corporation (NYBDC) will administer the loan program.

Emergency loans are available for up to $25,000 to cover the cost of replacement/repairs tofacilities or equipment, and/or the working capital needed to restart or continue businessoperations. There are no fees associated with the emergency loans and no payment isrequired for the first six months. Following this, loans will have a 1% interest rate on a monthlyamortization schedule for the following 24 months.

To qualify for the emergency loan program, you must be an independently-owned andoperated business that pays taxes in New York City or a non-profit organization, and you mustmeet the following conditions:

Located in New York City

Have fewer than 100 employees

Filed 2011 business tax returns

Experienced direct damage through flooding or power outages as a result of HurricaneSandy.

The Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA) provides financialassistance and, if necessary, direct

services to eligible individuals andhouseholds who, as a direct result of amajor disaster, have necessary expensesand serious needs and are unable to meetsuch expenses or needs through othermeans. Businesses are generally noteligible for FEMA assistance.


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The turnaround time for these loans is 5-7 days after submitting a complete application withrequired documentation. Priority will be given to businesses located in Zone A and other areasdirectly impacted by Hurricane Sandy with physical damage to property, inventory orequipment.

Applications must be submitted at one of NYC Business Solutions Centers listed below. Hoursof operation are Monday-Friday 9:00 am-5:00pm.

Brooklyn Center9 Bond Street, 5th FlrBrooklyn, NY 11201Phone: 347.296.8021

Queens Center168-25 Jamaica Ave, Flr 2Jamaica, NY 11432Phone: 718.577.2148

Bronx Center400 E Fordham Road, 7th Flr(entrance on Webster Ave)Bronx, NY 10458Phone: 718.960.7910

Staten Island Center120 Stuyvesant Pl, 3rd FlrStaten Island, NY 10301Phone: 718.285.8400

Lower Manhattan Center79 John StreetNew York, NY 10038Phone: 212.618.8914

Upper Manhattan Center215 West 125th St, 6th FlrNew York, NY 10027Phone: 917.493.7243

Washington Heights Center560 W 181st St, 2nd FlrNew York, NY 10033Phone: 212.928.3400

Loans up to $2 million are available for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives andmost private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flowproblems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic

impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million.

The interest rate on these loans is detailed in the table below. Repayment can be up to 30years, depending on the businesss ability to repay the loan.

No Credit Elsewhere Credit AvailableHome Loans 1.688% 3.375%Business Loans 4% 6%Non-profit Organization Loans 3%

Businesses can apply directly to the U.S. Small Business Administration for assistance. SBAoffers the option of filing your loan application online or you can submit the application by mail.

Application forms are available online at www.sba.gov/content/applying-disaster-loan or can berequested by calling 1-800-659-2955 (TTY 1-800-877-8339) or by sending an email to:[email protected].

The turnaround time for SBA loans is up to 15 days. You will receive a decision on your loanapplication within 10 days of submitting your application. After your loan is approved, it cantake 1-5 days to receive a check depending on method of distribution. Direct deposit can bedone in 24 hours while a check can take 5 days to be processed and sent by mail.
http://www.sba.gov/content/applying-disaster-loanmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.sba.gov/content/applying-disaster-loan


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Free co-working space, supplies, and other services are now available for businessesimpacted by Hurricane Sandy. Businesses can access desk space, power, internet and moreat many locations throughout the five boroughs.

Locations include:

Metrotech/Forest City Ratner: For details, contact Ali Esmaeilzade at 718-923-5302 [email protected]

Brooklyn Army Terminal: For details, contact Doug Roberts at [email protected]

Sunshine Bronx Incubator: For details, contact Cheni Yerushalmi [email protected]

East Midtown Partnership: For details, contact Rob Byrnes at 212-813-0030 [email protected]

For a full list of short-term office space, supplies & other services visithttp://www.nycedc.com/donations

If you lost income because of Hurricane Sandy, you may be eligible for compensation up to$405/ week through the New York State Department of Labors Disas ter Unemployment

Assistance. The maximum duration for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits is 27weeks starting from October 29, 2012 through May 5, 2013. The application deadline isFebruary 4, 2012.

To qualify for assistance, you must live or work in one of New Yorks five boroughs, Nassau

County, Rockland County, Suffolk County or Westchester County and will need to demonstratethat you lost income or your job due to Hurricane Sandy. The following are examples ofsituations that may make you eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance:

You were injured during Hurricane Sandy and are unable to work because of those injuries.

Your workplace (or primary source of income) was damaged or destroyed.

You were unable to work because transportation (including subways, buses or your car)was not available.

You were unable to get to your place of work because of damaged infrastructure due toHurricane Sandy.

You were about to begin a new job, but could not because of Hurricane Sandy. You are out of work because the Federal government took over or closed the facility where

you worked.

Your clients or customers were affected by Hurricane Sandy and therefore your businessincome is down.

The only way to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance is to call the NYS Department ofLabor hotline at 1-888-209-8124 or if you live out of state, call 1-877-358-5306. Hotline hoursof operation are Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. When you call, an automated system will ask you aseries of questions to verify that you lost income or your job because of Hurricane Sandy.


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To apply, you should have the following information ready and available:

Your Social Security number

Your NYS driver license or Motor Vehicle ID card number (if you have one)

Your mailing address and zip code

A phone number where you can be reached for additional information

Your alien registration card number (if you have one) and

The names and addresses of all employers you worked for within the 18 months prior toOctober 29, 2012, including any in another state

The New York City Industrial Development Agency will provide emergency assistance to smallbusinesses by establishing the Hurricane Emergency Sales Tax Exemption Program(HESTEP). This program will provide sales tax exemptions of up to $100,000 for eachaffected company on purchases of building, construction and renovation materials, machineryand equipment and other items of personal property and related services needed to rebuildafter the storm. Companies undertaking projects of approximately $350,000 in value or moreare encouraged to apply. Eligible businesses should obtain the HESTEP sales tax letter priorto making eligible capital expenditures.

To apply, please fill out the HESTEP Application, which can be downloaded online athttp://www.nycedc.com/backtobusiness, and email it to Shin Mitsugi at [email protected].

Applications for sales tax benefits must be received by Feb 1, 2013. Companies are requiredto commence reconstruction efforts within six months of application and must fully utilize thesales tax benefit within one year of commencement. All businesses with storm-relatedphysical damages are eligible. Priority will be given to industrial businesses located within

Flood Zone A and the area of New York City impacted by an extensive power outage as adirect result of Hurricane Sandy. The scope of renovations may include repairs, in-kindreplacements and reconstruction of facilities damages by the hurricane

Business owners in a federally declared disaster area may deduct the loss or partial loss ofpersonal and business use property on your individual federal income tax return for the yearyou incurred the loss. If you paid taxes in the tax year immediately preceding the tax year inwhich the disaster occurred, you can elect to deduct your loss on a Form 1040x for the prior

year instead of waiting to file your current year return. This will allow you to receive a refund ofsome or all of the taxes paid on your prior year return. For additional information, visitwww.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p2194.pdfor call the Disaster Assistance hotline at 1-866-562-5227.

Free legal services may be available for your business through FEMA to help provide you legalassistance with filing insurance claims, landlord issues, etc. Additional information on this canbe found at: http://www.fema.gov/additional-assistance and http://www.disasterlegalaid.org/
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p2194.pdfhttp://www.fema.gov/additional-assistancehttp://www.disasterlegalaid.org/http://www.disasterlegalaid.org/http://www.fema.gov/additional-assistancehttp://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p2194.pdf


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The Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) provides financial assistance anddirect services to individuals and householdswho, as a direct result of a major disaster, havenecessary expenses and serious needs andare unable to meet such expenses or needs

through other means. To register with FEMA,follow the instructions on the right. Thedeadline to register for FEMA assistance isJanuary 28, 2013.

Applicants should be prepared to provide basicinformation about themselves (name,permanent address, phone number), insurancecoverage and any other information to helpsubstantiate losses. Additional details areprovided on the following page.

Individuals whose homes are unlivable canapply for rental payments for temporaryhousing. Initial assistance may be provided forup to three months for homeowners and atleast one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial periodbased on a review of individual applicant requirements. To apply, you must first register withFEMA.

FEMA offers grants to affected residents and business owners for the following purposes:

Making home repairs and replacing essential household items not covered by insurance tomake damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional.

Replacing personal property and helping meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation andother serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state andcharitable aid programs.

Affected residents are eligible for low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fullycompensated by insurance. Loans are available for up to $200,000 for a primary residenceand up to $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. The filing deadline to returnloan applications for physical property damage has been extended to January 28, 2013. Thedeadline to return economic injury loan applications is July 31, 2013.

In order to be eligible for disasterassistance from FEMA, you need to

complete and application form. This willtake approximately 20 minutes andshould be done immediately. Thedeadline to register for FEMAassistance is January 28, 2013. Thereare three ways to register:

1) Apply online at FEMAs website:www.DisasterAssistance.gov,

2) Use a smartphone and visit FEMAsmobile website at m.fema.gov

3) Call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) Mondaythrough Sunday between the hours of7am and 10pm.

Details on what you need to register areincluded on the following page.
http://www.disasterassistance.gov/http://www.disasterassistance.gov/


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Beginning Wednesday, December 12, 2012, New York City will begin implementing a DisasterSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) for individuals and families in New YorkCity zip codes most affected by Hurricane Sandy. From December 12 through December 18,households living in the designated zip codes that do not currently get regular SupplementalNutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits can apply for DSNAP benefits to receive a onetimebenefit equal to the maximum monthly regular SNAP benefit for the households size ($526 for

a family of three).

To be eligible for D-SNAP in New York City, applicants must:

Not be a current SNAP recipient

Have lived in one of these designated, hardest hit zip codes as of October 27, 2012:o Coney Island, Brooklyn (zip code 11224 and 11235)o Red Hook, Brooklyn (zip code 11231)o Gerritsen Beach South of Allen Avenue, Brooklyn (partial area of zip code 11229)o Lower East Side, Manhattan (zip code 10002)o Staten Island: Southeast shore (zip code 10306), and North Midland Beach South of

Seaview Avenue (partial area of zip code 10305)o The Far Rockaways, Queens (zip codes 11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, and 11697)

Must have sustained at least one of the following adverse effects due to the storm:o Storm-related damage to their households home or self-employment businesso Paid other un-reimbursed disaster-related expenses between October 27 and

November 25. (The cost of food lost due to the disaster is not an allowable expense, butthe cost of meals purchased at restaurants because of the storm is allowable.)

o Have lost income or been unable to access liquid resources (cash, bank accounts)between October 27 and November 25.

Must meet the D-SNAP income guidelines.

Applicants, or authorized representatives applying on behalf of a household (see below fordetails), must apply in person at one of these two locations:

1. 495 Clermont Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn, from December 12 to December 18 between8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. On the first two days, applications at this location will only beaccepted alphabetically, according to the first initial of the applicants last name: A-M onWednesday, December 12 and N-Z on Thursday, December 13. From Friday, December14 to Tuesday, December 18 applications will be accepted regardless of applicants lastname.

2. New Dorp High School Cafeteria, in Staten Island (465 New Dorp Lane): Friday, December14, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, December 15-16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., andMonday, December 17, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Applicants will need to bring any relevant documents to support their application. Applicantsshould bring documents that verify the following:

Applicants must be able to verify their identity in order to receive D-SNAP benefits.Applicants who cannot verify their identity will have their applications denied immediately.

Residency in one of the targeted zip codes on October 27, 2012.


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Income during the period between October 27, 2012 and November 25, 2012.

Un-reimbursed storm-related expenses paid between October 27, 2012 and November 25,2012.

Other documents verifying liquid resources (savings and checking accounts) and familycomposition also will be reviewed and will assist in determining eligibility.

If applicants are not currently residing in their homes because of storm-related damage,they should provide a reliable alternative mailing address to which a benefit card can bemailed.

Under the D-SNAP guidelines, for a family of one, the monthly income limit is $2,268 with abenefit of $200; for a family of two is $2,965 limit with a $367 benefit; for a family of three is$3,416 limit with a $526 benefit; and, for a family of four is $4,034 limit with a $668 benefit.Eligible applicants with mobility issues may send a family member, friend or neighbor, torepresent them and apply on their behalf. This authorized representative must be designatedin writing by an adult member of the applying household, and must be very knowledgeableabout the applicant households circumstances. They must be able to answer questions aboutincome, resources, and other issues on the applicant households behalf and should bring allthe necessary documentation mentioned above. Application forms will available at D-SNAP

locations and can be downloaded as of December 11, 2012 from HRAs website at NYC.gov.New Yorks Additional Food Assistance Efforts

Counseling services are available through the Crisis Counseling and Assistance and TrainingProgram (CCP). This assistance is paid for by FEMA in federally declared disaster areas.There are immediate grants to cover up to 60 days of counseling after the disaster, and grantscan cover up to nine full months following a disaster. Additional information on this programcan be found at: http://www.fema.gov/additional-assistance
http://www.fema.gov/additional-assistancehttp://www.fema.gov/additional-assistance


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To complete your registration with FEMA, you will need the following information:

You will be asked to provide your social security number; if you do not have a socialsecurity number, your household may still be eligible to receive assistance if there is aminor child in the household who is a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National, or Qualified Alienwith a social security number.

(NOTE: If you, your spouse or a minor child in the household are a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National, or a Qualified Alien and do not have a social security number, FEMA willnot be able to complete a registration. The Social Security number is required for IdentityVerification purposes.)

If you are registering for a business, enter the social security number of the responsibleparty for the business, the social security number will be used for an identifier only.

If you are in need of further explanation/information call FEMA Helpline at (1-800-621-3362).

You will be asked to identify the type(s) of insurance coverage you have.

You will be asked to enter your family's gross total household income at the time of thedisaster.

Along with the address and phone number where the damages occurred, you will be askedfor information on how FEMA can contact you. It is very important that you provide FEMAwith your current mailing address and phone numbers where you can be contacted.

If you are determined to be eligible for assistance and would prefer that funds betransferred to your account, you will be asked for your banking information, which includes;the institution name, type of account, routing and account number.

If you have applied for assistance, you will need to complete a Declaration and ReleaseForm (OMB form 009-0-3) on the following page and send it to:

FEMA Individuals & Households ProgramNational Processing Service CenterP.O. Box 10055Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

Or fax it to: 1-800-827-8112

If you need help filling out this form, please call FEMAs helpline at 1-800-621-3362.


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The frequently asked questions below are designed to help you safely clean-up your home orbusiness and begin the process of rebuilding and getting back to work.

No, the Department of Buildings will be waiving all application and permit fees for repair workto buildings damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Buildings with significant structural damage in needof demolition, alterations or reconstruction will have all their repair work fees waived and allfees for electrical and plumbing repair work will be waived for any building damaged by thestorm until further notice. To file a fee-exempt application, applicants must prepare theapplication normally and check the fee exempt box after entering the work cost information towaive the application and permit fees.

Yes, the LPC is allowing emergency work to commence without LPC permits for buildingsimpacted by Hurricane Sandy. However, once the condition is stabilized, an application mustbe submitted to the agency. If the work affects the removal or repair of an architectural feature,provide photographic documentation with the application and safe storage of the component.LPC is working to expedite permits for hurricane-related damage; all questions may bedirected to [email protected] or the public information officer Emily Rich at (212) 669-7817.

The NYC New Business Acceleration Team (NBAT) is working with other City agencies toassist food and beverage establishments impacted by Hurricane Sandy. If you are in the foodand beverage industry, an NBAT client manager is available to help you assess what servicesyou may need from the City to help you recover. Whether you need financial assistance, a visitfrom an inspector to help ensure your premise is safe or help understanding the Cityprocesses, NBAT is available to help.

For fire suppression range hood systems affected by Hurricane Sandy:

Replacing cooking equipment with the same system will be allowed by the Rangehood

Unit. All equipment must be replaced in-kind.

Upgrade of cooking equipment, must be filed with DOB & FDNY, NBAT will conduct thereview on behalf of both agencies.

All annual range hood inspections are still being conducted, except in the affected areas.The FDNY Range hood Unit will be able to accommodate requests from affected areas topostpone their annual inspections until after renovations have taken place.


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Businesses who lost their DCA issued permits may receive replacements at no-cost. In orderto receive a free license replacement, please inform the DCA staff that your permit was lost inHurricane Sandy. DCA is offering business owners the opportunity to email staff to getanswers to your questions or to reschedule an appointment/hearing date. Unit specific emailsare listed below:

Adjudication [email protected]

Collections (include business name,address, violation number)[email protected]

Consumer [email protected]

Legal [email protected]

Licensing [email protected]

Testing [email protected]

Yes, NYS Liquor Authority is working with liquor license applicants/holders to cope with theeffects of Hurricane Sandy. SLA is offering various assistance which includes, but is not limitedto:

Providing a 60 day grace period for any license set to expire in November.

Free replacement of licenses lost or damaged due to the storm.

Extending the deadline for New Years Eve all night permits from November 16 to

December 1.

Providing an additional 60 days for business owners to satisfy the requirements of theirconditional approvals.

Deferring civil penalties due between October 26 November 30 for an additional 30 daysfrom the original due date.

Employers are covered under the Federal Fair labor Standards Act (FLSA), which defineswhether an employee gets paid when a business is closed. If the employee falls under theexempt status, as many salaried employees are, they are entitled to be paid. If the employeefalls under the non-exempt status, the employer is not required to pay the employee for hoursnot worked while the business was closed. For details on whether your employees wouldclassify as exempt or non-exempt, you can visit the U.S. Department of Labors website at:http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/hrg.htm#.UKVrGMWHJ8EAlthough some employersmay opt to deduct time from an employee's accrued vacation and leave for the period anemployee remains out of work after the storm, employers should be wary that collectivebargaining agreements or employment contracts may limit the right to deduct from anemployee's accrued vacation or leave time.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/hrg.htm#.UKVrGMWHJ8Ehttp://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/hrg.htm#.UKVrGMWHJ8Ehttp://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/hrg.htm#.UKVrGMWHJ8E


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Yes, the following guidelines have been created for restaurants and other food serviceestablishments affected by Hurricane Sandy either due to flooding, power outages or foodcontamination. If you have any questions, please contact the Bureau of Food Safety andCommunity Sanitation by telephone at (347) 396-2105, (347) 396-2153, (347) 396-2135, or(347) 396-2133.

General Guidelines for Clean-up: Food service establishments should have power restoredbefore resuming operations. Some clean-up, particularly removing and discarding spoiled food,destroyed equipment and water damaged furnishings may begin immediately.

Food and Beverages: Food that has been exposed to flood water, including sealed and openpackages, boxes, cans, produce and meat must be discarded to avoid foodborne illness.Boxes must be opened and the food denatured and discarded. If you remove the labels fromcanned products, you may wash and sanitize the cans twice before opening and using theproduct. Potentially hazardous food that was not flooded, but reached temperatures of 41degrees Fahrenheit or above, must be denatured and discarded. This may include, but is not

limited to: meat (beef, poultry, lamb, seafood, etc.); milk, cream, cream based preparations;and soups, stews, casseroles or similar prepared dishes.

If power was restored to your facility before you returned, the refrigeration units and the foodwithin them may have returned to safe temperatures. However, it is likely that the food hasbeen out of temperature for long lengths of time, allowing bacteria and other pathogens thatcan cause foodborne illness to grow. Heat treatment may not be sufficient to render this foodsafe, so please denature and discard these potentially hazardous items. Pouring bleach or acolored detergent on food (add food coloring if possible) is an acceptable way to denaturefood, an essential practice to assure the food is not salvaged.

Equipment: Thoroughly clean and sanitize all equipment that may have been exposed tocontamination. Refrigerators and freezers and other equipment with fiberglass insulation mustbe checked to see if the insulation was exposed to flood water. If it was exposed, it must beremoved and replaced. Styrofoam or closed cell polyurethane insulation may be cleaned but itis best to check with the manufacturer. A licensed electrician should thoroughly inspectelectrical components (including wiring, compressors and switches) to determine if they shouldbe replaced. Check water heaters particularly if flood water got into the gas burner, electricalparts or insulation.

Walk-in Coolers: If walk-ins have been flooded, the floors and walls should be cleaned andsanitized. If flood waters rose above panels with holes are otherwise not intact, the panel

should be replaced. Those with wood floors will need to have the flooring replaced.

Furnishings: Porous or absorbent furniture and fixtures should be discarded if they have comein contact with flood water. This includes upholstered furniture, tables and booths that cannotbe effectively cleaned and sanitized. Paper and disposable products that have been in contactwith flood water should also be discarded.

Walls and Ceilings: Sheetrock, insulation or ceiling tiles that have been soaked by flood watersshould be removed to at least 30 inches above the waterline. Paneling may be removed andsaved but air should circulate around wall cavities to dry the studs and the sills, which do not


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have to be replaced if dried properly. Flooded portions of studs and sills should be treated witha biocide such as a bleach and water solution to avoid mold or mildew growth.

Floors and Ceilings: You should remove linoleum or tile that has been flooded to clean and drywooden subfloors. This will prevent mold growth in the future. If this cannot be doneimmediately, you may clean and sanitize the area and replace the flooring at a later date. Ifflooring is on a concrete slab, only damaged or loose tiles need to be removed. Linoleum orvinyl tile may be saved if you can clean and sanitize them. Carpeting, padding or foam rubber,

including padding under tiles, must be thrown away if soaked by flood waters.

Duct Work: Duct work for heat or air conditioning that was submerged need to be thoroughlycleaned and sanitized. You will need to replace sections of duct where this is not possible.Insulation around duct work or ducts made of compressed fiberglass must be replaced.

Please remember: all equipment, furniture, walls, and floors in your establishment need to bethoroughly cleaned and sanitized. This should be done twice to ensure that you remove floodresidue that may contaminate food.

Yes, NYC Rapid Repairs is a newprogram to send teams of contractorsand City inspectors to neighborhoodsaffected by Hurricane Sandy to quicklyrepair damaged homes. This program

is for property owners only. If you rentyour home and there are unsafeconditions, you should call 311.

Step 1: Home Assessment

The first step to sign up for NYC RapidRepairs is an assessment of thedamage in your home. Assessmentsare free. An assessment will not affectany other FEMA benefits you may

receive.

Sign up for an NYC Rapid Repairsassessment by visiting NYC.gov, calling311, or visiting one of sevenRestoration Centers (see box on theright for locations). If you are ahomeowner and applying to coverdamages to your primary residence,you will need a FEMA number toregister for NYC Rapid Repairs.

As of December 11, 2012, Restoration Centerslocations were open for business daily at the sevenlocations below. Restoration Centers can provideassistance with the NYC Rapid Repairs program,food and nutrition assistance, temporary housing,health and medical benefits, business restoration,counseling services, financial assistance, andpersonal records.

Red Hook Coney IslandHours: 8 AM - 6 PM Hours: 8 AM - 6 PMCoffey Park MCU Park85 Richards Street 1904 Surf AvenueBrooklyn, 11231 Brooklyn, 112224

Gravesend Fort TildenHours: 8 AM - 6 PM Hours: 8 AM - 6 PMSSA Building 415 State Road (across10 Bouck Ct. from St. Genevieve's )Brooklyn, 11223 Queens, 11697

Far Rockaway ArverneHours: 8 AM - 8 PM Hours: 8 AM - 8 PM10-01 Beach 20th St. Shorefront B and CQueens, 11691 68-20 Rockaway Beach

BoulevardStaten Island Queens, 11692Hours: 8 AM - 6 PM1976 Hylan Boulevard


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After you sign up for an assessment, a representative of Tishman Construction will contact youwithin 48 hours to schedule an appointment at your home. An Assessment Team comprised ofan electrician, a plumber, and an architect or engineer will arrive at the scheduled time toinspect your home. The Assessment Team will present you with a list of necessary repairs tomake your home safe for living.

Step 2: Making Repairs

After you receive your list of repairs fromyour assessment, you will have theopportunity to sign up for NYC RapidRepairs. If they so choose, homeownersstill have the option of having repairsmade through their insurance companyor with a standard reimbursement fromFEMA. If they choose NYC RapidRepairs, the City will handle getting thecontractors in and getting the work done.

There are two ways to sign up for NYCRapid Repairs:

Option A: You can register for NYCRapid Repairs at your home with your

Assessment Team. If you would like theCitys contractors to make repairs to yourhome, the Assessment Team will askyou to sign a waiver to allow the Cityscontractors to make repairs in your home

and will share your information and thescope of work with the Citys contractors.The Citys contractors will contact you toschedule the repairs to your home.

Option B: If you would like to discuss therepairs with your family, your insurancecompany, or are not ready to register forNYC Rapid Repairs with your Assessment Team, you can register for NYC Rapid Repairs bycalling 311 at any time.

Please note that you will need a FEMA ID number to participate in Rapid Repairs, which youcan get by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-3362, or visiting oneof the NYC Restoration Centers.

The NYC Rapid Repairs teams will work closely with City agencies, including the Departmentof Buildings and Department of Housing Preservation and Development, to make sure that anynecessary inspections and certifications are done as quickly as possible. Homes eligible forNYC Rapid Repairs will be those who have received a green placard from the Department ofBuildings, indicating that the home is structurally sound.

If you see downed electrical wires, do not gonear them. Treat all downed wires as if theyare live. Never attempt to move or touch themwith any object. Be mindful that downed wirescan be hidden from view by tree limbs, leavesor water.

Report all downed wires to Con Edison bycalling 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).You can also report downed power lines,outages, and check service restoration statusat www.conEd.com.

If your power goes out, turn off all lights andappliances to prevent overloaded circuitswhen power is restored. Avoid opening yourfreezer to see if food is still frozen. Every timeyou open the door, room-temperature air

enters and speeds the thawing process. Mostfully loaded freezers will keep food frozen forapproximately 36 to 48 hours; half-fullfreezers will keep food frozen forapproximately 24 hours.


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If your basement is severely flooded, takeprecautions before pumping out the water.Water in your basement may be helping tostabilize the basement walls against pressurefrom the outside. If you drain your basementtoo quickly, the outsize pressure can cause

the basement floor and walls to crack andcollapse.

Be sure the electricity is off beforeentering a flooded basement. Forinsurance purposes, its also a good ideato take pictures of the flooding beforebeginning work.

When the water is no longer covering theground surrounding your house, you canbegin pumping the water from your

basement. CAUTION: Do not usegasoline-powered pumps or generatorsindoors as they produce deadly carbonmonoxide exhaust fumes.

In the case of severe flooding, pump outthe water in stages. Decrease water levelby 2 to 3 feet, mark the water level, andwait overnight. If the water went back upovernight and covered your mark, its tooearly to drain your basement. In these

cases, wait another 24 hours and repeatthis process.

Source: FloodSafe, a Publication of FEMA and WMD Emergency Management Division and Washington Military Department,Emergency Management Division (http://www.emd.wa.gov/ preparedness/FloodSafe_HowTo.shtml)

Drying and disinfecting the basement of your business is critically important to prevent thegrowth of dangerous mold.

Use a shovel to remove any mud from your basement. Mud left behind by floodwatersposes a health hazard and will be more difficult to remove after it dries.

Wash off the walls and floors with clean water and then disinfect them with a solution of 112 cups of liquid chlorine bleach to a gallon of fresh water. CAUTION: NEVER mix bleachand ammonia cleaning products. This will produce deadly chlorine gas.

Clean and disinfect all vents or registers of heating and air conditioning ducts, the wallcovers for wall switches and outlets, and any flexible ducting, including dryer connectionsthat were exposed to water.

If you smell natural gas contact NationalGrid as soon as possible:

Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island:718-643-4050 On Long Island and the Rockaways:

1-800-490-0045

If you do not smell natural gas but haveno gas service: Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island:

718-643-4050 On Long Island and the Rockaways:

1-800-930-5003

If your appliances have been in contactwith water, please contact a licensedplumbing or heating contractor to makesure the appliances are safe to operate.

If your gas service was off for safetyreasons, please contact a licensedplumbing or heating contractor beforecontacting National Grid. The licensedplumbing or heating contractor will makesure that your service is safe to restore.
http://www.emd.wa.gov/%20preparedness/FloodSafe_HowTo.shtmlhttp://www.emd.wa.gov/%20preparedness/FloodSafe_HowTo.shtml


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Check your water system, including drains and utility connections, for leaks, breaks, andloose fittings.

Before turning on the electricity, check your incoming electrical service for any damage.Replace any wiring, switches and/or outlets that were submerged or got wet during theflood. We recommend you retain the services of a certified professional.

To help dry out your home and reduce odors, run fans and dehumidifiers.

Depending on the severity of flooding and type of the building materials used in yourbasement, all or part of your walls may need to be replaced. Wallboard that has beensoaked by floodwater can present a permanent health hazard. Plaster and paneling canoften be saved, but you will need to get air circulating in the wall cavities to dry the studsand sills.

Source: FloodSafe, a Publication of FEMA and WMD Emergency Management Division; Washington Military Department,Emergency Management Division (http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/FloodSafe_HowTo.shtml); NYC Department ofHealth and Mental Hygiene (http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/ehs/guidance- post-irene.pdf); and the Red Cross andFEMA, Repairing Your Flooded Home

Exposure to mold can have serious health effects including allergic reactions, asthma, andother respiratory complaints. It is important to clean up mold as soon as you notice it to preventserious problems.

For small amounts of mold (less than 3 feet by 3 feet), you should be able to handle theclean-up yourself. For large jobs or if you have any mold allergies, you should contact acertified professional who has experience with mold removal. If the water and/or molddamage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, a professional is also highlyrecommended.

Wear waterproof gloves, goggles and a face mask when cleaning. Scrubbing the mold off hard surfaces using soap or a detergent and water, then dry

completely

Throw away anything that touches the mold, including absorbent or porous materials, suchas ceiling tiles and carpet.

Keep a close eye on surfaces to ensure that the mold does not come back. If moldcontinues to reappear, consult a professional.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home(http://www.epa.gov/mold/pdfs/moldguide.pdf) and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

(http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ehs/ehsfloods.shtml)

For additional assistance, contact the Public Advocates hotline at 212 -669-7250 or [email protected].
http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/FloodSafe_HowTo.shtmlhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/ehs/guidance-http://www.epa.gov/mold/pdfs/moldguide.pdfhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ehs/ehsfloods.shtmlhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ehs/ehsfloods.shtmlhttp://www.epa.gov/mold/pdfs/moldguide.pdfhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/ehs/guidance-http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/FloodSafe_HowTo.shtml

Documents

Navigating the Path to Recovery - A Guide for Small Businesses from Public Advocate Bill de Blasio