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submitted by Naomi Rothwell - January 9, 2013

Friday, January 4th, 2013. Tonight we delivered cases of much needed drinking water to a refugee camp in Staten Island. The camp is on Cedar Grove Ave in New Dorp, SI. The wrecked homes in the album are the homes owned by the people in the tents. The tents are serving as a refugee camp, and are not at all like the tents we've seen in Rockaway. There are anywhere from 150-300 people using the tents throughout each day, but far fewer that are using them as primary shelter. At night, there are a few dozen living in cars or tents.

Report from:

Dennis Saleeby
Citizen Volunteer
Field Operations Director
NY Resilience System

thinkprogress.org - by Aviva Shen - January 18, 2013

Rep. Peter King (R-NY) did not hesitate to attack his fellow House Republicans after they refused to hold a vote on providing disaster relief funds to states affected by Hurricane Sandy. After public shaming, the House finally passed a bare-bones aid package on January 4.

But King has not forgotten his colleagues who tried to block funds for the devastated regions of New York and New Jersey.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

nydis.org                                          

The Disaster Distress Helpline: 
The Disaster Distress Helpline offers 24/7/365 disaster crisis counseling and support to anyone, anywhere in the US via a toll-free, multi-lingual hotline (1-800-985-5990) and SMS (text ‘TalkWithUs’ to 66746; Spanish-speakers can text ‘Hablanos’ to 66746).  Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Call: 800-985-5990
• Text ‘TalkWithUS’ to 66746, Spanish speakers can text ‘Hablanos’ to 66746
   For more information on the Disaster Distress Helpline and disaster distress, coping tips, materials
   and more, please visit http://disasterdistress.samhsa.gov/ or contact Joe Samalin, Outreach and
   Training manager at ***@***.***
   twitter.com/distressline#

CNN iReport - by Doug Kuntz - January 21, 2013

Three days after Congress passes The Sandy Relief Bill, as critical needs continue in the New York area, Third Wave Volunteer Alison Thompson gives a second report from The Rockaways.

As the first sustained cold weather settles into the area, thousands upon thousands remain without heat and electric.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-913656

A man stands on the debris of homes devastated by fire and the effects of Hurricane Sandy in the Breezy Point section of the Queens borough in New York January 15, 2013.  Credit: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton

CNN - by Deirdre Walsh and Kevin Liptak - January 15, 2013

Washington (CNN) - Lawmakers in the House of Representatives approved measures Tuesday to send more than $50 billion in aid to the Northeastern states ravaged by Superstorm Sandy last fall, though some conservatives in the House were pushing for spending cuts that would offset the cost of the recovery package.

The final bill passed 241-180, with 49 Republicans voting against it. The package now heads to the Senate.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Also see related information - Vote on Sandy Disaster Aid and Amendments, and other articles below:

House passes $50.5 billion in Sandy aid, Republicans trim items
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/16/us-storm-sandy-relief-passage-idUSBRE90F01420130116

Calling all snowbirds! Tell all your friends in South Florida that they should head to Deck 84 in Delray Beach this Sunday, Jan 20th, for a great time and a great cause ...

Flu shots are a hot commodity in New York City.  Kristian Sekulic/Getty Images

Some area pharmacies and urgent care facilities were already out of flu shots Sunday, a day after Gov. Cuomo declared this influenza season a statewide public health emergency

nydailynews.com - by Erin Durkin and Edgar Sandoval - January 13, 2013

A rush on flu shots sparked by Gov. Cuomo’s health emergency declaration has left some city pharmacies and urgent care facilities empty handed.

“We ran out,” said Dr. Mark Melrose, an emergency physician and owner of Urgent Care Manhattan on Amsterdam Ave. on the upper West Side.

Melrose said his supply went dry Saturday after doling out 10 times the normal number of flu shots to victims of the coughing—sneezing-head-feverish epidemic sweeping the nation.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Mary Ann Werner from New York is given a flu shot by Medical Assistant Klarisa Feliciano at the medical offices of Yaffe Ruden & Associates  in New York on Jan. 10, 2013.  TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

State is experiencing worst flu season since at least 2009, Cuomo says

nydailynews.com - by Denis Slattery and Dareh Gregorian - January 12, 2013

This flu season is nothing to sneeze at.

Gov. Cuomo declared a statewide public health emergency Saturday to combat what’s already been a severe flu season.

The declaration will make it easier for vaccinations to get to more children.

“We are experiencing the worst flu season since at least 2009, and influenza activity in New York State is widespread, with cases reported in all 57 counties and all five boroughs of New York City,” Cuomo said.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

With Aid Set to Expire this Sunday, FEMA Provides Two-Week Extension for 2,400 New York Families Still Living in Hotels and Motels

gillibrand.senate.gov - January 11, 2013

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today announced that FEMA granted a two-week extension that allows an estimated 2,400 New York residents displaced from Superstorm Sandy to temporarily live in hotels and motels through January 27, 2013. With an upcoming deadline looming for displaced residents who would have been forced to leave their temporary shelters this Sunday, Senator Gillibrand pressed FEMA Administrator Fugate earlier this week to extend their stay as they continue to rebuild in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

“This reprieve for New Yorkers displaced by the storm by FEMA is critically needed” said Senator Gillibrand. “We must ensure that families whose lives and homes have been uprooted by this unprecedented disaster have the emergency help and shelter they need to begin to rebuild. Congress must now fulfill its obligation and pass a fully funded disaster relief package to provide families and small businesses throughout the Northeast region the long term help required to rebuild.”

submitted by Gary Vroegindewey

http://uwua1-2.org/

NYC Rapid Repairs is a program to make your home safe for return. The City is working with contractors to assess damage to your home from Hurricane Sandy and make the necessary repairs so that you and your family can have safe power and heat in your home. NYC Rapid Repairs is a program for property owners in the five boroughs. If you rent your home and there are unsafe conditions, call 311.

To be eligible for this program, your home must be deemed structurally safe by the NYC Department of Buildings as denoted by a Yellow or Green placard on your door, or no placard at all. You can still sign up for NYC Rapid Repairs if there is a Red placard on your door, but additional repairs will be necessary before your home is deemed structurally safe. If you have any questions about what you need to do to transition your home from a Red to a Yellow or Green placard, call 311.

NYC Rapid Repairs (page 1 of 5 .PDF pages)
http://uwua1-2.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/CLICK-HERE-to-read-some-helpful-repairs-information.pdf

ABC News - November 30, 2012

Angry crowd packs town hall meeting, upset over lack of help after the storm.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/sandy-recovery-staten-island-residents-frustrated-17848169