Outreach Teams Reach Out To New York Flood Victims 

Release Date: August 31, 2006
Release Number: 1650-070

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- When a woman recently visited her local home supply store to repair her flood-damaged home, the last thing she was thinking about was preparing for another flood.

But after meeting with a team of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) experts, she learned that preparing for the future was more important than just repairing her home.

After New York received a federal disaster declaration for the June severe storms and flooding, the New York State Emergency Management Office and FEMA responded in a number of ways to assist people as they began to recover from the disaster.

One form of assistance is the Home Supply Store Mitigation Outreach Program that brings teams of specialists to meet with customers as they enter local home-building stores to explain programs and talk about mitigation techniques.

“Mitigation and retrofitting are techniques that may help lessen damage to homes, businesses and property in the event of a future disaster,” said FEMA Mitigation Outreach Coordinator Jay Michaud. “The outreach program works with home supply stores where people shopping to fix disaster damaged homes can get mitigation information before they begin their repairs.”

These New York teams have met with nearly a thousand people a week assisting anyone wanting information about FEMA programs, not just disaster victims. Not only do the teams give out information, they also stay alert to concerns and trends so FEMA can address these important issues.

Currently, teams have set up in Lowe’s, 84 Lumber, Home Depot and several local hardware stores in 10 cities and expanded the outreach to include 30 self-service literature display stations throughout the disaster declared area.

The outreach team members have booklets, brochures and “how-to” information on retrofitting buildings and elevating utilities.

When rebuilding after a flood, homeowners can prepare for future disasters by following mitigation techniques that include:

Teams also can provide information about the National Flood Insurance Program, safety clean-up tips for mold and mildew and help with other disaster-related questions.

Since early July, the New York teams have approached nearly 30,000 individuals counseling more than 5,000 on disaster related issues, and explaining building and retrofitting techniques to more than 1,900 business and homeowners. They also have provided mold and mildew cleanup literature to more than 2,000 people.

Mitigation outreach has been vital in helping New Yorkers learn about the assistance available to them. They have introduced federal assistance to more than 1,100 individuals who had received flood damage but were unaware of the State and federal disaster assistance programs.

The key to this outreach, according to Michaud, is to take the first and active step in talking to the customers.

“My teams don’t sit behind a table full of literature,” Michaud said. “They stand in front of it and try to engage every customer who enters the store.

“Many individuals have not asked for help because they did not think they qualified for assistance, they weren’t aware of the registration process, or they had already fixed their damages,” Michaud said. “The team members make sure that people know that help is available if they need it and give them FEMA’s toll free tele-registration number so that they can register.”

Anyone who has had disaster damages from the June storms and floods is urged to register for federal assistance at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY, 1-800-462-7585 or online at www.fema.gov. The telephone lines are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

For the New York State Individual and Family Grant Program, call 1-888-7-NYS-AID (1-888-769-7243) or TTY: NYS Relay 711. Lines are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Flood victims also can register online at www.labor.state.ny.us. For more information on flood recovery assistance programs managed by the Empire State Development Corporation, call 1-800-STATE-NY or online at www.empire.state.ny.us/flood_grant.

The mitigation outreach teams will be at local stores as follows:
Aug. 30 to Sept. 4 during store hours
Lowes, 4825 State Highway 30, Amsterdam
Lowes, 225 Sycamore Street, Vestal
Home Depot, 545 French Road, Utica

Sept. 6 to 9 during store hours and Sept. 10 until 1 p.m.
Lowes, 1318 Upper Front St., Binghamton
Lowes, 5283 State Highway 23, Oneonta

The mitigation outreach self-help centers are available through September 2006 at the following locations:

Location City Address
True Value Little Falls 525 Albany St .
True Value Herkimer 104 N. Main St .
True Value Richfield Springs 129 Main St .
True Value Nichols 38 S. Main St .
Home Central True Value Owego 151 Central
Ace Hardware Cooperstown 5390 SR 28
Town Hall Greene 51 Genesse St .
Ace Hardware Whitney Point 2563 W. Main St.
Hamish & Henry Livingston 34B Main St.
Rosco Lumber Co. Rosco 25 Railroad Ave.
Munson’s True Value Oneonta 5662 ST Highway 7
Stock Building Supply Walton 44 West St .
Selkirk Ace Hardware Cobleskill 783 E. Main St .
Curtis Lumber Norwich 48 Hale St .
Dobben Brothers Delhi 90 Main St .
84 Lumber Owego 1000 State Rd. 434
Conklin Presbyterian Church Conklin 1175 Conklin Rd.
Stock Building Supply Sidney 101 Main St .
Home Depot Johnson City 798 Main
Home Depot Utica 545 French Road
Home Depot Monticello 68 Thompson Square
Home Depot Rome Rome Tabers Rd.
Home Depot Oneonta Highway 28
Lowes Amsterdam 4825 State Hwy 30
Lowes Vestal 225 Sycamore
Lowes Binghamton Upper Front St.
Lowes Oneonta Highway 23
Town Hall Laurens 37 Brook St .
American Legion Laurens 176 Main St .
Tioga School Owego 27 5 th Ave.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Thursday, 31-Aug-2006 13:06:44