NYC OPENS SERVICE CENTER FOR HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUEES

OEM News and Events & Information for Community-Based Organizations


NYC OPENS SERVICE CENTER FOR HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUEES



Today the City opened a Disaster Assistance Service Center (DASC) in upper Manhattan to better serve Hurricane Katrina evacuees who have relocated to New York City. Staffed by representatives of several City, State and federal agencies and disaster relief organizations, the DASC will address the needs of those displaced by last month's storm, including housing, clothing, and financial recovery.

Evacuees who require assistance should first report to the Katrina Welcome Center located at The City College of New York's Great Hall at Convent Avenue and 138 Street to schedule an appointment with a case specialist and fill out initial paperwork. Following a basic case assessment, visitors may also receive counseling and information about City services before they are transferred to the DASC. The Welcome Center opened Thursday, September 15, at 12 p.m., and will remain open Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On arrival at the DASC for their scheduled appointments, evacuees can expect to meet with staff from a host of government and voluntary agencies to discuss disaster housing, school enrollment, banking, financial assistance for food, clothing and emergency expenses, and more.




The City urges evacuees to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before reporting to the DASC Welcome Center. FEMA estimates it will take at least 20 minutes to complete the registration process via phone (800-621-FEMA; TTY: 800-462-7585) or internet (www.fema.gov).

Opening the DASC is just the latest in the City's string of efforts to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Requests for resources to support the Katrina recovery continue to pour in, and an OEM task force has been working to meet these requests since the storm's early aftermath. Among the measures the City has taken to support Katrina relief so far:

A team of more than 100 NYPD officers continues to support law enforcement efforts in New Orleans, and more than 300 FDNY firefighters are stationed in New Orleans to help fight area fires.

FDNY has contributed five vehicles, including the Spirit of Louisiana engine donated to New York after September 11.

The Department of Correction has sent cots, clothing, and more than 50 uniformed staff to assist Louisiana State Correction with perimeter patrol, inmate transport.

The NYC Department of Education, the Teachers and Principals Unions, and DC 37 launched a Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund in the City's public schools on September 8.
On September 4, 70 MTA buses and more than 200 MTA personnel were sent to New Orleans to help transport evacuees to Texas and Arkansas.

On August 30, the City's Urban Search and Rescue Team, which is made up of NYPD, FDNY, and OEM personnel, was deployed to Mississippi at FEMA's request to support rescue efforts along the Gulf Coast.

The City urges New Yorkers who want to help victims of Katrina to make monetary donations to established charities, such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, or through the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, which will distribute donations to disaster relief agencies. Call 311 or visit NYC.gov to learn more about making donations, or send a contribution to Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, City Hall, New York, NY, 10007, and note on the check that the donation is for hurricane relief. For volunteer opportunities, visit New York Cares' website at www.nycares.org.

For more information about the City's efforts to support victims of Hurricane Katrina, call 311 or visit NYC.gov.


This is the NYC.gov news you requested for:
OEM News and Events
Information for Community-Based Organizations

To subscribe please go to this link:
https://www.nyc.gov/portal/signin.jsp

Comment on this news service:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/news_feedback.html

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE!



Click here: NYC Office of Emergency Management - Katrina DASC http://nyc.gov/html/oem/html/other/sub_news_pages/2005.09.15_katrinadasc.html

News and Events > Press Releases> Katrina DASC

For Immediate Release
Release 05-017
September 15, 2005

NYC OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OPENS DISASTER ASSISTANCE SERVICE CENTER FOR HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUEES

Today Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno, in partnership with the Human Resources Administration, The Department of Homeless Services, and American Red Cross in Greater New York, announced a Disaster Assistance Service Center (DASC) will open in upper Manhattan to better serve Hurricane Katrina evacuees who have relocated to New York City. Staffed by representatives of several City, State and federal agencies and disaster relief organizations, the DASC will address the needs of those displaced by last month's storm, including housing, clothing, and financial recovery.

"Hundreds of victims of Hurricane Katrina have already arrived in New York City to begin the long recovery process. The City is committed to helping them in the coming weeks and months," Commissioner Bruno said. "We have assembled a range of disaster-related resources under one roof to help meet these individuals' needs as soon as possible."

Evacuees who require assistance should first report to the Katrina Welcome Center located at The City College of New York's Great Hall at Convent Avenue and 138 Street to schedule an appointment with a case specialist and fill out initial paperwork. Following a basic case assessment, visitors may also receive counseling and information about City services before they are transferred to the DASC. The Welcome Center will open Thursday, September 15, at 12 p.m., and remain open Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., until evacuees' needs are met. The center may be easily reached by public transportation via the 1 train to 137 Street-City College, A,B,C, or D trains to 145 Street or the BX-19, M4, M5, M18, M100 or M101 buses, and is wheelchair accessible. The City encourages evacuees to bring as much documentation as possible with them to prove their identity and residency in the affected area.

On arrival at the DASC for their scheduled appointments, evacuees can expect to meet with staff from a host of government and voluntary agencies to discuss disaster housing, school enrollment, banking, financial assistance for food, clothing and emergency expenses, and more. Since the DASC offers a wide array of resources, the City encourages evacuees to allow plenty of time for their visit.

The City urges evacuees to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before reporting to the DASC Welcome Center. FEMA estimates it will take at least 20 minutes to complete the registration process via phone (800-621-FEMA; TTY: 800-462-7585) or internet (www.fema.gov).

Opening the DASC is just the latest in the City's string of efforts to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Requests for resources to support the Katrina recovery continue to pour in, and an OEM task force has been working to meet these requests since the storm's early aftermath.

The City urges New Yorkers who want to help victims of Katrina to make monetary donations to established charities, such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, or through the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, which will distribute donations to disaster relief agencies. Call 311 or visit NYC.gov to learn more about making donations, or send a contribution to Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, City Hall, New York, NY, 10007, and note on the check that the donation is for hurricane relief. For volunteer opportunities, visit New York Cares' website at www.nycares.org.

For more information about the City's efforts to support victims of Hurricane Katrina, call 311 or visit NYC.gov.

American Red Cross in Greater New York
Association to Benefit Children
Disaster Chaplaincy Services - NY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Human Services Council
Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
NYC Administration for Children's Services
NYC Department for the Aging
NYC Department of Education
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
NYC Department of Homeless Services
NYC Human Resources Administration
NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner
NYC Office of Emergency Management
NYC Police Department
NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission
New York State Banking Department
New York Cares
Safe Horizon
Salvation Army
Social Security Administration

CONTACT: Jarrod Bernstein/OEM Press Office 718-422-4888

News and Events > Press Releases > Katrina DASC