Resources For Individuals - NYCEM

Emergency Management


Recovery Resources


Recovery Options for Individuals and Households

Recovery Options for Businesses and Nonprofits

Recovery Options for Government Agencies

For Individuals and Households

Immediate Disaster Relief

If you need immediate disaster relief, use the following links and resources:

Emergency Medical Assistance: Please dial 911.

Report damage:

Report damage to your home or neighborhood by calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115). This helps the City understand where impacts are worst and where to send resources. Reporting your damage can also potentially help the City qualify for federal recovery funding.

Need specific services from the City? Submit a 311 Service Request online or call 311.

Depending on scale of the disaster, the Housing Recovery Office’s (HRO) Report Damage Portal may be turned on. Reporting your damage here allows the City to immediately collect damage information from New Yorkers to assess the impact on affected areas. Your report will help the City give accurate data about the impact of the event to State and Federal agencies.

Understanding Your Recovery Options

After a disaster, a range of recovery programs may be available. NYC Emergency Management helps to coordinate disaster assistance with local, state, and federal partners.

Unfortunately, no aid programs can cover all needs after a disaster. It’s important to prepare before a disaster happens so that you’re ready.

For help making an emergency plan, visit our Emergency Guides page.

Visit our insurance page to learn more about how to protect yourself financially from disasters.

If a disaster only affects a few households, like a building fire, needs may be met by local resources. These local resources can include nonprofits like the American Red Cross and NYC agencies. These nonprofits and agencies can provide limited assistance to affected individuals and families.

How can I get help after a localized disaster?

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

To report damage to your building, call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115). You can also file a service request to get select services from the City.

If a disaster goes beyond what local resources can respond to, local elected officials can start the process of requesting state and/or federal recovery aid. The disaster declaration process is typically lengthy.

Learn more about the Presidential Disaster Declaration process at FEMA’s website: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/how-declared

In the event of a large emergency, local, state, and federal resources may become available to help individuals and households recover. Visit the main Recovery page to verify what recovery resources are available following a disaster.

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Recovery Resources

Report Damage and File a Service Request

Report damage to your home or neighborhood by calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115). This helps the City understand where impacts are worst and where to send resources. Reporting your damage can also potentially help the City qualify for federal recovery funding.

Need specific services from the City? Submit a 311 Service Request online or call 311.

Depending on scale of the disaster, the Housing Recovery Office’s (HRO) Report Damage Portal may be turned on. Reporting your damage here allows the City to immediately collect damage information from New Yorkers to assess the impact on affected areas. Your report will help the City give accurate data about the impact of the event to State and Federal agencies.

Please note: Reporting damage will not result in a 311 service. You will not be provided a service request number.

Finding Loved Ones after Disasters

The City provides information about the status of a missing person. The City also accepts additional information about a missing person already reported.

Call 911 to report a missing or kidnapped person.

Learn more by calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115).

Get information about the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System.

Learn more about the American Red Cross's resources to help reunite friends and family.

Contact the American Red Cross through its International Reconnecting Familiesinquiry form.

Use the Google Person Finder.

Use the Facebook Safety Check .

Anyone who finds a child who may be separated from parents or caregivers: Please call 911. Enter basic information and/or a photo into the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's Unaccompanied Minors Registry. If you find an unaccompanied child, please indicate whether the child has a disability or has access and functional needs in the appropriate field in the Unaccompanied Minors Registry. If you do not have access to the internet, please call 1-866-908-9570.

Coping with Disasters

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's website provides tips and resources on how to cope after emergencies.

For mental health information, a referral, or if you need to talk to someone, call NYC Well, New York City's confidential, 24-hour Mental Health Hotline at 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355).

For Relay Service for Deaf/Hard of Hearing, call 711.

Interpreters are available for 200+ languages. Stay on the line, and you will be connected with a counselor who can connect you to translator services.

Replace lost documents

IDNYC

IDNYC is a free government issued photo ID card for all New York City residents ages 10 and above and provides access to a wide range of services and discounts. IDNYC applicants' information is confidential. Immigration status does not matter. Renew your card online by visiting gov/idnyc . To request an updated card or to replace a lost card, make an appointment to visit an enrollment center by going to NYC.gov/idnyc or by calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115).

New York State DMV

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) aids in obtaining duplicate documentation such as vehicle title, license, identification and/or vehicle registration.

Make a reservation: http://www.dmv.ny.gov

If your car was impacted by the storm, contact your car insurance company.

Community Recovery Resources

The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA)

MOIA helps community members who have lost their identification cards obtain an IDNYC and answers immigration-related questions and concerns.

If you have questions about immigration or how to access City services, help in your language is available. Call the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) hotline at 212-788-7654 from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email askmoia@cityhall.nyc.gov.

NYC Aging

Eligibility Information: 60+ for senior centers and 55+ employment criteria.

For more information call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115) or 212-Aging-NYC (212-244-6469).

Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS)

OCFS provides assistance finding childcare, childcare provider grants, and after-school care referrals. Visit ocfs.ny.gov or call 1-800-345-5437 for more information.

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)

OTDA provides social services, such as rental assistance, refugee assistance, and assistance through the Department of Disability Determinations. Visit otda.ny.gov or call 855-355-5777 for more information.

Pet Assistance

The Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) and ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) offer pet supplies.

ACC: For assistance with Lost & Found services, call 212-510-7107.

ASPCA: referrals@aspca.org

Post-Storm Recovery

Recovering from flooding after a major storm can be overwhelming. These resources can help you determine how to move forward.

Basic steps to recover

Dry out your property.

Wait for water to recede. If you are using a sump pump to remove water, remove it slowly to avoid structural damage to your home.

After flood water has receded or been removed, open windows and doors. Use a fan and dehumidifiers to continue drying out the space. This will prevent mold.

It may take days to weeks to fully dry out your property.

Use appropriate PPE.

Avoid touching flood water, as it can be electrified from downed power lines.

Objects soaked in flood water can be hazardous, containing bacteria and pollution.

To stay safe while cleaning up, you should wear:

Shirts with long sleeves and long pants

Boots or sturdy shoes

Consider wearing:

Heavy duty gloves

Mask or respirator, especially if you are dealing with mold

Remove debris.

Dry out:

Soft cloth items like rugs, bedding, and couches

Bring them outside if possible.

Throw away:

Any food items that came into contact with flood water. When in doubt, throw it out.

Wooden kitchen items, like wooden cutting boards or wooden utensils

Medicine that was exposed to flood water

Waterlogged cloth items that can’t be cleaned or salvaged

Could include ruined carpets, soft toys, and bedding

Wash and disinfect:

Metal and glass kitchen items like pots and pans

Hard surfaces like floors, countertops, and bathroom surfaces

Services that are always available from the city

Following a storm, you can file a service request with the City by calling 311. An appropriate City agency will respond.

File a Street Flooding, Manhole Flooding, Sewer Backup, and/or Water Main Break request

If you are a renter, file an Apartment or Building Maintenance request

Additional resources may be available. Check the main Recovery page to see if there are opportunities to receive additional recovery resources for a recent disaster.

Resources

Use these resources from our partner organizations to learn more about the following topics:

Resources to clean your home

Get a copy of the City of New York's Basement Flooding and Cleaning Up After a Storm in PDF.

See the American Red Cross resource on Disaster Cleanup & Repair For Your Home: Tips for reversing the damage done to your home during a disaster.

Resources about Mold

Flood water may contain bacteria, petroleum and chemicals. Mold can grow in a flooded home that is not properly cleaned and dried out. Learn how to safely clean your home after a flood.

Get a copy of the Health Department's How to Prevent and Get Rid of Mold guide in PDF.

Get a copy of the City of New York's What Tenants Should Know about Indoor Allergens in PDF.

NYCHA residents can visit NYCHA’s Mold Busters Program page for information on mold service requests and more on gov/mold-busters.

Care for Family Heirlooms and Important Documents After a Flood

When homes are flooded, sometimes treasured possessions such as family heirlooms, photos, and other keepsakes are affected.

Visit the FEMA Save Your Family Treasures webpage to find tips on how to save items such as photographs, books, papers and etc. that have been affected by floods. Fact sheets such as “After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures” and “Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms” are available in multiple languages.

How to Help

Learn more about how to get involved with relief and recovery efforts.

Consider helping your community by joining NYC Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT. Learn more at https://www.nyc.gov/site/em/volunteer/nyc-cert.page

Find out ways to become a volunteer by visiting the NYC Emergency Management volunteer page.

Visit the Help Now website for more information about how to donate and volunteer after a disaster.

Donate Cash

Making a financial contribution to a volunteer agency involved in disaster relief is the best way of helping people in need after a disaster:

Relief agencies will often spend the money in the local disaster area. This helps the local economy get back on its feet.

Cash donations allow relief agencies to make purchases that precisely meet survivors' needs or to provide vouchers for people to purchase what they need.

Cash donations avoid the complicated, costly, and time-consuming process of collecting, sorting, packing, transporting, unloading, resorting, storing, repackaging, and distributing donated goods.

Cash donations to recognized relief organizations are tax deductible.

To donate funds, visit the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City online.

Donating Goods

Before donating any goods, including food or clothing, wait for instructions from local officials or check with a specific organization. Unneeded items overwhelm the recovery effort and may go to waste. However, organizations involved in disaster relief that accept used goods year round have the infrastructure to either distribute materials during disasters when needed or simply sell those items to raise money for their disaster relief efforts. Please do not drop off any in-kind donations to an affected area.

Find local places to donate goods through donateNYC.

Make a food donation through Food Bank for New York City or City Harvest.

Donating Blood

New York City needs approximately 2,000 people to donate blood every day to maintain its supply. Blood reserves are perishable and constantly needs to be replenished. Donating blood is a great way to contribute to the emergency preparedness of the City as a whole. One pint of donated blood can save up to three lives, and one out of every three people will need a life-saving transfusion at some point in their lifetimes.

To donate blood, visit The New York Blood Center online.

International Disaster Relief

New Yorkers often support relief efforts in the wake of international disasters. The City urges New Yorkers who want to help international survivors of disasters to make monetary donations to established charities, which will distribute donations to appropriate relief agencies.