NYSDA Alerts

Monday, December 3, 2012

Hurricane Sandy Disaster Assistance Resources

In response to Hurricane Sandy, NYSDA, ADA, and your local component society will be working together to ensure that you have all of the information you need to recover from this devastating natural disaster. These resources include financial disaster assistance from the ADA Foundation, how to file FEMA and insurance claims, legal obligations for employers, and other useful information.


Important Update Information


Financial Assistance Resources

  • ADA Foundation administered Disaster Assistance Grant Program provides two types of disaster assistance grants:

    Emergency Disaster Assistance Grants    : Grants of up to $1,000 in immediate financial assistance are available to dentists and can be used for emergency resources such as food, water, clothing, shelter and counseling.The ADA Foundation’s Emergency Disaster Assistance Grants are distributed based on the availability of funds.

    Emergency Disaster Assistance Grant Rules and Application     (link to PDF)

    Disaster Assistance Grants    : Grants of up to $5,000 are available to address longer term needs - after all insurance claims have been resolved - subject to a showing of financial need after insurance. These grants may be available to dentists who have lost property in a declared disaster, and to organizations that can provide emergency dental care in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. The deadline to submit these applications is 60 days after the declared disaster. The ADA Foundation’s Disaster Assistance Grants are distributed based on the availability of funds.

    Disaster Grant Application     (link to PDF)         Disaster Grant Rules (link to PDF)


  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
    http://www.fema.gov/
    1-800-621-3362

    Immediately following a disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will make cash grants of up to $26,000 per individual or household for lodging expenses, rent, home repair or renovation, and other disaster-related needs.

    FEMA Major Disaster Declaration     declared on October 30, 2012     for the following counties in New York State: Bronx County, Kings County, Nassau County, New York County, Orange County, Putnam County, Queens County, Richmond County, Rockland County, Suffolk County, Sullivan County, Ulster County and Westchester County.

    Here's how to apply: http://www.fema.gov/apply-assistance

    More on Federal Aid Programs for the State of New York

  • Disaster unemployment benefits are available to provide financial support to anyone who has lost their job and live or work in Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties.

    Anyone unemployed as a result of Hurricane Sandy can submit a claim to the Department of Labor.

    To apply for unemployment benefits or disaster unemployment assistance, those affected by the storm and have lost their job or income should call the Telephone Claims Center (TCC) at 1-888-209-8124, or 1-877-358-5306 if they live out of state.

    Applicants should answer the questions to indicate they lost their job due to Hurricane Sandy.
    In order to receive benefits you must apply by February 4, 2013.

  • U.S. Small Business Administration
    http://www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/

    In the wake of a hurricane, flood, earthquake, wildfire, tornado or other physical disaster, most of the Federal government's longer-term disaster assistance comes in the form of low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Even if you don't own a business, you may still be eligible for SBA financial assistance.

    (PDF) U. S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FACT SHEET - DISASTER LOANS
    NEW YORK Declaration #13365 & #13366
    (Disaster: NY-00130)

  • U.S. Department of Labor
    http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/disaster.asp

    Disaster Unemployment Assistance for up to 26 weeks is available to individuals whose employment or self-employment was directly lost or interrupted due to a declared disaster.

    The U.S. Department of Labor is also assisting in the recovery efforts in communities affected by this season's hurricanes. http://www.dol.gov/opa/hurricane-recovery.htm

    National Emergency Grants for New York State
    http://www.doleta.gov/NEG/neg_map_data1.cfm?state=NY

  • Federal Disaster Assistance
    http://www.disasterassistance.gov/

  • American Red Cross
    http://www.redcross.org/

    Get Assistance: http://www.redcross.org/find-help

  • Bank of America Practice Solutions
    http://www.bankofamerica.com/small_business/practicesolutions/index.cfm

    Existing Practice Solutions Customers, affected by severe storms and floods, that are in of need assistance to get their dental practices up and running or need additional assistance with existing loans should call Bank of America Practice Solutions at 800-491-3622 learn more about what opportunities exist.

    Customers with new loan requests can call Bank of America Practice Solutions at 800-428-2847 to discuss their needs and review loan options available to them.


Insurance

Governor Cuomo announces homeowners will not have to pay hurricane deductibles
Department of Financial Services (DFS) working closely with insurers to speed response to homeowners who experienced losses. More

DFS Disaster Hotline for consumer questions and help with problems: 800-339-1759
It is staffed Monday – Friday from 8 AM – 8 PM and Saturday - Sunday from 9 AM – 4 PM

Homeowners unable to resolve disputes with insurers can file complaints:
http://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/fileacomplaint.htm


Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual wants NYSDA members to stay safe - and be prepared. Although a storm can be stressful, there is access to online and mobile resources that can be helpful to keep families safe and property protected.

The Catastrophe Response Team is ready to go - the highly trained unit of Claims Representatives will be available 24/7 to assist should there be a need to report a claim—quickly and easily using multiple methods:

  • By phone at 1-800-2CLAIMS (1-800-225-2467)
  • Online at libertymutual.com
  • Using the Liberty Mutual Mobile App on their smartphones


Legal Tips


Employment Law
Tips on paying wages when your office is closed due to a natural disaster

The latest reports coming out of the northeast say that there are at least 7 million people without power because of Hurricane Sandy, and that number is expected to grow before it gets better. So when you close your business because of bad weather or power outages, are you required to pay employees?

Here are the answers in a few common scenarios – link to PDF


Patient Records
Tips for Dealing with Flood Damaged Patient Records

  • Assess the damage. Inspect the area and determine the extent of the damage, the type of damage, areas that have been affected, the types of materials that have been damaged, whether the damaged items can be replaced and whether it's necessary to hire professionals to help salvage them.
  • Take photos to document the damage. This step is absolutely essential regardless of whether you can save the records or not because you will need to document the extent of the damage to provide to your insurance carrier.
  • Contact your insurance carrier. There is no way to know what, if anything, your carrier will do to assist you with the records.
  • A combination of dehumidifiers and fan will help to reduce humidity by circulating the air. Of course standing water must be pumped out of the area. For this hazardous task, it's best to get help from experienced professionals.


Recovery Guidance

  • The IRS is providing help to the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Special tax relief and assistance is available to taxpayers in the Presidential Disaster Areas. Other locations may be added in coming days based on additional damage assessments by FEMA.                                                         

    More information here: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Help-for-Victims-of-Hurricane-Sandy

          Acrobat PDF FileIRS Small Business Disaster Resource Guide

  • Solmetex
    To NYSDA members who had their amalgam separators damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Sandy, NYSDA endorsed vendor, Solmetex, is pleased to announce that they will assist dental facilities which owned a SolmeteX Hg5 amalgam separator, by providing a free amalgam separator to replace a destroyed or damaged system.  

    To report such loss, dental facilities should contact NYSDA at 800-255-2100. 

    NYSDA will have Solmetex check their records for the existence of a SolmeteX amalgam separator prior to Sandy and extend a new system.  This program is for properly maintained Hg5, Hg5-Mini and Hg5-HV systems only.

  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has more than 1,200 personnel on the ground in New York and New Jersey, providing public health and medical assistance.
    http://www.phe.gov/emergency/events/Pages/sandy-midatlantic-2012.aspx#mental