On Wednesday, September 1st, 2021, Hurricane Ida came down on NYC with a force, leaving behind a trail of destruction along the east coast and other parts of the U.S.
In New York, the torrential rain of the storm brought about submerged subway lines and left airlines grounded. Many New Yorkers also found themselves grappling with power outages, flooded basements, damaged homes, and stranded family and friends, prompting the Mayor to declare a state of emergency. As the city begins recovering and clean-up efforts, many NYC tenants are doing the same.
We've compiled a list of Hurricane Ida resources to help NYC Tenants find the help they need as they try to move forward after the storm.
(These are the most up-to-date and relevant resources as of September 4, 2021. )
Credits: Gregg Vigliotti, The New York Times. On Peck Avenue in Queens, residents tossed out items ruined by flooding. Credit...Gregg Vigliotti for The New York Times. Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/03/nyregion/nyc-ida.html
On September 2nd, President Joe Biden officially declared a state of emergency in New York and other northeast. The federal recognition of an emergency makes NYC eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance, such as the authority to coordinate disaster relief efforts, including identifying, mobilizing, and providing equipment and resources at its discretion.
However, the federal government has yet to authorize an important aspect of relief which is FEMA's individual assistance which assists those affected with paying for repairs to their home and other expenses. Nonetheless, victims should still be proactive if seeking relief from their insurance companies if flooding is covered in their policy.
Although FEMA individual assistance isn’t yet available to New York City, one should still be aware of the process and ready to submit a claim when/if it is permitted for New Yorkers to do so.
However, if your renters insurance has additional flood coverage, you should file a claim ASAP.
Here’s how you can file an insurance claim:
Note: FEMA will provide financial assistance to eligible individuals if their county or borough in NYC has individual aid. FEMA may provide up to $33,000 for home repair assistance.
Get additional assistance and information at:
Video Credits: Historic flooding cripples NYC transit system l GMA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IivUvAZaqBI&ab_channel=GoodMorningAmerica
If you're an NYC tenant and have experienced significant damage to your property from Hurricane Ida, you should report it asap. You can report damage to your property by calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service or TTY: 212-504-4115).
Additionally, NYC tenants can use Damage Assessment Tool online. The tool collects damage information from New Yorkers and assesses impact in an area.
New York City renters can stay updated on Hurricane Ida resources by signing up for Notify NYC. It’s a free emergency notification system for NYC.
To sign up, you can visit here NYC.gov/NotifyNYC or call 311.
If it's not safe for you to return home and you need temporary shelter in and around NYC, several open shelters are available around NYC. These shelters are certified under the Red Cross, and you’ll find the necessary help.
You can find more information on shelters here.
Credits: Dakota Santiago, The New York Times. The 56th Street underpass on Flushing Avenue, where floodwaters rose high and claimed many vehicles attempting to cross earlier.Credit...Dakota Santiago for The New York Times. Link: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/09/02/nyregion/nyc-storm#nyc-subway-transit-updates
Hurricane Ida bought unprecedented destruction to NYC, and while the hurricane has passed, returning to normalcy in NYC may be particularly difficult for many in the weeks to come.
Here are some steps you should take as you make the return home after Hurricane Ida in NYC.
Additional Resources:
CDC Guidelines on Hurricanes and Tropical Storms