Survivors should call 911 or the New Jersey Emergency Response Hotline at 800-JERSEY-7 (800-537-7397) for any urgent or immediate safety issues. Back-up hotlines are 609-775-5236 or 908-303-0471.
Call the New Jersey 2-1-1 helpline or visit them online at www.nj211.org for help with non-emergency issues, including basic human needs and support for seniors and persons with disabilities or access and functional needs. Residents can also follow @NJ211 on Twitter.
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Register with FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov, or by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. For 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362.
For the most up-to-date information on Hurricane Sandy’s recovery efforts, go to www.fema.gov/sandy, add FEMA on Facebook and follow @FEMASandy on Twitter.
FEDERAL DISASTER LOANS
The U.S. Small Business Administration provides low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and business owners to help repair and replace property and contents destroyed during the storm. The deadline to apply is Jan. 30, 2013.
SBA also offers economic injury disaster loans to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size to meet financial obligations. For more information, call 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit www.sba.gov.
NEW JERSEY STATE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
The State of New Jersey official website is www.state.nj.us/.
For county or municipality-specific information, go to www.state.nj.us/nj/govinfo/county/localgov.html.
New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Information Center: nj.gov/nj/home/features/spotlight/hurricane_sandy.shtml.
New Jersey State Police
Website: www.njsp.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NewJerseyStatePolice
Twitter: @NJSP
New Jersey Office of Emergency Management
Website: www.ready.nj.gov/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/READYNEWJERSEY
Twitter: @NJOEM2010
FOOD ASSISTANCE
If you are in need of food, visit End Hunger NJ (endhungernj.com/index.htm) to find a food bank in your area.
Here is a list of food pantries that may be able to help:
Community Food Bank of New Jersey
Website: www.njfoodbank.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/communityfoodbankofnj
Twitter: @CFBNJ
Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey
Phone: 732-918-2600
Website: www.foodbankmoc.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/foodbankmoc
Food Bank of South Jersey
Website: www.foodbanksj.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Food-Bank-of-South-Jersey/
Twitter: @foodbankSJ
Ocean City, New Jersey C.A.R.E. Project:
Toll-Free Hotline: 855-622-2730
Website: www.ocnjcare.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OCNJCARE
HOUSING ASSISTANCE
Individuals and families that need help finding available rental units in their area should visit the FEMA Housing Portal at //www.njhrc.gov/.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:
Website: portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/sandy
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HUD
Twitter: @HUDNews
Survivors with HUD rental assistance can call 732-345-3771. Anyone with Federal Housing Administration mortgages can call 800-CALLFHA (225-5342) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. Information for the homeless is available at www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=nj&topic=homeless.
The New Jersey Housing Resource Center (www.njhousing.gov/) also offers information on accessible and affordable housing.
GENERAL HEALTH AND WELFARE
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Hurricane Sandy Recovery page: www.phe.gov/emergency/events/sandy/Pages/default.aspx
Public Health Situation Updates: www.phe.gov/newsroom/Pages/situpdates.aspx
State of New Jersey EMS Taskforce
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/EMS-Task-Force-State-of-New-Jersey/
Twitter: @NJEMSTF
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: for information on hurricane awareness as it relates to health and safety.
Website: emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CDC
Twitter: @CDCemergency
For storm health updates, text “SANDY” to 87000.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration:
Toll-Free Hotline: 800-321-OSHA (6742)
Website: www.osha.gov/sandy/index.html
American Red Cross: provides immediate emergency assistance to survivors of Hurricane Sandy. Click to find the closet Red Cross Chapter near you.
Website: www.redcross.org/hurricane-sandy
Facebook: www.facebook.com/redcross
Twitter: @RedCross
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The New Jersey Directory of Mental Health Services is available online at www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhs/news/publications/mhs/index.html.
To access service for children or youth, visit www.nj.gov/dcf/families/csc/index.html or call toll-free at 877-652-7624.
Call the New Jersey Disaster Mental Health Helpline at 877-294-HELP (4357) or TTY 877-294-4356 for confidential mental health information and help coping with the emotional impact of the recent storms and flooding. Add New Jersey Hope and Healing on Facebook.
New Jersey Mental Health Cares (www.njmentalhealthcares.org/) has the most up-to-date listings of public mental health providers in New Jersey. Call the toll-free hotline at 866-202-HELP (4357).
Mental Health Association in New Jersey: connects residents with mental and behavioral health services in the area.
Website: www.mhanj.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Mental-Health-Association-in-New-Jersey-Inc/
Twitter: @MHANJ1
CHILDREN
New Jersey Association of Child Care Resource and Referral: non-profit organization composed of child care resource and referral agencies serving the twenty-one counties of New Jersey.
Toll-Free Hotline: 800-332-9227
Website: www.njaccrra.org/
Facebook: /NJACCRRA-NJ-Association-of-Child-Care-Resource-and-Referral-Agencies/
Brethren Disaster Ministries Children’s Disaster Services
Toll-Free Hotline: 800-451-4407
Website: www.brethren.org/cds/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cds.cob
If you have not been able to return to your home school district or have not been able to enroll your child
in school in the town where you are currently living, call the state Department of Education at 609-292-2070.
SENIOR CITIZENS
To contact the New Jersey Area Agency on Aging in your county, visit www.state.nj.us/health/senior/sa_aaa.shtml or call the nationwide toll-free number at 877-222-3737.
AARP: www.aarp.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AARP
Twitter: @AARP
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services: provides up-to-date information about natural disasters, extreme weather and emergencies for those with Medicare and Medicaid.
Website: www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/index.html?redirect=/Emergency/
PERSONS WITH DISASBILITIES OR ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Hotline: 877-685-8878
Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 800-792-8339
Division of Developmental Disabilities: 800-832-9173
Division of Disability Services: 888-285-3036 or TTY 609-292-1210
Good Neighbors Community Living for People with Disabilities: 877-DHS-LINE (1-877-347-5463)
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/index.cfm?id=2472) provides documents and resources that address emergency preparedness in hurricane and flood situations.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: offers Hurricane Sandy related information for residents.
Website: www.epa.gov/sandy/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EPA
Twitter: @EPAgov
For more environmental information, call the EPA Hotline at 888-283-7626.
BUSINESSES
The State of New Jersey Business Portal (www.state.nj.us/njbusiness/index.shtml) is a one-stop-shop for business owners affected by the storm and flooding. Call toll-free at 866-534-7789.
For information on unemployment insurance benefits, visit the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development website at www.njuifile.net.
LEGAL SERVICES
New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Hotline: 888-222-5765
VOLUNTEER SERVICES
To request volunteer assistance, call the New Jersey 2-1-1 hotline or go online at www.nj211.org. The New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (www.nj.gov/njvoad) may also be able to connect survivors with available volunteer resources.