NEW YORK
City officials last week announced a $500 million emergency capital spending plan to make critical repairs to public schools and public hospitals damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Reports are that the city has already authorized $134 million in spending following Hurricane Sandy to provide emergency services and recovery and relief programs.

Updates

The City has opened food and water distribution sites in the hardest hit areas and are staffed by City employees, volunteers, the Salvation Army and National Guard. Locations and hours: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/foodandwater.html.

Rockaway Ferry Service

Seastreak began ferry service between the Rockaways and Manhattan on Monday, November 12:

* Ferries depart from Beach 108th Street and Beach Channel Drive and stop at Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan

* Free transfers between Pier 11 and East 34th Street in Midtown

* Service runs from 5:45AM and depart regularly until 9:20 AM

* Regular service resume at evening rush hour -One-way fares will cost $2.00

The Economic Development Corporation installed a temporary landing in the Rockaways to accommodate the temporary ferry service.

NYCHA Facilities has set up warming centers in Red Hook and additional warming centers are being established. NYCHA staff and volunteers have been providing blankets to residents who have not had heat or hot water restored.

Odd-Even Gasoline Purchasing System

An emergency order establishing an odd-even license plate system for gasoline purchases remains in effect until further notice. It operates as follows:

* Vehicles with license plates ending in an even number or ‘zero’ purchase fuel on even numbered days.

* Vehicles with license plates ending in an odd number purchase fuel on odd numbered days.

* Vehicles with licenses plates ending in letters will be deemed as odd numbered plates and can make purchases on odd numbered days.

* Commercial vehicles, emergency vehicles, buses and paratransit vehicles, Medical Doctor (MD) plates and vehicles licensed by the
Taxi and limousine Commission are exempt.

Mobile Medical Teams for Far Rockaway and Coney Island

The City has deployed mobile medical teams consisting of a paramedic and member of the National Guard to the Far Rockaways and Coney Island. The teams will go door-to-door in tall residential buildings from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM to:

* Ensure residents’ medical needs are met

* Conduct medical assessments to determine if residents are safe

* Connect residents with prescription medications

* If needed, take residents to a field clinic or hospital for medical care

Mobile Medical Vans with Prescription Services

The City has deployed vans staffed with primary care providers who will be able to provide medical care and distribute commonly prescribed drugs at several locations in the Rockaways, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Volunteers are also going door-to-door to reach people who may have medical needs but remain in their homes without heat and power. The location and hours are available here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/medical_vans.html.

Support to Businesses

The City’s Department of Small Business Services and Economic Development Corporation have put together a package of support for NYC businesses impacted by the storm:

* Emergency low-interest loans of up to $25,000 for businesses that have been interrupted and suffered damage as a result of the storm.
Applications are available at any of the City’s NYC Business Solutions Centers, by calling 311 and asking for “NYC Business
Emergency Loan,” or by visiting on.nyc.gov/contactnycbiz.

All City Schools Open

Meanwhile all city schools are open to all students, and those students and staff who have been reassigned from buildings that sustained structural damage went to other school sites. Parents should continue to check the status of their schools by: Going to www.nyc.gov/schools. Call 311 or texting “nycschools” or ‘escuela’ to 877-877.

The Department of Education has coordinated transportation options for families with children who have been reassigned to other school sites:

1. Full reimbursement for any family of a K-8 student at a relocated school taking MTA/cab service to and from school.

2. 55 cents per mile reimbursement for any family of a student at a relocated school who uses their own vehicles.

3. Free metro-cards will be distributed to all high school students at relocated schools who do not already have one. The City has conducted extensive outreach to families, making 1.2 million robo-calls to parents; direct messages were sent from principals and parent coordinators to parents; full page advisories ran in three of New York City’s newspapers; text messages were sent to parents and families enrolled in the Department of Education’s texting program; and information was provided to television and radio outlets.