"We sympathize deeply with all of those individuals and families impacted by Sandy. The New York Fed is committed to helping provide useful and relevant information, advice and economic analysis to policymakers, civic and community organizations, individuals and businesses as they work to rebuild and recover from the effects of this storm." — President William C. Dudley
Resource Directory
Homeowners and Renters  |  Business Owners  |  Insurance Assistance  |
Legal Assistance   |   Rebuilding Damaged Property   |   Tax Relief   |
Video: Eight Expert Tips   |   Economic Research and Analysis
 
Key Agencies for Sandy Relief:
FEMA
FEMA continues to deploy and mobilize hundreds of staff from various federal agencies to support community relations and operational activities. Housing inspectors are on the ground, meeting with disaster survivors to identify damages to homes, to further expedite assistance to individuals.

Small Business Administration
Homeowners, renters, or business of any size, in declared disaster areas, may be eligible for a low-interest loan from SBA.

State Resource Pages for Sandy Relief:
New York
New Jersey
Connecticut
HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS
FEMA
FEMA continues to deploy and mobilize hundreds of staff from various federal agencies to support community relations and operational activities. Housing inspectors are on the ground, meeting with disaster survivors to identify damages to homes, to further expedite assistance to individuals.

Center for New York City Neighborhoods
Assistance for homeowners: 646-786-0888
The Center for New York City Neighborhoods, Inc. (CNYCN) addresses the local repercussions of the national foreclosure crisis. From immediate disaster relief to longer term help with repairing and stabilizing homes, CNYCN helps New Yorkers access the best free assistance available.

NYS Home & Community Renewal
Assistance for tenants of rent regulated apartments who experienced reductions in services or displacement during the storm.

NYC Housing Recovery Portal
Allows individuals and families in NYC who were displaced from their homes by Hurricane Sandy to get information about finding housing.

NYC Rapid Repairs
NYC Rapid Repairs is a FREE program to help residential property owners affected by Hurricane Sandy make emergency repairs. These emergency repairs will allow residents to stay in their homes so that they can complete more permanent repairs and finishes. Emergency repairs include permanent or temporary restoration of heat, power and hot water, and other limited repairs to protect a home from further significant damage. A homeowner must register for NYC Rapid Repairs.

NYC Department of Housing and Preservation and Development
Information for NYC tenants and homeowners.

New Jersey Housing Resource Center
Registry of affordable, accessible and special needs rental and for-sale housing located in New Jersey. Temporary housing is available for those impacted by Sandy.
HELP FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
Small Business Administration
Homeowners, renters, or business of any size, in declared disaster areas, may be eligible for a low-interest loan from SBA.

NYC Department of Small Business Services
The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) can help with emergency business loans, NYC Matching Grants, sales tax exemptions, disaster unemployment assistance, temporary office space, and help with business interruption.

New York Business Development Corporation
The Storm Sandy Emergency Loan Fund supports independently owned and operated businesses that have fewer than 100 employees and are located in disaster designated areas.

New Jersey Community Capital
NJ Community Capital is providing loans from $10,000 to $30,000 to help small businesses pay for building repairs, equipment and inventory purchases, rent or mortgage payments, salary expenses, and utility costs. Information about the loans and the application form are available online.
Insurance Assistance
New York Department of Financial Services
Storm Hotline: 800-339-1759
The New York Department of Financial Services can help with banking and insurance problems via the DFS Disaster Hotline. Homeowners unable to resolve disputes with insurers can file a complaint with the Department.

New York State Office of the Attorney General
The Attorney General's Office offers information and tips for homeowners and tenants, price gouging, and filing complaints.

New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance
Hotline: 1-800-446-7467
The Department is helping to answer residents’ questions about policy coverage and assistance with the insurance claims process.

Connecticut Insurance Department
Dedicated Storm Sandy page featuring important resources for consumers and the industry
TAX RELIEF
Internal Revenue Service
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. Certain deadlines falling on or after Oct. 26, and on or before Feb. 1, have been postponed to Feb. 1, 2013 in declared disaster areas.
Video: Eight Expert Tips
1. Apply for all the loans and grants you can.
2. Document everything: take pictures and keep records of damage, repairs, and correspondence with agencies and companies.
3. Go to the Small Business Association. They help homeowners, renters and nonprofits in addition to businesses.
4. Apply for SBA loans whether you are certain you will use the
money or not.
5. Apply for and use short-term SBA loans while waiting for
insurance money.
6. Check on contractors before signing a contract or paying up front, and make sure they are licensed.
7. Get free legal help: free consultations with legal experts are available.
8. Don't give up! Take the recovery one small step at a time.
Legal Assistance
Legal Services NYC
Sandy Recovery Hotline: 347-592-2411 (10am-3pm on weekdays)
Since the storm hit, Legal Services NYC has been working in communities around the City to help people meet their most fundamental needs, and to provide legal services that will enable them to get benefits, obtain safe affordable housing and address other legal issues that will help communities recover.

Legal Aid Society (New York)
The Legal Aid Society provides extensive legal representation and advocacy on behalf of the thousands of children and adults who have been impacted by the storm. Society staff members have also been at the forefront of legal advocacy involving access to disaster relief food stamps, unemployment benefits, Medicaid and FEMA aid as well as other ongoing public benefits and eviction protections.

New York Legal Assistance Group
Storm Hotline: 212-584-3365 or email StormHelp@nylag.org
The New York Legal Assistance Group provides free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers who cannot afford attorneys. NYLAG has mobilized a legal aid disaster relief program to help victims of the storm deal with a range of issues, including: FEMA Claims, Housing, Consumer Matters, Family Law Matters, Accessing and Continuing Public Benefits, Immigration, and Employment.

New York State Bar Association
NYSBA Superstorm Sandy Legal Hotline: 800-699-5636
The New York State Bar Association is providing free legal consultations for NY Residents affected by the storm. To receive a referral for a consultation, contact the Bar Association's Hotline.

New York City Bar Association
The New York City Bar Association, in partnership with Morrison & Foerster LLP, Legal Services NYC, and the Legal Aid Society, is circulating a Sandy Resource handbook. The Handbook provides an overview of the issues that individuals, families, and small businesses might experience as a result of the storm and resources that are available to storm victims.

Legal Services of New Jersey
Sandy Hotline: 1-888-222-5765
Legal Services of New Jersey is providing help for residents dealing with Sandy-related civil legal issues.

New Jersey State Bar Association
Sandy Hotline: 1-888-541-1900
The NJSBA has set up a hotline to answer storm-related legal questions, including real estate matters, insurance and FEMA assistance.

Connecticut Bar Association
Contact by phone 1-866-209-5099 or email: hotline@ctbar.org
The Connecticut Bar Association is providing free legal advice to individuals and businesses in need of guidance about insurance claims for property damage after Sandy.
HELP WITH REBUILDING DAMAGED PROPERTY
NYC Department of Health
This site provides information on health issues associated with living in flood-damaged areas and around large-scale reconstruction, including information on how to make home repairs safely – controlling dust, removing mold, cleaning sewage backups, and air quality.

NYC Department of Buildings
Post-Storm information including information for property owners on finding a licenses professional, deck and porch safety, boiler repairs, and other storm tips.
Economic Research and Analysis
Liberty Street Economics Blog Posts

The New York Fed’s Liberty Street Economics blog published a special five-part series examining the physical, economic and human costs of superstorm Sandy. The blog series, which appeared from December 17 to December 21, provided insight on the storm’s short-term impact and its longer-term effects.

The series comprised the following posts:
Economic Impact

On November 29, 2012 New York Fed economists and staff provided an initial assessment of the economic impact of Superstorm Sandy, as well as a general overview of regional economic conditions.
  Jason Bram
Senior Economist

Regional Economic Conditions & Assessing the Aftermath of Sandy

  Claire Kramer
Officer, Regional & Community Outreach

Intelligence from the Hardest Hit
Areas

  Jaison Abel
Senior Economist

Housing Conditions in the Region & Potential Impacts of Sandy

By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Statement. You can learn more about how we use cookies by reviewing our Privacy Statement.   Close