Friday, April 16, 2010

Citizen Volunteers Help Fellow Residents Obtain Disaster Assistance

Approximately 20 volunteer members of the Atlantic County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Medical Reserve Corps will be assisting representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency as they visit communities hardest hit by the March 12 nor’easter and subsequent flooding.

These community response teams will start in Hamilton and Weymouth townships beginning Saturday, April 17 and continuing on Sunday, April 18, between 9 AM and 1 PM each day. They plan to visit other impacted communities during the next few weeks.

Members hope to inform those in need of assistance of the resources available to them through federal, state and local government agencies and several human service non-profit organizations. They will provide residents with fact sheets, contact numbers and informational brochures that address flooding, well water and septic system issues, and mold remediation.

But the first step to recovery is to register for assistance by contacting FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800- 462-7585) or register online at www.disasterassistance.gov.
Community response team volunteers are educated and trained in basic disaster response skills so that they can assist professional emergency response teams following an event in their communities. They receive a minimum of 20 hours of instruction and participate in annual exercises to sharpen their skills.

A Disaster Recovery Center is also available in Atlantic County to assist residents seeking financial assistance for repairs, temporary housing, transportation, well-water testing, etc. It is open Monday through Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM. Appointments are not necessary, but it is recommended that you first register with FEMA. Staff is available to help guide residents and business owners through the recovery process.

Another resource for residents impacted by last month’s severe storms and flooding, including self-employed individuals who are unemployed as a direct result of storm-related damages, is Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

Individuals who work in one of 12 federally declared counties (Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union) and lost their jobs directly due to the disaster may apply for DUA. Those eligible may also include: (1) individuals who are unable to reach their job because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented by doing so by the disaster, (2) individuals who were to commence employment but were prevented by the disaster, (3) individuals who became the major support for a household because of the death of the head of household due to disaster, or (4) individuals who cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster.

The DUA program is part of the federal disaster assistance process, but is administered by the State of New Jersey’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD).

Residents may file a claim for DUA benefits by calling a LWD Re-employment Call Center (856-507-2340) or by visiting a One-Stop Career Center closest to their home.

Atlantic/Cape May One Stop Centers:
2 South Main St.
Pleasantville, NJ 08232
(609) 813-3900
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

44 North White Horse Pike
Hammonton, NJ 08037-1860
(609) 561-8800
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

3810 New Jersey Avenue
Wildwood, NJ 08260-0210
(609) 729-0997
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

The deadline for filing for DUA benefits is May 12, 2010. DUA claims filed after the deadline may be ineligible for payment. Those eligible for standard unemployment insurance benefits will not be eligible to receive DUA payments.

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