Below are various links and resources that have come across my way that may be able to assist those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Ocean MHS: Path to Renewal--counselors available (brief individual therapy, groups or long-term assistance) Speakers available as well. 732.228.0486 or 732.221.1492
Various Articles and Publications:
http://www.njsca.org/content/sandy-crisis-resources
Local Ocean County Efforts:
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
www.disasterassistance.gov | 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362)
A consolidated application is available online for several types of federal disaster assistance programs. One application per household should be completed within 60 days of the disaster. FEMA is setting up various mobile centers throughout the county to answer questions and meet with those regarding claims, and will staff Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the state.
Disaster Recovery Centers
A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is a readily accessible facility or mobile office which applicants can visit for information about FEMA or other disaster assistance programs, or for questions related to their case. Other related agencies will be present as well. There are two DRCs in Ocean County that are opened from 8am-8pm daily:
Bell Crest Plaza, Store Front 4C, 953 Fischer Blvd, Toms River
Brick Township Civic Center, 270 Chambers Bridge Rd., Brick
Mobile Insurance Claims Units
Some insurance companies are offering claims processing at mobile catastrophe units located throughout the state. These locations provide an additional alternative for residents to file their insurance claims besides the typical routes such as through one's insurance agent or via telephone. This list will constantly be changing, so please check often.
New Jersey's 211
211 is a statewide call center that provides information about community resources, which is linked in to statewide disaster relief resources. There is a Hurricane Resource page available on their website.
County and Municipal Websites
Many municipalities are utilizing their websites to disseminate vital information to residents, including information about access to restricted areas that have sustained significant damage. List of all municipal websites in New Jersey.
Shelter
There are no American Red Cross emergency shelters operating any longer in Ocean County. Faith-based and community-based organizations may continue to house displaced individuals/ families, and families may have evacuated to hotels in other areas of the state as part of FEMA's Transitional Shelter Assistance Program. Those who were housed at one of the area schools have been moved to other centralized Red Cross locations, such as Monmouth Racetrack. Red Cross shelter locator.
Food Assistance
The Sheriff's Department has compiled a list of organizations that are collecting and/or distributing donations, as well as those providing food pantries or soup kitchens. This list is constantly evolving and is not intended to be exhaustive. Contact Detective Lieutenant Laurie B. Cahill at 732.341-3451 to add your organization. The National Hunger Hotline is available at 1-866-3HUNGRY or 1-866-348-6479 to access the existing network of food pantries.
Families who received food stamps before the storm and live in an area where over 50% of the population was without power will automatically receive a reimbursement of 25% of their October monthly SNAP allotment. This allows replacement of a portion of food lost during power outages.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available for persons, including self-employed individuals, who were living or working in the affected counties at the time of the disaster, and who are unemployed as a direct result of the damages caused by this storm. File a regular unemployment claim online and then call the regional Reemployment Call Center at 732-761-2020.
Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief for Individuals and Businesses from the IRS
Special tax law provisions may help taxpayers and businesses recover financially from the impact of a disaster. Learn more.
Displaced Students
All students who are displaced due to the storm are eligible for assistance through the existing McKinney Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth program. Students can enroll and attend school in the school where they are temporarily housed (or be bussed back to their home district), can receive help with school supplies, and are eligible for free lunch by virtue of the displacement. Contact Alan Ferraro at 732-262-2500 ext. 2803 for questions or more information. Alan sent detailed correspondence to the Homeless Liaisons and building contacts yesterday.
Emotional Distress in the Wake of a Disaster
Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after any natural or human-caused disaster. There is a national Disaster Distress Helpline available at 1-800-985-5990. The New Jersey Disaster Mental Health HelpLine is available at (877) 294-HELP (4357) for confidential mental health information and referrals. Print materials dealing with the emotional consequences of disaster and recovery are available from SAMHSA. Scroll down to the bottom for a list of links.The Ocean County Emergency Response Team of Disaster Response Crisis Counselors are also available to provide critical incident stress management and psychological first aid techniques for disaster survivors.
Helping Children Cope with Disaster
The National Institute for Mental Health has several publications available for parents, community members, and emergency workers to help children cope with disasters. The NJ Traumatic Loss Coalition has also compiled a list of resources and a discussion guide for talking with youth about Hurricane Sandy. Contact Karen Bright, Coordinator of the Ocean County Traumatic Loss Coalition, at [email protected].
NJ Center for the Healing Arts www.njcha.org
has expanded its clinic hours to provide counseling services to individuals (including teens) and families that are in need of counseling in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy (regardless of their ability to pay). We will also do our best to provide services to the younger children; however, our child services division is already accepting as many pro bono cases as is possible. We have applied for an emergency assistance grant so that we can offer more services and programs to people across the age continuum. In the meantime, we have availability for adolescents, adults, and families. We are also organizing a group called, "The Calm After the Storm," for adults. This group will integrate yoga, meditation, hypnotherapy and guided imagery, along with group process.
Thanks to a generous donation from Emerson Ecologics Natural Pharmaceutical Company, we are also able to offer survivors of Hurricane Sandy some herbal medicines to reduce stress and enhance sleep. People who are interested in these supplements will need to complete a questionnaire providing us with their medical/mental health history and a list of all medications they are taking (because herbal medicine is medicine and can negatively interact with prescription drugs).
We are here to help our own and surrounding communities. If you know of people who could benefit from some counseling, please direct them to us by calling 732-747-2944 or 732-747-8118. If you would like more information about the NJ Center for the Healing Arts, please visit our website at www.njcha.org.
Coping with the emotional aftermath of Hurricane Sandy http://news.consumerreports.org/health/2012/11/coping-with-the-emotional-aftermath-of-hurricane-sandy.html#<http://news.consumerreports.org/health/2012/11/coping-with-the-emotional-aftermath-of-hurricane-sandy.html>.UJUqkhUdTVU.mailto
Resources for Responding to and Coping with Hurricane Related Events http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/hurricane.htm
Helping Children Cope with the Effects of Hurricane Katrina: Tips for Parents and Other Caregivers | AboutOurKids.org
Children's Responses to Hurricane Katrina: Tips for Schools and Teachers | AboutOurKids.org
The Psychological Effects of Hurricane Katrina for Child and Adolescent Survivors | AboutOurKids.org http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/psychological_effects_hurricane_katrina_child_adolescent_survivors
Eight Classroom Resources to Help Teach About Hurricane Sandy | Edutopia http://www.edutopia.org/blog/hurricane-sandy-classroom-resources-matthew-davis