Flash Flood Information For Broome and Tioga Counties in Central NY

Site Index

2011-04-28T08:48:00.000-05:00

4/28/11
Wow - talk about a blast from the past. I haven't had to post anything to this site in over 4 years. But, with all of the flash flooding we've had, I figured I'd quickly update this for those who might need it.

As information becomes available regarding disaster declarations, relief efforts, agencies to contact, I'll post them on this blog and update this page with a direct link to the information.

While our infrastructure has been slightly damaged, I believe most of the damage will be residential in nature.

Please contact your town's supervisor if you have any flood damage as soon as possible. It will help determine if a disaster will be declared, allowing FEMA to assist (I know, paradoxical statement). If the damage is limited to uninhabited spaces in your home, it's considered minor. If it extends into living areas, it's considered major.

If you belong to a church and need assistance, call them! People are most likely waiting to help. Anything underlined is a hyperlink.

Resources

Cleaning Your Home Well
Protecting Your Credit
Avoiding Heat Related Illness - Please Read!
Broome/Tioga "First Call For Help"
Broome/Tioga/Susquehanna Community Meals
Broome/Chenango/Tioga Food Pantries
Cleaning Articles
Dealing With Stress
Information For All Agencies Municipalities and Citizens

Volunteering and Donating

Volunteering
Donating
Animal Disaster Relief

Paid Fire Fighter Assistance

2006-08-20T08:39:00.000-05:00

THE JEREMIAH LUCEY GRANT PROGRAM

The Jeremiah Lucey Grant Program, named in honor of Denis Leary’s cousin who perished in a catastrophic fire in Worcester, Massachusetts, provides financial support for the training and equipment needs of uniformed firefighters in board-designated geographic areas. The Board of Directors of the Leary Firefighters Foundation invites grant requests from professional, uniformed Fire Departments in New York, Massachusetts, and areas affected by Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast.

Limitations: No grants to individuals. Grants only to professional, Uniformed Fire Departments.

Average grant size: $25,000 - $50,000.

Application information: Fire Department representatives should send a letter of inquiry (not to exceed two pages) which includes the following information:

description of the organization seeking support
overview of project to be funded and grant amount requested
problem/challenges project will address
timeframe for implementation of project
summary of other sources being approached for support of project.

In addition to the letter of inquiry, a project budget should be included.

Applicants considered for funding will be contacted and asked to complete a full grant application form.

Deadline: None. Letters of inquiry and applications are reviewed as received.

Final notification: 3-6 months.

Background: The Leary Firefighters Foundation is a 501(c) 3 organization founded by actor Denis Leary in 2000 to provide support for the training and equipment needs of uniformed firefighters. To date, the Leary Foundation’s grants have been made in New York City, Worcester and Boston, Massachusetts.

The Leary Firefighters Foundation
594 Broadway, Suite 409
New York, NY 10012

Telephone: (212) 343-0240

Email: info@learyfirefighters.org

URL: http://www.learyfirefighters.org

Contact: Lys Hopper, Executive Director

Churches Please Help

2006-08-09T08:33:00.000-05:00

This is my own request - similar to the one for youth leaders in each community to step up to the plate and show the kids they teach what community involvement is all about.

This is an equally important commitment in which the adults can truly show their compassion.

I am asking each church that has not been heavily affected by the flooding to open their doors once a week, or even once a month to host a community meal.

It's been nearly a year since hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulf Coast. Hancock County, MS has at least 2 full time community kitchens being run by volunteers. They serve 2-3 meals per day, and have since the week following the hurricane.

While our need isn't nearly as great as this, we still are in need of this type of assistance and will be for a full 6-12 months. Our neighbors have lost everything - including a place to cook, a place to store food, the money to buy either.

I am asking the church communities in all counties to please consider establishing a community meal calendar amongst yourselves. The meal can be hosted at a single church, with neighboring churches coming in to prepare the meals on their designated nights. Or, it can be hosted at each individual church. It does not matter how it is organized, but it needs to be done. To allow your neighbors one well-prepared, well-balanced and communal meal each day will help give them the strength of body, mind, and spirit to continue in the daunting task of rebuilding their lives.

Financial help is available. I know local food pantries have dealt with Second Harvest and can help guide you through their application process - it is simple and you receive food for pennies on the dollar.

Please answer this call to action.

Cleaning Your Well

2006-08-09T08:06:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, an article ran in the Press and Sun Bulletin re: how so many private wells have been contaminated with E. coli. I was so sure they had run an article on how to clean a contaminated well, but was unable to find it in their archives. So, I found this as its replacement. It's simple to do! My family has had to sanitize wells in the past, so I know this works. It's cheap, it's easy, it's quick. And you won't have to deal with bottled water all the time anymore!
Leslie

http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/water/flooding/docs/private_wells.pdf

Page 1 of 4
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Bureau of Water Supply Protection
Flanigan Square, 547 River Street, Troy, New York 12180-2216

FLOOD RECOVERY - Restoring Water Wells

After flooding, private well owners should take actions to ensure their private water supply is
safe for consumption. When a water supply well has been affected by flood waters, the water
within the well may be contaminated with waterborne pathogens (germs) that can cause serious
illness in humans and pets. If you believe that your well has been contaminated, discontinue
using your well water for drinking and cooking purposes, and use only disinfected or bottled
water.
This fact sheet provides guidance on how to addresses possible pathogen contamination.
Drinking water wells can also be contaminated by fuel oil or other chemical products released
during the flood (such as from home oil tanks and agricultural tanks). If you believe your well
may be contaminated by petroleum or other chemicals, do not use your well and immediately
contact your local Health Department or the Department of Environmental Conservation Spill
Hotline at 1-800-457-7362.
There are five action steps needed to get a flooded well back into service safely:
Assessment… Repair… Flushing… Disinfection… Sampling.

ASSESSMENT
A flood will leave warning signs that a water well may be unsafe. Below are things that a well
owner can look for, any one of these signs may indicate that a well is contaminated. Most
private wells have the pump located inside the well casing and submerged, so well owners will
probably not be able to inspect the pump. Well owners should contact a qualified professional,
registered well driller or pump contractor, to evaluate and service well pumps.
1. Is the well located in or near the area that was flooded? If you did not see the area during
the flood, debris and mud in the area and water or mud stains on the well can indicate that
the well was flooded.
2. Is the ground surface around the well intact and stable? During flooding the ground around
the well may erode, possibly creating unsafe conditions or a pathway for surface water and
contaminants to enter the well.
3. Are there any electrical components or wires visible? Visible electrical wires may be
dangerous and should be avoided due to electrical shock. If electrical connections or
controls located outside the well casing remain submerged, turning on the pump may cause
electrical shock or damage to the system. A qualified electrician should be contacted.
4. Is any damage to the well casing visible? A bent or cracked well casing may allow surface
water, sediment and debris to enter the well and will increase the risk of contamination.
5. Is the well cap and seal securely fastened to the well casing? A loose well cap can allow
sediment and debris to enter the well and contaminate it.

Page 2 of 4
REPAIR
Do not turn on your well pump until the well has been assessed and repaired as needed. And
do not drink or wash with well water until the well has been restored by proper disinfection and
flushing. Here are some well restoration and repair tips:
General Cleaning. To avoid damage to the well, mud, silt and other debris should be removed
from the well casing, cap, and other accessible components. Be sure electricity is off before
you clean any electrical components. If excessive mud, silt or sediment has entered the well,
the pump may need to be removed before cleaning can take place.
Well Drainage - Regrade the ground around the well to direct all surface water away from the
well casing. Surface water will contain contaminants that can readily migrate into the well if
surface water is allowed to flow down along the well casing.
Well and Pump Inspection - Floodwater carries large debris that can dislodge parts of the well and distort or crack the well casing. Floodwater may also deposit a large amount of sediment in the well. If any of these conditions are observed you should have professionals repair your
system.
Electrical System - If the pump's control box was submerged during the flood, its electrical
components should be cleaned and dry before electrical service is restored. Do not attempt to
clean electrical components without being 100% sure electricity is shut off. Consider hiring a
qualified electrician to clean and inspect.
Pump Operation - If after cleaning and general repair, your well will not start or pump water,
turn off the electricity and get assistance from a registered well driller or pump contractor.
Pumping the Well. After the well has been inspected and cleaned, the well should be pumped
until the water runs clear to rid the well of floodwater. Use an outside spigot and a hose to
direct the water to a nearby drainageway rather than into your septic system or public sewer
(after flooding, both septics and public sewers may be overwhelmed and do not need more
water). Depending on the size and depth of the well and extent of contamination, pumping
times will vary… it may take thirty minutes, or it could be several hours or days.
DISINFECTION
Any water well that has been flooded should be disinfected before using it for washing,
drinking or cooking. Even if your well is operational, you should disinfect your water until it is
tested and found suitable for drinking. Changes in the water's appearance, taste or odor may
indicate possible contamination.
DISINFECTING WATER FOR HOME USE: If your well was impacted by flooding, you
can disinfect the water to make it safe for drinking and culinary purposes. Here are three
different ways to do this:
Disinfection by Boiling: (NOTE: Disinfection by boiling produces the safest water)
• Bring water to a rolling boil, and keep a full boil for at least one minute.
Page 3 of 4
• Let the water cool before drinking.
• Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring it back and
forth between two containers. This will also improve the taste of stored water.
Using Liquid Chlorine Bleach
• Disinfect water by adding eight drops of liquid chlorine bleach (4-6% available
chlorine) per gallon of water (up to sixteen drops if the water is cloudy)
• Stir, and let stand for 30 minutes.
• If the water does not taste and smell of chlorine at that point, add another dose of
bleach and let stand for another 15 minutes.
Using Iodine or Chlorine Tablets
• Check the expiration date for the tablets before using.
• Follow the package directions.
• Usually one tablet is enough for one quart of water.
• Double the dose if the water is cloudy.
DISINFECTING A WELL: Here is a step by step method to sanitize a contaminated well
before restoring it to full use:
1. Attach a hose to the outdoor faucet that is closest to the well or pressure tank. Run water
through the hose until it is clear.
2. Mix two quarts household beach containing about 5% chlorine in 10 gallons of water in a
large bucket or pail in the area of the well casing.
3. Turn electrical power off to the well pump. Carefully remove the well cap and well seal if
necessary. Set aside.
4. Place hose connected to outdoor faucet inside the well casing. Turn electrical power back
on to the well pump and turn water on to run the pump.
5. Carefully pour the water and bleach mixture from the bucket or pail down the open well
casing. At the same time, continue to run the water from the hose placed inside the well
casing.
6. At each indoor and outdoor faucet, run the water until a chlorine odor is present, then shut
each faucet off.
7. Continue running water through the hose, down inside the well casing to recirculate the
chlorine treated water. Use the hose to also wash down the inside of the well casing.
8. After one hour of recirculating the water, shut all faucets off to stop the pump. Disconnect
power supply to pump. Remove recirculator hose from well.
9. Mix two more quarts of bleach in 10 gallons of water and pour mixture down the well
casing. Disinfect the well cap and seal by rinsing with a chlorine solution. Replace well seal
Page 4 of 4
and cap. Allow the well to stand idle for at least eight hours and preferably 12 to 24 hours.
Avoid using the water during this time.
10. After the well has been idle for the recommended period of time, flush the chlorinated
water out of the well. Turn the pump on and run the water using an outdoor faucet and
garden hose in an area away from grass and shrubbery until the odor of chlorine disappears.
Run all indoor and outdoor faucets until the odor and taste of chlorine disappears.
SAMPLING
After a contaminated well has been properly disinfected and the chlorine has been flushed out
of the water system, the water should be tested to confirm that contamination has been
removed. If chlorine odors persist, you may have to do additional flushing or wait several
days before testing to be sure that all the chlorine has been flushed from the water system.
Until testing shows that the water is free of contamination, you should continue to use bottled
water or disinfect water for drinking and food preparation as described in the section
Disinfecting Water.
You may wish to consider retesting the well water again after several weeks. If flooding and
groundwater contamination is extensive, your well may be susceptible to recontamination for
some time.
You can contact your local Health Department for more information about testing your well.
Contact information for the health office that serves your county can be found on the DOH
website at: http://www.nyhealth.gov/nysdoh/water/doh_pub_contacts_map.htm
ADDITIONAL PROTECTION MEASURES
There are some improvements you can take to protect your well from future damage.
New Well. If frequent flooding of your well occurs, consider drilling a new well where it is not
subject to seasonal flooding. Make sure your well is constructed in such a manner that seasonal
floodwater cannot enter the well. Contact a registered well driller for advice.
Grading. The ground surface immediately surrounding a well casing and, if possible, the
property in general, should be graded to divert surface water away from the well. If erosion
around the well has been a problem, consider armoring the area with vegetation or other
erosion control measures
Extend Casing. Casing can be extended to a height above the expected or experienced level of
the floodwater to protect against wellhead submersion.
Well Cap. Install a watertight and vermin proof well cap.

Update

2006-08-04T07:51:00.000-05:00

Hey folks.

Obviously we're all busy with recovery efforts of our own, but I wanted to take a moment and let you know what all is going on, what to expect and what YOU need to do to speed up YOUR recovery.

Recovery is a slow process. While Federal and State involvement are leagues beyond what it was for Agnes, it still works at a turtle's pace. You MUST access as many local efforts as possible to tide you over until that aid finally arrives.

That means using community meals, community food pantries, second hand stores, payment deferrals, utility assistance and paperwork. You must apply for every possible means of assistance that is out there. You are your best advocate. Not someone in the Red Cross, not someone in FEMA or SEMO/PEMA. You can not let pride get in your way. It *will* be your downfall.

And while taking out yet another loan hurts, they are available at low interest rates right now. See about taking a loan out to consolidate other debt to lower the amount you have to pay out every month. Start doing all business with cash. NO credit cards! An ocean of bankrupcy filings are going to begin in the coming months because people in the Gulf used their CC's thinking aid would arrive soon. It still hasn't. And loans always appear before grants do. It's just the way life is. So take the loans out and wait for the grants that will finally start appearing in 6-12 months.

With my work for Hancock County, MS, I have found many articles and sources of assistance that may be of use. If nothing else, read through the articles to push your local, state and federal officials to fight for. You Are Your Best Advocate. Use your voice! Be heard! It's the only way you will get the help you need.

Read about the assistance offered to the Gulf Coast and then act on it. You won't get anything if you don't push. So use what I have learned for YOUR benefit.

Article Index for Hancock County MS
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/06/article-index.html
Resources Available for Home Owners in MS
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/07/resources-i-home-repair.html
Resources Available for Families in MS
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/07/resources-ii-family.html
Resources Available for Businesses in MS
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/07/resources-iv-business.html
Resources Available for Non-Profits in MS
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/07/resources-iii-non-profit-info.html

And now - update what has been done since last time I wrote:
There have been many meetings which I haven't posted. Meetings rarely amount to much, so I don't waste your time with them. Lip service is being paid to the situation, and now we must ban together to constantly push all of our elected officials to make good on that lip service.

Index
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/07/resources-iv-business.html
Statistics
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/statistics.html

An open letter to our town leaders:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/for-all-town-leaders.html
And to local Youth Program Leaders
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/attention-youth-leaders.html

And have found different organizations assisting our area. These continue to come in, and I will update as I find them. Remember, roads must be passable for these organizations to get here, so it takes time to get beyond the initial acute crisis and into the chronic crisis management. That's where we are now and that's where those outside organizations make their presence known.

Samaritan's Purse
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/samaritans-purse-helping.html
The Giving Circle
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/giving-circle-coming-to-sidney.html
Nechama
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/volunteering.html
The Mononites are south of us in Bucks County PA

And a woman in MS sends her thoughts and prayers to our area:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/thoughts-from-ms.html

So - much is happening. It just doesn't always show. As always, please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding the information I have posted. For this to be relevant, it needs to be accurate and timely!

Leslie

Public Employee Relief

2006-07-31T20:16:00.000-05:00

7/30 - in Press and Sun Bulletin

CSEA, a labor union representing thousands of public employees in NYS has established a fund for union members in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Tioga counties who need flood relief assistance.

They should register for help at the website: www.cseacares.com

From their website:
This page is for CSEA members who have suffered losses due to the June 2006 Southern Tier flooding.
CSEA is trying to determine the needs of our members, in order to help provide assistance where and how it is needed the most. We are holding fund-raising events throughout our Region to enable us to purchase household or school supplies, food, or gift card donations, whatever is needed most by our members. Our Flood Relief Committee will determine how aid will be distributed to those in need.
In order to qualify for assistance from union donations, we will need you to fill out the form below. Please be as specific as possible to allow us to best assess your needs. After receiving a confirmation letter that your request for assistance has been received, you may be contacted by a member of our Flood Relief Committee to follow up on your request. Please note: In order to serve the greatest number of members as possible, only one application per union household will be accepted.

Attention Youth Leaders

2006-07-29T18:56:00.000-05:00

1 - People throughout the flooded region are in desperate need of assistance in cleaning up, tearing out, and removing of destroyed items

PLUS

1 - Hundreds of teenagers 15 and older are bored to tears in these few weeks before school starts.

EQUALS

2 needs met with one action!

Youth Ministers
Coaches
Civic Teachers
Scout Leaders
Parents

You need to push the children into action. Once they start, they will be changed forever by helping people in their own community rebuild their lives. Just look at the July 29 article in the Press and Sun Bulletin reagrding the BOCES students helping out:
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060729/NEWS01/607290323/1006
Or the Twin Orchards Baptist Church which went out the day after the rains stopped to assist. Or the Vestal Lacrosse Teams assisting their coach in cleaning up his house.

There are still so many people in need. This work takes a YEAR to complete - generally longer. A man in West Corners has NO help in cleaning up his home because no communication occurred in his very own church. Everyone thought he was being helped, so they all went to help others. Meanwhile, he's trying to clean up his home AND business.
A woman in Conklin lost her home - it's condemned, and yet she still worked to get the postal food drive going for local food pantries. And yet, no one has asked her if she needs any assistance.

You are needed. And you are needed now.

Make up teams of no more than 8 kids per adult. Set up schedules to work 2-3 days per week at any given site, here in Broome, or in Chenango, Delaware, Susquehanna or Tioga Counties. Chenango and Delaware are particularly hard up because the flash flooding continues to occur with all the thunder storms, and they don't have enough of a population that wasn't affected by the flooding to recover quickly.

Make a vacation bible school for the teens in the form of acting on Christ's word.

Make 2 practices a week into work parties and have them emulate the NFL by doing charitable work OUTSIDE of sports.

Take what you teach in your Scout Troops and put it into action.

Show what civic's class is really all about.

And finally, show your children what being an American and being a neighbor is all about.

The Giving Circle Coming to Sidney

2006-07-29T09:23:00.000-05:00

Work Trip to Sidney NY – (125 mi SW of Saratoga Springs, NY)

8/10 - Link to Pictures of Trip to Sidney
http://www.thegivingcircle.org/sidney.htm
We saw some familiar sites – FEMA trailers, Muddy debris, gutted homes. People who have lost everything.

First stop- We had the pleasure of meeting Leslie from Katrina Networking, who is working hard to connect people who are helping in Hancock County. Thanks for making the drive to meet us Leslie :) Here we dropped off donations (had Mark’s pickup truck, my van & an SUV packed with stuff), then on to our first “assignment” which was to remove mud from a basement. The home we went to was resting precariously on cinderblocks, and being held up by 2’ x 8’s . The foundation, along with the paved driveway, had washed out from under it. It did not look structurally safe to enter, let alone be underneath, so we made the decision to leave it to professionals & moved on to #2. At the second home we cleared yard debris for a lovely woman named Marilyn. She lost all but a few belongings and her home suffered severe damage. She has just received her FEMA trailer which is parked next to her home. The third home was another mud removal job. The house had no electricity and the basement was almost completely dark except for a bit of light coming through the small windows, and was filled with thick stinky mud. We cleared mud out from the outside of the basement windows and Mark & Ron M scooped up buckets of mud that they ferried to us through the windows.

Our last stop was for ice cream. Which I wouldn’t necessarily mention, except that while we were there a man saw our (now very muddy) Giving Circle T-shirts and asked if we were from Waveland. He was visiting NY from Hancock County. We told him about The Giving Circle and he thanked us & said he is getting close to being able to move back in to his home thanks to all the VOLUNTEERS who have helped him rebuild. Small World.....

So go check out the pictures! It was a sticky, muddy but worthwhile day.

Sharon
Sunday August 6

We will be helping to clean out homes - Mud and debris removal, general clean-up.
Please bring work gloves, boots. Buckets and shovels are also helpful. Pack a lunch & bottled water. A day-trip is planned, but accommodations (cots) are available at the City Hall for those who wish to stay longer.

MEET IN SIDNEY AT 11 am
We will meet at the old K-Mart,171 Delaware Ave., Sidney, which is now being used as a distribution center for donations.

DIRECTIONS - MAP

From I – 88 West - Take Exit 9 to Route 7, Turn LEFT on Route 7, go 3 miles, at first light turn LEFT onto Route 8, go two lights then turn RIGHT onto Delaware Ave. The KMART is behind McDonalds at 171 Delaware Ave.

From I – 88 East - Take Exit 9- toward SIDNEY / UTICA (RT-8 N), Turn LEFT onto NY-8 N, Turn LEFT onto Delaware Ave, End at Kmart 171 Delaware Ave

Please contact us at info@thegvingcircle.org if you will be joining us, or with questions!

Many towns in New York's Southern Tier region have suffered tremendous damage from recent floods. Although The Giving Circle’s focus is currently Katrina ravaged Waveland, MS, when disaster hit so close to home we felt the need to respond.

I met these folks through my work for Hancock County, MS, and when the flooding hit us, they contacted me almost instantly, asking what they could do. As we all know, it takes a few weeks to really know what is needed and where, AND to get the roads in good enough shape to have outside groups come in and assist.

Since Broome County has more resources than Delaware County, AND the fact The Giving Circle would have to drive through Delaware County, I asked them to assist there. They found some contact information, and are going to Sidney for the day on August 6. Once they are established and see exactly what is needed, I would bet they will be back - it's a short commute and man power is one of the most needed items right now.

They are a great group! And I hope to get to Sidney to meet them!

L

For more complete information on flood relief in the 5 county area: http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/index.html

8/7 - I did get to meet them and WOW what a great group of folks! Very much a family affair, along with many friends, they came to Sidney with every vehicle full of both people and items to be donated. WOW Their generosity and heart go beyond anything I can imagine.

We were lucky in that the detour for the washed-out bridge was the exit we had to take. They weren't so lucky and got a wee bit lost in the shuffle of the detour. But, they made it, the sent to the distribution center and then got to work. If I had been able, I'd have been right along side them. As it is, even today, I'm still feeling the affects. But - someday! I'll get there someday.

Samaritan's Purse Helping

2006-07-28T19:13:00.000-05:00

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

One month later our community is getting an international response with emergency assistance now coming from Canada.

Volunteers of the international relief group, Samaritan's Purse, are in our area. NewsChannel 34's Michelle Marsh talked with volunteers about how they plan on making a difference.
For more than 35 years Samaritan's Purse has traveled the world helping people in need. Friday, the international relief organization is preparing to help flood victims in our area. This group traveled from Canada. Claus Burchert is the base leader.

Claus Burchert says, "We'll send people out to assess the damage, to see what's going to be required, what kind of tools, what size team, we'll organize all of that."

Burchert says he watched the sheer devastation the flood left behind on television for days. He says when his team of volunteers heard the call for help they responded.

Burchert says, "People become overwhelmed because they are trying to keep their jobs, they're trying to keep their life going. We have tools hopefully we will have enough volunteers so that we can go out one house at a time."

This truck will be their home base, inside are tools and an office. So far four volunteers are in town but they expect more to join them soon. They'll begin working this weekend.

Burchert says, “Our function here for our teams working here will be more cleanup, getting the mud out putting up dry walls. I believe it will be quite similar to what we did down in the gulf coast with Katrina, stripping everything down to the studs.”

Davis College is also helping in the relief effort, providing dorm rooms and food for Samaritan's Purse volunteers.

Strawn says, "I thought to myself we have all the logistics already, where they can just pull on and get ready to go. We'll have a few challenges when the students come back but we'll work on that because obviously inconvenience is redefined when you see what some people have gone through."

Volunteers from Samaritan's Purse and officials from Davis College say they are confident their efforts will make a difference as families rebuild and start over.

Samaritan's Purse will be setting up a hotline and website for flood victims. Newschannel 34 will have that information for you on Monday when it becomes available.

For Full Info On The Blog: http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/index.html

For All Town Leaders

2006-07-24T07:38:00.000-05:00

Suggestions For Handling The Current Crisis

Having watched and continuing to assist several municipalities in Hancock County, MS, hurricane Katrina, I have been able to assess both successes and missteps by their leadership during their recovery process. I would like to apply what I've seen to our situation in hopes of avoiding the same mistakes as well as enhancing the recovery to reduce its time table. For this reason, I want to suggest the successes and hopefully help you avoid the missteps.

The following are working on the supposition that any relief money will not be available for at least 10 months. While close to $3 billion has been earmarked for MS, the first $10 million has only been released this WEEK, a full 11 months following the disaster. Victims and municipalities in MD have yet to see their money from hurricanes in '04.

#1 - Implement a hiring and promotion freeze for 12-24 months. Any positions that are not filled now do not get filled until after the crisis is over. Any position that becomes vacant during the next 12-24 months remains open for the duration of this time period. Also freeze wages. By doing so, it will very likely SAVE the jobs that are filled right now and will allow you to use your money for the recovery effort.

#2 - Repair your infrastructure first. Do not put money into repairing town buildings or parks until after the roads, water and sewer are running near capacity. You can work out of the library or your home if need be. But if the infrastructure doesn't exist, people will leave. Towns in the Gulf Region are seeing this now. Without potable water, without sewer capabilities, tax paying citizens can't begin to recover and keep the government operational.

#3 - Join other municipalities for basic supply purchases. Do not sign contracts for these services and shop quarterly for the least expensive. You can save thousands by banding together and shopping for frequent contracts. There are additional man hours searching for the deal, but these are offset by the savings several times over. This includes fuel.

#4 - Reduce as many of your bills as possible. Reduce the use of all vehicles as much as possible. Place a moratorium on all fire vehicles to be used only during an emergency for a period of no more than 6 months. Do similarly for all vehicles - combine all trips in order to reduce the fuel consumption of the town for 6 months and reevaluate at that time. Reduce utilities by using motion sensor light switches, compact fluorescent light bulbs in all incandescent lights, programmable thermostats in all buildings to reduce usage during off hours. Ban all portable heaters (but do allow radiant foot mats). Reduce use of street lights by 30%-50%. Most streets are overlighted anyway, and by reducing the use of street lights, you will reduce several bills at one time.

#5 - Money will not be coming from disaster relief assistance any time soon. Help your citizens by forgiving their water bill for 1 billing period. Any small businesses that have been directly affected by the flooding will also need assistance. When tax bills are due, give them the option to pay their taxes over a 6 months period. While it is a book keeping nightmare, it is better to get the payments late rather than not at all. This will help their cash flow issues and give them a far better chance of surviving this disaster than needing to be foreclosed. Consider forgiving a portion of the taxes outright.

#6 - Strongly urge all businesses and companies in your town/village/city to see their wares at cost to those directly affected by the flooding. Establish a list of locales that were affected, disseminate to the businesses and then require customers to show proof of residence in order to get the discounted materials. Labor needs to stay the same price in order for businesses to remain open. As businesses agree to do this, be sure to publish this information so their goodwill be known throughout the area. This includes your website.

#7 - Create a lengthy needs list for your municipalities. This includes all office supplies, printed materials, businesses you have accounts with, and fuel/parts cards and volunteers to do parks work. Post this list on your website, including your contact information. Make sure your webmaster has submitted your site to search engines as well as changing the key words (meta tags) to include the flood of '06. While money is the more desirable donation, people will send items far more quickly than money or gift cards. And it is better to waste a bit on postage than get nothing at all.

#8 - Pursue a National Sister City partnership. It can be completely unknown to you, of similar demographics, or similar name. The key is, to have support from other areas of the nation. And since the chances of them needing assistance in the next decade is very great, you will be able to return the favor. The same can be done at the county level as well.

#9 - Create a "Walk of Gratitude". Whether you use the now fashionable bricks, or placards placed within a park, or a single monument to those who have assisted the citizens of your town above and beyond the call, it is important to recognize as many of those who have helped as possible. It allows the citizens to see the efforts of those who have helped, as well as giving public recognition of local or not so local volunteers.

#10 - Post frequent updates on your website and in the local papers. It will help the citizens to know what is being done as well as what still needs doing. If you wish to do this on the website, you may choose a blog. Most blog hosts will allow you to connect it to your website so it appears as just another page of your site, rather than ".blogspot.com" or something similar. This allows as frequent an update as you wish without knowing how to do web programming.

#11 - Create a Grant Writer. There is money out there to be had for disaster assistance that will pay sooner than FEMA. You will need to search for these grants often in order to maintain your current level of services to your citizens. There is no other way around it.

#12 - Remain in constant communication with each other. Hancock County, MS, is due to go bankrupt by October of '06 for no funds. They are relying on less damaged counties and richer counties to assist in infrastructure rebuilding as well as basic services such as pot hole filling and sign raising. Lands have been annexed by the larger towns in Hancock County due to the dissolution of smaller towns from lack of funds. Most of the towns will not combine any services in order to survive, even on a temporary basis. Do not make this mistake. Combine as much as possible on a limited basis, to be reviewed at the end of each period in order to get the entire region rebuilt as quickly as possible.

These are in no true order. Just remember to:
Save as much money as possible in all areas possible for at least 1 calendar year.
Repair/restore your infrastructure as quickly as possible.
Give as many financial breaks to your affected citizens and small businesses as possible.
Look for any and all grants possible to assist in maintaining your governmental services as possible.
Help each other.

If you would like to review articles on Hancock County and MS, please vist two of my other blogs -
www.KatrinaNetworking.blogspot.com
www.HancockCountyRelief.blogspot.com

Thoughts From MS

2006-07-22T11:31:00.000-05:00

This is a lady who works with The Giving Circle in Saratoga Springs as part of a sister city program with Waveland MS. Waveland had about 8000 residents - 20 homes remained standing. Not in habitable, standing.

I am actually going back to NY in the morning for another fundraiser. I am doing ok. Really ready to start building and get back into a home.....tired of this small cramped FEMA camper.

I heard about what has happened in your neck of the woods and wish I could help in some way. I have no money and nothing to donate since I lost everything myself in Katrina but will have you in my prayers. I am also here if you just need to talk or anyone else for that matter.

Have to go pack now. Have yet to do that yet LOL and leaving early LOL. I will be back in touch when I return home.
Stacey

Protecting Your Credit Rating

2006-07-21T06:55:00.000-05:00

A natural disaster can create chaos in all parts of your life. Generally speaking, your credit rating and your financial health are the last on the list to take care of. By taking these few simple but effective steps, you'll save yourself months, if not years, of headaches.

Get a Credit Report
www.annualcreditreport.com/
This site allows you to apply to all 3 credit agencies in one application. Since the FTC requires the agencies to allow all people 1 free one per year, take advantage of it. Have this report as a baseline of where you stood prior to the disaster.

Report Your Situation
If you have any bills, write (calling isn't "official") to all of your creditors - including the utility companies - and report your situation. By doing so, it allows you a bit of leniency, should you be late with a payment because you lost track of time, or because you're short on cash. Reporting it before you are tardy makes life much easier than reporting after.

Many of these companies have a grace period they can put in place for you. If you need it, you use it. If you dont need it, you pay on time as always. But having that buffer will give you significant peace of mind.

Also report your disaster status to the credit agencies. By having this as a note on the reports, it allows a certain amount of padding, should you have late marks during the disaster period. It won't work against you on your credit score - it will work for you.

Equifax
www.equifax.com/
Equifax Information Services, LLC Disclosure Department P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374

Experian
www.experian.com/
Order by phone: 888 397 3742

Trans Union
TransUnion Post Office Box 2000 Chester, PA 19022
www.transunion.com/

Please include your name, address, social security number and the specific nature of your concern.

Statistics

2006-07-14T21:36:00.000-05:00

Hospitals (7/28)
Lourdes - $21-23 million

Farm Land Damage and Destruction
7/24 20 counties - estimated 290,000 acres. $40 million.
This does not count damaged crops from excessive rainfall (vs flooding)

(From the Evening Sun - 7/18 http://www.evesun.com/)Chenango County officials estimate that $8 million in crops spread over 132 farms in Chenango County were washed out in the torrential downpour on June 26 and 27. That, coupled with the 50 percent drop in milk prices since 2004, could force some to sell off cattle.

This does not include home plots destroyed by the flooding.
Please go to www.HayExchange.com for possible assistance

NYS - Initial Damage Asssessment - $100 million

Chenango County Initial Damage Assessment - $7 Million
Delaware County -
Crop Damage - 35% of all crops
50% of farms affected
20% of fields lost
80,000 # milk dumped for lack of passable roads
57,000 linear feet of roads damaged

Broome County Initial Damage Assessment - $175 Million (7/30 Pressconnects is now reporting $50mill) 7/30 Total Damaged - Roughly 5% of residents affected
7/18 Kirkwood Initial Assessment - $3 Million 7/30 50-60 families need FEMA trailers
7/30 - Enjoie Golf Course - $500,000.
7/30 - Conklin - Town - $10-15 million, Residents - $40-50 million

7/25 - Delaware County - Walton alone - $10-15 million infrastructure 72/85 roads damaged 7/30 - 50-100 families need FEMA trailers; Walton had 800 homes pumped out.

7/25 Susquehanna County, PA - $21 million - 1100 properties, 27/40 municiaplities disaster areas. 7/30 - 120 sites approved for FEMA Trailers

7/24 Tioga County Initial Damage Assessment - $18 Million ($3 million in infrastructure)

Fire Departments (7/28)
Broome County - $500,00-750,000
Kirkwood - $268,000

Sewage Treatment Plants
Binghamton/JC Joint Sewage Treatment Plant - $20 Million in mechanics alone. The rest is still too complex to estimate yet.
7/16) Comment - with the latest set back of a fire in one of the composting silos, the price will likely go higher. And only 10% will be covered by insurance. WHY?
Tioga County - one of their waste water plants - $500,000
Chenango County - one of - +/- $2 million
Deposit's - weeks to stop sewage flow into Delaware River. 2 years to complete repairs.

Schools (added 7/25)
UE - $1 million
Binghamton - $500,000
Windsor - +$1 million

Libraries (Added 7/26)
Deposit - $50,000
Sidney - $50,000
Walton - $250,000

Disaster Assistance Applications
FEMA Applications as of 7/13
Broome 2269
Chenango 510
Delaware 1284
Otsego 607
Tioga 417
(7/18) Susquehanna 911
All of PA - 8000

Not nearly enough people are utilizing this resource! Please apply! It makes other monies available to you IF you need it.

How To Use A Blog and Update

2006-07-07T09:13:00.000-05:00

Hello to all!

I am sure many of you have never used a blog or really know how one works. While it's super easy to set up and write on, it isn't always the easiest to navigate, as the reader.

The next page/post down is an index of all the posts written thus far. This way you only have to look to one page, rather than scroll endlessly through the blog to find the information you need.
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/index.html

Also, on the right side of the screen is a list of links you can click on. These include as many municipality and county webpages as I could find, community papers (which give more indepth coverage than the larger papers), and links to the posts I have created for each county and community thus far. This way, if the index gets buried and I haven't updated it yet, you can go directly to a specific community's post.

I have cross-indexed the information as much as possible. I will continue to do so as the information becomes available. If any of it is incorrect, PLEASE contact me as soon as possible. You can do this by posting a comment at the end of the post that has the incorrect info, or by emailing me at LesFireHorse@aol.com. The choice is yours.

Also, if you know of anything I can add to the information listed, contact me in the same manner as above. Networking works!

I have contacted several organizations outside the area, or they have contacted me to find out how to assist. Unfortunately, I don't have much information to give them, so please contact me with any needs as quickly as possible. The sooner we get assistance in, the sooner we recover from this flood.
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/for-all-agencies-organizations.html

I will update and create new indeces as the need arises. I try to make this medium as easy to use as possible since the situation we are in is stressful enough!

Thank you for helping me with this effort. Without several sources of information, I couldn't collect this information for everyone to see. I have used all of the papers I have links for on the right side of the page, as well as community websites, which are also linked on the side. When we all work together, the efforts are astounding!

Anything anyone finds on my page is not copyright protected by ME. I use none of it for profit and expect you will do the same. If you wish to use any of the information on your own site, just give credit where credit is due. That's all I ask. I try to do the same, whether by making the title of the post a hyperlink to the resource I used for that information, or within the blog post itself.

As always, contact me with any requests, information, progress, concerns, etc. that will prove usefull to the community.

Thank you!
L

Resources for Agencies, Citizens

2006-07-07T08:37:00.000-05:00

All Agencies
FEMA Assistance
May be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance grants if they had losses or responded to the flood. This includes operation expenses for vehicles as well as use of a building for a POD (point of distribution). File a request for public assistance with FEMA. FEMA is not going to come around and ask. All expenses need to be documented. Keep track of hours of use daily. It’s minor record keeping that will yield good dividends.
Citizen Action Team
http://www.citizenactionteam.org/citizen/
They have a data base of needs that gets approximately 600 visits a day by people wanting to help those affected by disaster. Add your list to my site and get another 200 hits a day and with any luck, your needs will be filled very quickly! Terra of Citizen Action Team has stated there is a sudden surge in materials and goods available for donation. PLEASE utilize her team's efforts!
7/21 I am adding the needs lists as I receive them in hopes of making life a little easier for you folks.
Home Depot
http://corporate.homedepot.com/wps/portal/Grants
Do you have a pool of untrained volunteers? Home Depot gives grants to train the volunteers AND you can request trained personnel to assist! Very good program!
Volunteer Tool Kit
http://www.ldr.org/coordinators/
The link to DL the tool kit is about half way down the page.
I have DL'd from KatrinaAidToday.org (no longer on their site) that is wonderful for obtaining, training and retaining volunteers for long term projects. Please contact me and I'll send it to you. It was designed by the Lutherans and is an outstanding booklet.
New Hope Construction
http://www.newhopeconstruction.org/.
There is a not for profit "building in a box" maker who is more than willing to work with any not for profit and many individuals to help you get a building back up as quickly as possible. Wonderful people!
8/18 More Funding Available
Comprehensive Flood Relief Package - $12 million for grants of up to $20,000 for clean-up, repair and replacement of lost inventory. Small businesses qualifying for the DOL's $5000 State Individual and Family Grant Program are eligible for this new additional aid no covered by other grants or insurance.
SCORE
7/21 Business Counseling - help you get assistance applications in before 9/1 deadline.
Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce - 607-772-8860
Tioga County Chamber of Commerce - 607-687-2020
7/28 Chamber Of Commerce
The Chamber has reached out to as many of our business members as possible via e-mail and by telephone to find out who was affected by the disaster and what kinds of assistance or supplies they need. We are also compiling a list of companies that can offer assistance or supplies. Lastly, we are endeavoring to call Chamber member businesses in the hardest hit areas of Broome County that have not had the chance to contact us with their status and/or needs. A full status report will be posted on the "Business Disaster Relief Info" page of our website. A list of disaster relief assistance available to businesses will be posted on the "Business Disaster Relief Info" page of our website.

Volunteer Fire Departments
The NVFC Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund provides a stipend of up to $250 in individual assistance to volunteer firefighters who are affected by a disaster. Volunteer firefighters in need should contact their state fire association. A full list of NVFC state fire associations can be found at www.nvfc.org/links.html#State_Members, or contact NVFC at nvfcoffice@nvfc.org or 888-ASK-NVFC (275-6832).

Farmers
Found in the Press and Sun Bulletin - www.HayExchange.com It covers the entire US and some of Canada - shows the price, if it will be delivered and what the hay is composed of before you even have to contact the folks. MANY resources for NY and PA to access at this time.

Schools
Donors Choose
http://www.donorschoose.org/locale13/index.php
List your needs on this site. It is a national index that does not charge for posting your needs. It is purely school oriented.
Clorox Classroom Cleaning Kits
http://www.cloroxclassrooms.com/register.html
To me, it looks like a great marketing campaign rather than a good will gesture. BUT, they do donate some items and then have coupons for other items. If you are a teacher or school administrator, please review the information and see if it will help you clean up after the flood.

To All
8/18
$5 million in low interest mortgages is available to current homeowners in the affected counties to purchase new homes. SONYMA will offer closing cost assistance along with many requirements. If you have a SONYMA mortgage about how their mortgage oblications will be affected by this natural disaster need to contact them at www.nyhomes.org for more information.
8/9 Sanitizing Your Well
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/08/cleaning-your-well.html
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/water/flooding/docs/private_wells.pdf
8/7 - Legal Help
Broome County
Broome County Bar Assoication - 607-723-6331
Tioga, Delaware, Chenango County - NYS Bar Association - 800-342-3661
8/7 - Housing
United Way - 800-231-4377
First Ward Action Council
607-772-2850 fwac-admin@stny.rr.com
Broome County Apartments
www.broomeapartments.com
8/3 Housing Grants Through First Ward Action Council
http://pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/NEWS01/608030346/1006
Protecting Your Credit - added 7/21
Information on how to make your finances less stressful during this crisis
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/protecting-your-credit-rating.html
Throw Place
http://www.throwplace.com/
Throw Place is where people can post their gently used items to be donated to organizations and individuals for little or no cost. You may just find something of significant use there!
The Habitat For Humanity Restore - this is a place you can donate and BUY building materials for far less than normal cost. Plus, it helps support Habitat's efforts and is tax deductible. Check them out locally:
42 Chenango Street
Binghamton, NY 13902
Ph (607) 772-0809
Fax (607) 772-1741
BCHabitat@stny.rr.com
Web: http://www.habitat.org/script/link.aspx?url=www.broomehabitat.org
Rebuilding Together
http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/
This national organization assists people in rebuilding after disaster as well as low income, disabled and others remodel or refurbish their homes when they have few other choices. Very good organization!
Relief Now Network
www.reliefnownetwork.org
A newer non-profit that acts as a clearing house of information to assist areas in getting other organizations to help in their recovery efforts. I'm not certain of how effective they are, but it can't hurt to check them out.
Telephone Assistance
http://www.calling-plans.com/fcc/lifeline.html
http://www.dps.state.ny.us/telopt.html
The first link explains the assistance program while the second link is specifically for NYS.
I'm hoping FEMA will come through for folks around here like they did with Katrina victims - they worked with the FCC in giving $130 credit for cell phone bills during the first months of the disaster. We'll see.
LIHEAP (utility assistance)
www.otda.state.ny.us/otda/heap/default.htm
Ms. Phyllis MorrisLIHEAP CoordinatorDivision of Employment and Transitional Supports
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Albany, New York 12243-0001
E-MAIL: NYSHEAP@dfa.state.ny.usPUBLIC
INQUIRIES: 1-800-342-3009
Insulation of Home Assistance
800-DIAL-DOE;
http://www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/
Income Eligibility Requirements: up to $28,418 for a family of 4
Local Furniture
First Call For Help
In Broome County: (607) 729-9100 (I will add the other counties when I know it is established there as well)
e-mail: help@uwbroome.org
Salvation Army - 607-722-2987
There is a 'virtual' warehouse of people donating furniture and other items that the donors will hold on to until you are able to take it in.
Prescription Assistance
https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php
There have been ads for this on TV. If you need help, call them. A vetted organization with YOU in mind.
Senior Assistance with Medical Bills
800-MEDICARE
www.medicare.gov
Request information about Medicare Savings Programs by getting the publication, “Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare.”
Income Eligibility Requirements: up to $12,576/yr for a single and $16,872/yr for a couple
WIC- Women, Infants and Children - food assistance
www.fns.usda.gov/fns/
Income Eligibility Requirements: $35,798/Yr for a family of 4

Digital Photo Masters Needed

2006-07-07T08:26:00.000-05:00

Needed:

A photographer in each county to head a photo recovery/restoration project for flood victims.
This will include scanning the damaged photos and distributing them to a network (hopefully) of volunteers willing to assist in the restoration.

You will need to be organized and trustworthy with someone's most valued possessions. People will leave all else behind, but not the photo albums if at all possible!

Prefer a professional with license and insurance.

Counties:
Broome
Chenango
Delaware
Susquehanna
Tioga

If someone from other affected counties wishes to participate, please contact me - I'll help you get started.

Needed:
Volunteers who are great with retouching photos digitally in order to restore them to their original glory (no 'making it better than before' - it will hold no value then for the owner).

This will include the need for GOOD software as well as a photo quality printer, photo paper and the willingness to work with a coordinator and work in a timely manner.

This work may take months.

I have contacted an organization dealing exclusively with restoring photos damaged in hurricane Katrina for both volunteers and assistance. Please go to their website for more information on their organization and its operations if you are interested in this aspect of the flood recovery.
www.OperationPhotoRescue.com

If you are interested, please contact me at LesFireHorse@aol.com with your name, your address, phone number, your software, any credentials you might have regarding photography and how much you are willing to participate. I will start a database with the information for anyone who wishes to coordinate the efforts.

Thank you for carefully considering this project.

Leslie

Susquehanna County Information

2006-07-06T19:03:00.000-05:00

Questions, Concerns, Information:
Bridge Re-opened
The bridge on Rt 29 at Franklin Forks, a victim of the June 28 flooding, has been replaced with a temporary structure, which opened to traffic on July 28.
FEMA Approval
Announced 7.17 Congressman Don Sherwood had great news for Susquehanna County Tuesday. He relayed word that President Bush had signed the order declaring Susquehanna County eligible for the Public Assistance portion of FEMA relief.
7/30 - 120 sites have been approved for FEMA trailers so far. Ms. Roberta Kelly is working to get grants, not just loans.
Boil Water
New Milford (according to 7/12 Press) Oakland, Great Bend, Hallstead and parts of Great Bend Township
Sewer
Sewers in the tri-borough area of Susquehanna, Oakland and Lanesboro are now taking sewage
PennDot
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has dispatched 12 mobile emergency teams to help flood recovery processes in northeat Pa.

The mobile emergency teams will supplement maintainance crews that have been working in Luzerne, Wayne, Wyoming and Susquehanna counties.

They will provide dump trucks, specialized heavy equipment, front-enders, backhoes, road graders and vacuum trucks. The mobile emergency teams have already begun to arrive, according to PennDOT secretary Allen Biehler, and will work at various locations across the four counties.

8/7 Road Closures - according to PennDOT
Route 1025
Route 2002 - Greenwood St
Route 2026 - Route 2011 end open for emergency traffic only
Route 2029 between 2027 and 2023
Route 3006 Springville to 3011
Route 3010 Bridge - between 3021 and Hunsinger
Route 3025 Bridge - In Rush off 3023

7/24 They are asking that people NOT remove warning cones or other blockades until road repairs have been made.

Water Testing
8/15
You may return your state well-water test kit for analysis in Montrose on August 22 and 24 from 9-2. No more kits will be distributed. You will be notified of results in about 1 week.
For information, go online to http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/ and use keyword: flood recovery.
8/9 Sanitizing Your Well
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/08/cleaning-your-well.html

Disaster Assistance Center
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
1-888-313-7284
Self Employed Individuals DUA
1-877-345-3382
All flood damage should be reported to FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at www.fema.gov
DEP: (570) 826-2511
Red Cross: 278-1427
PA Dept of Health: 1-877-PA HEALTH (724-3258)
PA Dept. of Agriculture: (570) 836-2181 (Tunkhannock office)
PennDOT (570) 278-1171 (Montrose office).

8/3
The Disaster Recovery Center continues to operate in the Blue Ridge School District cafeteria.
Hours :
Wed. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Thurs 10a.m. - 7 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 4: 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 5:10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
8/4 - According to Press, is now closed

Applicants may go to the DRC for information about FEMA or other disaster assistance programs, or for questions related to your case
If you need transportation, please call 1-800-323-2051

8/3 Disinfecting and Testing Your Well
http://www.independentweekender.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16993417&BRD=2279&amp;amp;PAG=461&dept_id=467076&rfi=6
For more information contact DEP Northeast Regional Office at 570-826-2511. DEP representatives are also available at the DRC.

Cleanup Kits
Montrose Area High School
Great Bend Fire Hall
Hallstead Fire Hall
Lanesboro Borough Building
Susquehanna Fire Hall.

American Red Cross ERV (Emergency Rescue Vehicle)
Hallstead Fire Station
serving meals, ice, bottled water
cleanup and comfort kits
port-a-johns available

FEMA
Blue Ridge School Cafeteria 7/18 8/4 According to Press - is now closed
Residents and business owners should call 800-621-3362 or log onto www.fema.gov to apply. A disaster recovery center (location to be announced) will open soon in the county to offer further assistance.

Community Meals
Food will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at
Great Bend Fire Hall
Hallstead Fire Hall
Lanesboro Borough Building
Susquehanna Fire Hall

For the full list:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-meals-available.html
If you hear of any others being offered in the area, please contact me by leaving a comment below this post or by email. Thank you!

Community Food Pantries
I have not found any for this county or its towns yet. If you know of any, please contact me, or leave a comment at the bottom of this post. Thank You!
For the full list:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/independent-food-pantries.html

Assistance From Outside
Menonite Disaster Services
http://www.mds.mennonite.net/
Flooding in Eastern Pennsylvania
MDS is monitoring the the damage resulting from the heavy rainfall in Eastern Pennsylvania recently. Our Lancaster Unit is taking calls from volunteers and home owners. If you are in need of assistance, please contact the MDS Office.

Useful Information For Citizens
8/7 - Housing information
While not in Susquehanna County, for those on the NYPENN border, visit www.BroomeApartments or call First Ward Action Council 607-772-2850
8/3 Disaster Unemployment Deadlines
PEMA and FEMA officials remind Pennsylvanians of deadlines for filing Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) claims. Persons living or working in disaster-designated counties who are unable to work because of damages suffered from the June flooding may be eligible for disaster unemployment benefits. If benefits are awarded, it can mean up to 26 weeks of assistance."People who have been unable to work because of the flooding should call the commonwealth's unemployment compensation number at 1-888-313-7284 as soon as possible," said Commonwealth Coordinating Officer James R. Joseph.

"The unemployment assistance deadline is approaching fast. We don't want anyone to miss the opportunity for assistance."If you worked in Monroe, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne or Wyoming counties, you must apply for DUA no later than Friday, August 4, 2006.

Again, to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, you may call 1-888-313-7284, 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. The speech and hearing-impaired can call the TTY number at 1-888-334-4046. Self-employed individuals who cannot operate their businesses may apply for DUA benefits by calling toll-free, 1-877-345-3382 (FILE-DUA). Have your Social Security number and earnings from your most recent tax year ready.
8/3 - Stream Stabilization Information
For more information on Stream Stabilization or dredging, contact the following:
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: www.dep.state.pa.us
7/27 Tax Notice Delay
Blue Ridge School District has postponed collection of taxes by 2 months.
Avoiding Heat Related Illness - - please read!
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/04/avoiding-heat-related-illness.html
Resources for ALL
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/resources-for-agencies-citizens.html
Recovering Vital Documents
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery/Vital_Docs.shtml Cleaning
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/articles-regarding-cleaning.html
Coping With The Stress
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/coping-with-stress.html
Choosing a Contractor
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS01/60706017
7/18 See also www.sthbra.com on how to choose a contractor
7/21 Protecting Your Credit
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/protecting-your-credit-rating.html

Grant Information
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-and-agency-grant.html
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/fema-aid.html

Farmers
Found in the Press and Sun Bulletin - www.HayExchange.com It covers the entire US and some of Canada - shows the price, if it will be delivered and what the hay is composed of before you even have to contact the folks. MANY resources for NY and PA to access at this time.

Small Business Information
IRS Payment Delay
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/BUSINESS/60711001

Volunteering
American Red Cross Susquehanna County Chapter
570-278-1427

Hope Unites
You can register online at: www.hopeunites.org/FloodRelief.html

Donating
For Animals:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/animal-disaster-relief.html
For Humans:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-to-donate.html

Clothing, personal-hygiene items and bedding can drop them off at Metro Interfaith on Public Avenue in Montrose during business hours.

7/18 Housing Also Needed for those displaced - approximately 174 families.

If you know of any local drives for materials, foods or volunteers, please contact me or leave a comment at the bottom of this post. Thank you!

Chenango County Information

2006-07-06T18:40:00.000-05:00

Questions, Concerns, Information:
If anyone knows of an information number for any Towns or the County, please contact me.
7/30 - 2 Roads Still Closed, but Contracted for Repair in Bainbridge.
State of Emergency - Bainbridge
Still in Effect as of 7/18

Cleanup Assistance (7/18 - from the Chenango Chamber's website)
The Headwaters Youth Conservation Corp will have teenagers available to assist homeowners. Contact The Place at 336-9696.
Debris
The county will waive tipping fees for flood-related debris taken to the county landfill, Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard B. Decker said. Decker said white goods should be placed in a separate area so the county could move them to the transfer station at North Norwich. Private haulers should use the Town of Pharsalia landfill. 7/30 - Is extended until August 31.

Norwich Information (8/3)
POST-FLOOD INFORMATION FOR THE CITY OF NORWICH
The City of Norwich will take away, for free, flood damaged items you remove from your home. All items should be placed at the curb for pickup. Only flood items will be accepted.
If you take the items to the landfill yourself, the County has waived the tipping fees for flood damaged items only.
The City of Norwich is waiving the building permit fees for anyone completing flood related repairs to their home or business. A permit is still required, but there will not be a charge.
The American Red Cross is offering free cleanup kits so residents can being the process of safely cleaning their homes. The kits include a mop, pail, cleaner, bleach and a broom. To see if they are available, please call the Fire Department at 334-3411.
The Headwaters Youth Conservation Corp will have teenagers available to assist homeowners. Contact The Place at 336-9696.

Disaster Assistance Centers
8/4 - Press & Sun Bulletin - Closing as of 8/4

FEMA Information
8/3 - Senior Assistance.
FEMA is contacting Seniors who were victims of the flood to assist in referring correct agencies and to assist with other issues.
8/3 - Appealing Denial Letters
FEMA states denial letters were sent due to:
Needing Return Insurance Information
Needs Confirmation of residency or occupancy
More paperwork needed
Need to fill out SBA loan application.
You have up to 12 months from the day you registered to submit insurance information.
You have 60 days to appeal IN WRITING from the day you received the denial letter.
FEMA Helpline - 1800-621-FEMA 8-8 daily
NYS Helpline - 1888-329-7540 8-8 M-F; 8-5 S/S
7/21 FEMA Trailers have been approved. You will be called in 7-10 days to see if it will fit on your property. If not, rental assistance will be available. These are not rated for winter, will only be good for 4 months

Community Meals
I'm not finding any community meals within the county. If you know of any, please contact me.
For the full list:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-meals-available.html

Community Food Pantries
Afton/Colesville/Harpersville/Sanataria Springs Area

Inter-Church Pantry 607-639-2082
34 Spring St
Afton
5-7PM Mon; 9-11AM Wed
Colesville Community Pantry
Volunteer Ambulance Services Building
1st and 3rd Tuesdays 10-1 and 4-7
St Josephs 648-5209
659 State Route 7
Call in Advance

For the full list:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/independent-food-pantries.html

Useful Information For Citizens
8/9 Sanitizing Your Well
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/08/cleaning-your-well.html
8/4 Immediate Gap Financing
http://www.fhlbny.com/
$250 Million for Disaster Relief Committed By the FHLBNY
July 12, 2006 New York, New York – The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York today announced a commitment to provide immediate gap financing to begin the process of rebuilding while insurance settlements are being worked out. Up to $250 million in disaster relief funds is being made available through its Community Lending Programs (CLP). Local member lenders can tap these low cost loans to meet the short, medium, and long term funding needs of communities designated as FEMA disaster areas. Several designated communities in Upstate New York and Western New Jersey have been hard hit by recent severe flooding. The $250 million CLP commitment can specifically be used for housing, small business and economic development lending.
The only bank I found in Broome County on their list of partners is NBT Bank in Norwich.
Shower Facilities (7/18 - from the Chenango Chamber's website) The Norwich YMCA 336-YMCA for more information, including the hours they are open.
Rural Assistance
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/05/usda-rural-assistance-grants.html
This includes not for profits AND individuals. Please check it out.
7/28 SFCU Helping Out Posted: 7/28/2006 7:00:28 PMVideo
Another place flood victims can turn to for financial assistance is the Sidney Federal Credit Union.
SFCU is providing low interest loans. Anyone who lives or works in Delaware, Chenango or Otsego County can apply for loans at two percent APR for two years. SFCU also has another promotion running called skip a payment. Flood victims who can afford to make payments on their existing loans can skip up to three monthly payments on any type of loan. In order to qualify for any of these promotions members must provide evidence of flood damage.
James Doig says, “We've been here a little over 50 years and we really felt it was appropriate for the members who helped build the credit union for those 50 years to do what we can to help them recover.”
Estimates and invoices from contractors will help flood victims prove they were affected.
For more information on SFCU's flood relief promotions call toll free 1-877-6427-328.
Avoiding Heat Related Illness 7/12 - Please Read!
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/04/avoiding-heat-related-illness.html
Recovering Vital Documents
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery/Vital_Docs.shtml Cleaning
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/articles-regarding-cleaning.html
Coping With The Stress
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/coping-with-stress.html
Choosing a Contractor
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS01/60706017
Christina Spencer of Bainbridge is collecting donations for flood victims in the Bainbridge and Tri-Town area. Any donation of cleaning supplies, household items, toys, shoes, cooking utensils, beds, dressers and other items are welcomed. Drop-offs can be made at 104 North Main St. in Bainbridge. Items can be left on the porch or driveway; organizers will move them to the garage to be cleaned and donated.
Free Legal Advice - Added 7/14
NYS Bar Association
800-342-3661
Protecting Your Credit
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/protecting-your-credit-rating.html

Grant Information
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/grant_info.shtm
The phone number is 1-888-7-NYS-AID and operators will be available from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-and-agency-grant.html
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/fema-aid.html

Farmers
Found in the Press and Sun Bulletin - www.HayExchange.com It covers the entire US and some of Canada - shows the price, if it will be delivered and what the hay is composed of before you even have to contact the folks. MANY resources for NY and PA to access at this time.

Small Business Resource - 7/11
NY Loves Small Business
http://www.nylovessmallbiz.com/resources.asp
7/14 New information on development grants for both large businesses and small or not-for-profits.
800-STATE-NY
IRS Payment Delay
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/BUSINESS/60711001
7/12 Business Flood Grant Information - must apply for the $5000 grant first and file this as addendum. Apply by 9/5/06. 50% upon approval - 50% upon proof of completion of work. Some Non-Profits can also apply. Go to NYS Disaster Assistance Center for more info or:
www.empire.state.ny.us/pdf/flood_grant/application7-7-6b.pdf

Volunteering
Red Cross of Southern Tier
607-785-7207
First Call For Help
607-719-9100 or 1-800-227-5353
8-4

Donating
For Animals:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/animal-disaster-relief.html
For Humans:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-to-donate.html

Afton Edge Apartments was virtually destroyed. It is an elderly housing unit. Please consider donating there. I will get information as soon as possible.

Tioga County Information

2006-07-06T16:38:00.000-05:00

Questions, Concerns, Information:
Tetanus Shots
Call 687-8600 or 800-282-4884 for information.
7/30 Donald Burns announced legislation to be voted on 8/10 to fund a $250,000 grant to assist flood-affected families with rent, utilities, furniture and housing support to low and middle income families. 8/11 - Legislation passed.
Misc Trivia
http://broomegis.co.broome.ny.us/website/gisweb/news/06_07_flood.htm#
New Mapping site that shows the normal lay of the waterways and exactly where the flooding occured. Very cool site that doesn't take a whole lot to figure out how to use. Click on the button at the left that you'd like to use, then click on the map where you'd like to use it.

FEMA Information
8/18 - Mobile FEMA Unit Lowes on 434 in Vestal 8/18-19; Lowes in Binghamton 8/20-21
8/3 - Senior Assistance.
FEMA is contacting Seniors who were victims of the flood to assist in referring correct agencies and to assist with other issues.
8/3 - Appealing Denial Letters
FEMA states denial letters were sent due to:
Needing Return Insurance Information
Needs Confirmation of residency or occupancy
More paperwork needed
Need to fill out SBA loan application.
You have up to 12 months from the day you registered to submit insurance information.
You have 60 days to appeal IN WRITING from the day you received the denial letter.
FEMA Helpline - 1800-621-FEMA 8-8 daily
NYS Helpline - 1888-329-7540 8-8 M-F; 8-5 S/S

The George F. Johnson Memorial (Endicott) is reserving one of its public access computer stations for patrons to file online applications for flood aid from FEMA. Interested persons may call the library at 757-5350 to reserve a time, or may stop by the library at 1001 Park St. in Endicott. Times are limited to one hour. Contact the library at the above number for more information. Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 AM till 9 PM and Friday 9 AM till 5 PM.

Community Meals
For the full list:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-meals-available.html
If you hear of any others being offered in the area, please contact me by leaving a comment below this post or by email. Thank you!

Community Food Pantries
For the full list:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/independent-food-pantries.html

Useful Information For Citizens
8/9 Sanitizing Your Well
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/08/cleaning-your-well.html
8/4 Immediate Gap Financing
http://www.fhlbny.com/
$250 Million for Disaster Relief Committed By the FHLBNY
July 12, 2006 New York, New York – The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York today announced a commitment to provide immediate gap financing to begin the process of rebuilding while insurance settlements are being worked out. Up to $250 million in disaster relief funds is being made available through its Community Lending Programs (CLP). Local member lenders can tap these low cost loans to meet the short, medium, and long term funding needs of communities designated as FEMA disaster areas. Several designated communities in Upstate New York and Western New Jersey have been hard hit by recent severe flooding. The $250 million CLP commitment can specifically be used for housing, small business and economic development lending.
The only bank I found in Tioga County on their list of partners is Tioga State Bank in Spencer.
Avoiding Heat Related Illness 7/12 - Please Read!
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/04/avoiding-heat-related-illness.html
Recovering Vital Documents
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery/Vital_Docs.shtml Cleaning
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/articles-regarding-cleaning.html
If you need assistance, please contact Tioga Opportunites - 607-687-4222 - Added 7/14
Coping With The Stress
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/coping-with-stress.html
Choosing a Contractor
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS01/60706017
Also see www.sthbra.com for how to choose a contractor. added 7/14
Stream Clean-up
DEC is "Stream Lining" application process. Contact Wendy Walsh at 607-687-3553 for more information. Added 7/14
Free Flood Legal Advice - Added 7/14
NYS Bar Association Lawyer Referral
800-342-3661
Protecting Your Credit - 7/21
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/protecting-your-credit-rating.html
Tioga County Department of Mental Hygiene, Health and Human Services Building, Route 38, Owego. Crisis Services are available by phone from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday or during evenings, weekends and aolidays by calling 687-1010 and asking for Mental Hygiene Crisis Services. Crisis Services are also available on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm at the Mental Hygiene offices in the Health and Human Services Building on Route 38 in Owego.

Grant Information
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/grant_info.shtm
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-and-agency-grant.html
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/fema-aid.html

Fire Departments
8/18 - State Grants for 10 FD's
$25,000 each for Apalachin, Campville, Candor, Newark Valley, Nichols, Owego, Owego SS, Spencer, Tioga Center and Waverly.
Volunteer Fire Departments
The NVFC Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund provides a stipend of up to $250 in individual assistance to volunteer firefighters who are affected by a disaster. Volunteer firefighters in need should contact their state fire association. A full list of NVFC state fire associations can be found at www.nvfc.org/links.html#State_Members, or contact NVFC at nvfcoffice@nvfc.org or 888-ASK-NVFC (275-6832).

Farmers
Hay Exchange - www.HayExchange.com It covers the entire US and some of Canada - shows the price, if it will be delivered and what the hay is composed of before you even have to contact the folks. MANY resources for NY and PA to access at this time.

Small Business Resources - 7/14
http://www.nylovessmallbiz.com/resources.asp
Grants becoming available for both large business and small or not for profits.
800-STATE-NY
SCORE
7/21 SCORE Business Counseling - help you get assistance applications in before 9/1 deadline.
Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce - 607-772-8860
Tioga County Chamber of Commerce - 607-687-2020
8/18 - SUNY B to hold small business training program
224 Water St Binghamton
9/6, 13, 20 from 9-430
Learn tricks of the trade from professionals on how to assess, plan and start up a business.
607-777-4323 for enrollment and more information. Space limited.
IRS Payment Delay
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/BUSINESS/60711001
7/12 - Business Flood Grant Information - must apply for the $5000 grant first and file this as addendum. Apply by 9/5/06. 50% upon approval - 50% upon proof of completion of work. Some Non-Profits can also apply. Go to NYS Disaster Assistance Center for more info or:
www.empire.state.ny.us/pdf/flood_grant/application7-7-6b.pdf

Volunteering
Red Cross of Southern Tier
607-785-7207
First Call For Help
607-719-9100 or 1-800-227-5353
8-4
Tioga United Way Added 7/14
607-687-4028
TiogaUnitedWay@stny.rr.com
Hope Unites
You can register online at: www.hopeunites.org/FloodRelief.html

Donating
For Animals:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/animal-disaster-relief.html
For Humans:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-to-donate.html

Tioga Opportunities, Inc., 9 Sheldon Guile Boulevard, Owego
Donations will be accepted Monday thru Friday 8:30 to 4:30
Matthew Zaccardo, Community Services Coordinator at 687-4222 X 329
Jeffrey Thornton, Director, Department of Aging at 687-4120 X 313.
Food
Cleaning Supplies
Personal Hygiene
Financial

Tioga County Open Door Mission, Route 38, Owego. Phone: 687-1121
Needs: Furniture, non-perishable food items, personal products such as shampoo and toothpaste, and cleaning products such as bleach, detergent and rubber gloves.
Tioga County Rural Ministry, 60 North Avenue, Owego. Phone: 687-3021
Needs: Non-perishable food items, personal products such as shampoo and toothpaste, and cleaning products such as bleach, detergent and rubber gloves

Delaware County Information

2006-07-06T12:58:00.000-05:00

Questions, Concerns, Information:
If anyone knows of an information number for any Towns or the County, please contact me.
7/31 - Roads - all but County Route 67 open. - will reopen by end of August.
The Walton Police Department headquarters is located in the Sheriff's Building on the Walton Fairgrounds Fair Street entrance. Telephone: 865-4500.
7/18 Travel Advisory Still In Effect for The Town of Walton
County Landfill - Walton
7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m
Tu - Sa.
Do not place any food items or household garbage at curbside with flood debris.
Residents can no longer dump flood debris on Water Street in Walton.
Delaware County Public Health Nursing Services is currently providing services to residents including home visits, early intervention and adult care, communicable disease, rabies and West Nile testing. For information, call 746-3166.
Delaware County Electric Cooperative has restored power to their service area. If customers experience outages, call 746-2341.
NYSEG Customers of Walton must call 1-800-572-1111 to have their gas service inspected prior to being turned back on.
The electric emergency number for NYSEG is 1-800-572-1131 and the gas emergency number is 1-800-572-1121. These numbers are manned 24 hours a day.
Senior citizens in Walton who need help can call 865-7600 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A curfew remains in effect in the following Delaware County communities:
Hancock, 9 p.m.; Sidney, 6 p.m.; and Walton, 10 p.m
Deposit still under State of Emergency- 7/18

Disaster Assistance Centers
8/4 - Press & Sun Bulletin - Closing as of 8/4

FEMA Information
8/3 - Senior Assistance.
FEMA is contacting Seniors who were victims of the flood to assist in referring correct agencies and to assist with other issues.
8/3 - Appealing Denial Letters
FEMA states denial letters were sent due to:
Needing Return Insurance Information
Needs Confirmation of residency or occupancy
More paperwork needed
Need to fill out SBA loan application.
You have up to 12 months from the day you registered to submit insurance information.
You have 60 days to appeal IN WRITING from the day you received the denial letter.
FEMA Helpline - 1800-621-FEMA 8-8 daily
NYS Helpline - 1888-329-7540 8-8 M-F; 8-5 S/S

The Giving Circle Coming To Sidney (8/3)
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/giving-circle-coming-to-sidney.html

Rural Assistance
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/05/usda-rural-assistance-grants.html
This includes towns, not for profits AND individuals. Please review the information.
7/18 USDA Information on Emergency Conservation Assistance, Crop Disaster Program, Livestock Assistance Program
http://www.co.delaware.ny.us/flood2006.htm
Go to bottom of page - is a slide show presentation.
Farmers - Hay
www.HayExchange.com It covers the entire US and some of Canada - shows the price, if it will be delivered and what the hay is composed of before you even have to contact the folks. MANY resources for NY and PA to access at this time.

Small Business Resource
http://www.nylovessmallbiz.com/resources.asp
7/14 - Grants are becoming available for both large businesses and small or not-for-profit agencies for clean up and repair/replacement.
800-STATE-NY
IRS Payment Delay
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/BUSINESS/60711001
Business Flood Grant Information - must apply for the $5000 grant first and file this as addendum. Apply by 9/5/06. 50% upon approval - 50% upon proof of completion of work. Some Non-Profits can also apply. Go to NYS Disaster Assistance Center for more info or:www.empire.state.ny.us/pdf/flood_grant/application7-7-6b.pdf

Community Meals
Walton High School
Breakfast and Lunch
7A-2P

I'm not finding any community meals within the county. If you know of any, please contact me.
For the full list:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-meals-available.html

Community Food Pantries
I'm not finding any lists for the County. If you know of any, please contact me as soon as possible.

7/21 The US Post Office has held a food drive state-wide to supply 50 pantries in Broome, Delaware and Tioga Counties 7/25. Thank you!

Deposit Food Pantry
74 Second Street
Deposit, New York 13754

For the full list:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/independent-food-pantries.html

Useful Information For Citizens
8/9 Sanitizing Your Well
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/08/cleaning-your-well.html
8/4 Immediate Gap Financing
http://www.fhlbny.com/
$250 Million for Disaster Relief Committed By the FHLBNY
July 12, 2006 New York, New York – The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York today announced a commitment to provide immediate gap financing to begin the process of rebuilding while insurance settlements are being worked out. Up to $250 million in disaster relief funds is being made available through its Community Lending Programs (CLP). Local member lenders can tap these low cost loans to meet the short, medium, and long term funding needs of communities designated as FEMA disaster areas. Several designated communities in Upstate New York and Western New Jersey have been hard hit by recent severe flooding. The $250 million CLP commitment can specifically be used for housing, small business and economic development lending.
The only bank I found in Delaware County on their list of partners is Sidney Federal Credit Union on Union Street.

7/30 - contact Red Cross/Delaware Opportunities for furniture or appliances. 607-746-1600
SFCU Helping Out 7/28/2006
Another place flood victims can turn to for financial assistance is the Sidney Federal Credit Union.
SFCU is providing low interest loans. Anyone who lives or works in Delaware, Chenango or Otsego County can apply for loans at two percent APR for two years. SFCU also has another promotion running called skip a payment. Flood victims who can afford to make payments on their existing loans can skip up to three monthly payments on any type of loan. In order to qualify for any of these promotions members must provide evidence of flood damage.
James Doig says, “We've been here a little over 50 years and we really felt it was appropriate for the members who helped build the credit union for those 50 years to do what we can to help them recover.”
Estimates and invoices from contractors will help flood victims prove they were affected.
For more information on SFCU's flood relief promotions call toll free 1-877-6427-328.
Avoiding Heat Related Illness - Please Read!
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/04/avoiding-heat-related-illness.html
Recovering Vital Documents
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery/Vital_Docs.shtml Cleaning
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/articles-regarding-cleaning.html
Coping With The Stress
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/coping-with-stress.html
Choosing a Contractor
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS01/60706017
7/14 - also please visit www.sthbra.com for information on choosing a contractor.
Free Legal Advice For Flood Victims added 7/14
NYS Bar Association Lawyer Referral Line
800-342-3661
7/21 Protect Your Credit
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/protecting-your-credit-rating.html

State and federal officials are working to establish household hazardous waste and petroleum product collection sites. Petroleum would be taken to Hancock Central School bus garage for disposal; petroleum and household waste would be taken to Deposit Department of Public Works.

Grant Information
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/grant_info.shtm
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-and-agency-grant.html
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/fema-aid.html

Volunteering
Red Cross of Southern Tier
607-785-7207
First Call For Help
607-729-9100 or 1-800-227-5353
8-4

Task Force Center at the New Hope Church on Stockton Avenue in Walton

Donating
For Animals:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/animal-disaster-relief.html
For Humans:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-to-donate.html
7/30 Contact Delaware Opportunities 607-746-1600
50-100 families need housing. Can you help?

Food is needed at the Hancock Fire Department to feed citizens and relief workers.

Town of Vestal Information

2006-07-06T12:31:00.000-05:00

Questions, Concerns, Information:
Town Hall
607-748-1514

Disaster Assistance Center
8/7 Volunteer Run Center Opening
Former Star Dry Cleaners on Vestal Parkway west of Rte 26 overpass. M, W, F Open 12-2, Sat 10-12. Donations can be taken on Mondays 10-12.
607-754-2445 for information or to volunteer.

Per Press and Bulletin - FEMA Closing as of 8/4
8/6 - FEMA will remain at Susquehanna Valley High School
Walton High, Sidney Civic Center

FEMA Information
8/4 - Senior Assistance.
FEMA is contacting Seniors who were victims of the flood to assist in referring correct agencies and to assist with other issues.
8/4 - Appealing Denial Letters
FEMA states denial letters were sent due to:
Needing Return Insurance Information
Needs Confirmation of residency or occupancy
More paperwork needed
Need to fill out SBA loan application.
You have up to 12 months from the day you registered to submit insurance information.
You have 60 days to appeal IN WRITING from the day you received the denial letter.
FEMA Helpline - 1800-621-FEMA 8-8 daily
NYS Helpline - 1888-329-7540 8-8 M-F; 8-5 S/S
7/21 - FEMA Trailers have been approved in Broome County - you will be contacted within 7-10 business days to determine if the trailer can be on your property. If not, rental assistance will be given. 7/27 - Trailers will only be allowed for 4 months - not rated to withstand winters.

Mental Health Assistance
Catholic Charities - 607-729-9166 call to schedule appointment at following locations:
Mental Health Assistance of Southern Tier
153 Court Street Binghamton
Catholic Charities
232 Main Street Binghamton
St Mary's
975 Rte 11 Kirkwood
Samaritan Counseling Center
202 E Main St Endicott

Community Meals
I'm not finding any community meals within Vestal's district. If you know of any, please contact me.
For the full list:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-meals-available.html

Community Food Pantries
7/21 The US Post Office will be holding a statewide food drive to stock 50 food pantries in Broome, Delaware and Tioga Counties on 7/25. Thank them!

Our Lady of Sorrows 748-8287
157 Clark Street
Call in Advance
Memorial Park Baptist Church 785-3757
1013 Front Street
Call in Advance - leave msg if necessary
Caring Closet 607-797-0029
Vestal Hills Seventh Day Adventist Church
834 Bunn Hill Rd
After 5PM Mon-Fri

For the full list:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/independent-food-pantries.html

Useful Information For Citizens
8/4 Immediate Gap Financing
http://www.fhlbny.com/
$250 Million for Disaster Relief Committed By the FHLBNY
July 12, 2006 New York, New York – The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York today announced a commitment to provide immediate gap financing to begin the process of rebuilding while insurance settlements are being worked out. Up to $250 million in disaster relief funds is being made available through its Community Lending Programs (CLP). Local member lenders can tap these low cost loans to meet the short, medium, and long term funding needs of communities designated as FEMA disaster areas. Several designated communities in Upstate New York and Western New Jersey have been hard hit by recent severe flooding. The $250 million CLP commitment can specifically be used for housing, small business and economic development lending.
The only banks I found in Broome County on their list of partners is Visions Credit Union located on McKinley Ave in Endicott and Partner's Trust in Binghamton.
Avoiding Heat Related Illness - Please Read!
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/04/avoiding-heat-related-illness.html
Recovering Vital Documents
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery/Vital_Docs.shtml Cleaning
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/articles-regarding-cleaning.html
Coping With The Stress
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/coping-with-stress.html
Choosing a Contractor
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS01/60706017
Please also see www.sthbra.com for information on choosing a contractor. (7/14)
Free Legal Advice For Flood Victims added 7/14
Broome County Bar Association
723-6331
7/21 - Protect Your Credit
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/protecting-your-credit-rating.html
The Broome County Public Library will not be charging for overdue, lost, or damaged library materials that occured as a result of the flooding. Anyone who has lost books, videos, DVDs, or other materials should call the library at 778-6401 or 778-6400, and let them know what happened.
The George F. Johnson Memorial (Endicott) is reserving one of its public access computer stations for patrons to file online applications for flood aid from FEMA. Interested persons may call the library at 757-5350 to reserve a time, or may stop by the library at 1001 Park St. in Endicott. Times are limited to one hour. Contact the library at the above number for more information. Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 AM till 9 PM and Friday 9 AM till 5 PM.
Residents can put flood-damaged refuse in Dumpsters placed in several locations:
Castle Gardens on Loretta Lane and North Road;
Front Street near Roberts Street and in the 200 block;
Ideal Terrace and Pearl Street.
Town highway crews also will pick up debris at the curb until everything is collected.
7/25 Housing
First Ward Action Council
607-772-2850
fwac-admin@stny.rr.com
8/3 - Grants Available Through First Ward Action Council
http://pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/NEWS01/608030346/1006

Grant Information
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/grant_info.shtm
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-and-agency-grant.html
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/fema-aid.html

Farmers
Found in the Press and Sun Bulletin - www.HayExchange.com It covers the entire US and some of Canada - shows the price, if it will be delivered and what the hay is composed of before you even have to contact the folks. MANY resources for NY and PA to access at this time.

Small Business Resource
http://www.nylovessmallbiz.com/resources.asp
7/14 - grants are being issued for both large businesses and small or not-for-profits for cleanup and repair/replace.
800-STATE-NY
7/21 SCORE
Business Counseling - help you get assistance applications in before 9/1 deadline.
Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce - 607-772-8860
Tioga County Chamber of Commerce - 607-687-2020
IRS Payment Delay
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/BUSINESS/60711001
Business Flood Grant Information - must apply for the $5000 grant first and file this as addendum. Apply by 9/5/06. 50% upon approval - 50% upon proof of completion of work. Some Non-Profits can also apply. Go to NYS Disaster Assistance Center for more info or:www.empire.state.ny.us/pdf/flood_grant/application7-7-6b.pdf
7/28 Chamber Of Commerce
The Chamber has reached out to as many of our business members as possible via e-mail and by telephone to find out who was affected by the disaster and what kinds of assistance or supplies they need. We are also compiling a list of companies that can offer assistance or supplies. Lastly, we are endeavoring to call Chamber member businesses in the hardest hit areas of Broome County that have not had the chance to contact us with their status and/or needs. A full status report will be posted on the "Business Disaster Relief Info" page of our website. A list of disaster relief assistance available to businesses will be posted on the "Business Disaster Relief Info" page of our website.

Volunteering
Red Cross of Southern Tier
607-785-7207
First Call For Help
607-729-9100 or 1-800-227-5353
8-4
Hope Unites
You can register online at: www.hopeunites.org/FloodRelief.html

Donating
For Animals:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/animal-disaster-relief.html
For Humans:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-to-donate.html
Grace Lutheran Church - Corner of Hazel and Main.
Collecting and handing out cleaning supplies only.
Housing
Call First Ward Action Council
607-772-2850
fwac-admin@stny.rr.com

Town of Union Information

2006-07-05T18:50:00.000-05:00

Questions, Concerns, Information:
JC Code Enforcement Only
729-2047

Relief Centers
8/4 - Press & Sun Bulletin - Closing as of 8/4
8/7 - 3 Remain Open in Deleware and Broome County
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/relief-centers.html

8/7 - Operation No Sale
Union Center United Methodist Church
128 Maple Dr
August 12, 12-7PM
Clothing and household items will be available.

FEMA Information
8/4 - Senior Assistance.
FEMA is contacting Seniors who were victims of the flood to assist in referring correct agencies and to assist with other issues.
8/4 - Appealing Denial Letters
FEMA states denial letters were sent due to:
Needing Return Insurance Information
Needs Confirmation of residency or occupancy
More paperwork needed
Need to fill out SBA loan application.
You have up to 12 months from the day you registered to submit insurance information.
You have 60 days to appeal IN WRITING from the day you received the denial letter.
FEMA Helpline - 1800-621-FEMA 8-8 daily
NYS Helpline - 1888-329-7540 8-8 M-F; 8-5 S/S
7/21 - FEMA Trailers have been approved in Broome County - you will be contacted within 7-10 business days to determine if the trailer can be on your property. If not, rental assistance will be given. 7/27 - Trailers will only be allowed for 4 months - not rated to withstand winters.

Mental Health Assistance
Catholic Charities - 607-729-9166 call to schedule appointment at following locations:
Mental Health Assistance of Southern Tier
153 Court Street Binghamton
Catholic Charities
232 Main Street Binghamton
St Mary's
975 Rte 11 Kirkwood
Samaritan Counseling Center
202 E Main St Endicott

Community Meals
Johnson City
Sarah Jane Johnson Church 797-3938
308 Main Street (Parish House Entrance)
Tuesday 530PM

Endicott Area
Central United Methodist Church - 754-6060
17 Nanticoke Ave
Thursday 5PM

First United Methodist Church 748-7434
53 McKinley Ave
Saturday Noon

Endwell United Methodist Church 754-5735
3301 Watson Blvd
Monday 5-6PM

St Ambrose Church
203 Washington Ave.
Wednesday 530PM

(For full list, see: http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-meals-available.html)
Still researching. Please contact me if you know of any other community meals in JC.

Community Food Pantries
7/21 - US Post Office is holding a state-wide food drive to stock 50 pantries in Broome, Tioga and Delaware Counties on 7/25. Thank them!

Salvation Army 722-2987
130 Washington St
M-F 9-2 Can be served once per 2 months
Bread Distribution - M-F 11-12

Still Researching. If you know of any in JC, please contact me.

Endicott Area
St Ambrose 754-2330
203 Washington Ave
M&W 130-3

Our Lady of Good Counsel 748-7417
701 W Main Street
Call in Advance

The Food Pantry at The Learning Center E 429-0041
1000 Jenkins St
T&F 10-12
Tr 530-7

(for full list, see: http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/independent-food-pantries.html)

Small Business Resource -
http://www.nylovessmallbiz.com/resources.asp
7/15 Grants are now becoming available for large business (100+ employed) and small or not-for-profits for cleanup replace/repair. 800-STATE-NY
IRS Payment Delay
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/BUSINESS/60711001
7/12 Business Flood Grant Information - must apply for the $5000 grant first and file this as addendum. Apply by 9/5/06. 50% upon approval - 50% upon proof of completion of work. Some Non-Profits can also apply. Go to NYS Disaster Assistance Center for more info or:www.empire.state.ny.us/pdf/flood_grant/application7-7-6b.pdf
7/21 SCORE
Business Counseling - help you get assistance applications in before 9/1 deadline.
Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce - 607-772-8860
Tioga County Chamber of Commerce - 607-687-2020
7/28 Chamber Of Commerce
The Chamber has reached out to as many of our business members as possible via e-mail and by telephone to find out who was affected by the disaster and what kinds of assistance or supplies they need. We are also compiling a list of companies that can offer assistance or supplies. Lastly, we are endeavoring to call Chamber member businesses in the hardest hit areas of Broome County that have not had the chance to contact us with their status and/or needs. A full status report will be posted on the "Business Disaster Relief Info" page of our website. A list of disaster relief assistance available to businesses will be posted on the "Business Disaster Relief Info" page of our website.

Useful Information For Citizens
8/4 Immediate Gap Financing
http://www.fhlbny.com/
$250 Million for Disaster Relief Committed By the FHLBNY
July 12, 2006 New York, New York – The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York today announced a commitment to provide immediate gap financing to begin the process of rebuilding while insurance settlements are being worked out. Up to $250 million in disaster relief funds is being made available through its Community Lending Programs (CLP). Local member lenders can tap these low cost loans to meet the short, medium, and long term funding needs of communities designated as FEMA disaster areas. Several designated communities in Upstate New York and Western New Jersey have been hard hit by recent severe flooding. The $250 million CLP commitment can specifically be used for housing, small business and economic development lending.
The only banks I found in Broome County on their list of partners is Visions Credit Union located on McKinley Ave in Endicott and Partner's Trust in Binghamton.
7/25 Housing Assistance
First Ward Action Council assisting flood victims
607-772-2850
fwac-admin@stny.rr.com
Grants Available Through First Ward Action Council
http://pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/NEWS01/608030346/1006
Avoiding Heat Related Illness - Please Read!
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/04/avoiding-heat-related-illness.html
Recovering Vital Documents
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery/Vital_Docs.shtml Cleaning
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/articles-regarding-cleaning.html
Coping With The Stress
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/coping-with-stress.html
Choosing a Contractor
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS01/60706017
7/15 Please also see www.sthbra.com for ways to choose a contractor.
Free Flood Legal Advice added 7/15
Broome County Bar Association 607-723-6331
7/21 Protect Your Credit
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/protecting-your-credit-rating.html
7/15 Section 8 Housing for flood victims
TOU Planning Dept. - 3111 E Main Street - Endwell - 607-786-2985
Must prove Town of Union Residency, Meet normal Sec 8 requirements, Apply by 7/31

The Endwell Church of Christ - cleanup assistance
3600 Country Club Road (at Hooper Road)
Endwell, 748-6602.
Those seeking assistance should go to the church between 5 and 8 p.m. any day (including Saturday and Sunday) to complete an assistance request form.

The Broome County Public Library will not be charging for overdue, lost, or damaged library materials that occured as a result of the flooding.
778-6401 or 778-6400

7/10 The George F. Johnson Memorial (Endicott) is reserving one of its public access computer stations for patrons to file online applications for flood aid from FEMA. Times are limited to one hour
757-5350
1001 Park St.
M-Tr 9-9; F 9-5

The Town of Union will pick up flood-related debris Wednesdays and Saturdays until further notice on Shady Drive and surrounding vicinity, Fairmont Park and West Corners.

Grant Information
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/grant_info.shtm
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-and-agency-grant.html
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/fema-aid.html

Volunteering
Red Cross of Southern Tier
607-785-7207
First Call For Help
607-729-9100 or 1-800-227-5353
8-4

Donating
For Animals:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/animal-disaster-relief.html
For Humans:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-to-donate.html
7/25 Apartments and Housing needed
First Ward Action Council
607-772-2850
fwac-admin@stny.rr.com

Conklin Information

2006-07-05T18:33:00.000-05:00

Questions Concerns Information
7/18 - Conklin Under State of Emergency
Kirkwood Under State of Emergency

Relief Centers
8/4 - Press & Sun Bulletin - Closing as of 8/4

FEMA Information
8/3 - Senior Assistance.
FEMA is contacting Seniors who were victims of the flood to assist in referring correct agencies and to assist with other issues.
8/3 - Appealing Denial Letters
FEMA states denial letters were sent due to:
Needing Return Insurance Information
Needs Confirmation of residency or occupancy
More paperwork needed
Need to fill out SBA loan application.
You have up to 12 months from the day you registered to submit insurance information.
You have 60 days to appeal IN WRITING from the day you received the denial letter.
FEMA Helpline - 1800-621-FEMA 8-8 daily
NYS Helpline - 1888-329-7540 8-8 M-F; 8-5 S/S
7/21 - FEMA Trailers have been approved in Broome County - you will be contacted within 7-10 business days to determine if the trailer can be on your property. If not, rental assistance will be given. 7/27 - Trailers will only be allowed for 4 months - not rated to withstand winters.

Mental Health Assistance
Catholic Charities - 607-729-9166 call to schedule appointment at following locations:
Mental Health Assistance of Southern Tier
153 Court Street Binghamton
Catholic Charities
232 Main Street Binghamton
St Mary's
975 Rte 11 Kirkwood
Samaritan Counseling Center
202 E Main St Endicott

Community Meals
Still Researching - Contact me if you know of any in the Conklin Area

Community Food Pantries
7/21 US Post Office held a state-wide food drive to stock 50 pantries in Broome, Delaware and Tioga Counties on 7/25. Thank them!
Still Researching - Contact me if you know of any in the Conklin Area

Useful Information For Citizens
8/9 Sanitize Your Well
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/08/cleaning-your-well.html
8/4 Immediate Gap Financing
http://www.fhlbny.com/
$250 Million for Disaster Relief Committed By the FHLBNY
July 12, 2006 New York, New York – The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York today announced a commitment to provide immediate gap financing to begin the process of rebuilding while insurance settlements are being worked out. Up to $250 million in disaster relief funds is being made available through its Community Lending Programs (CLP). Local member lenders can tap these low cost loans to meet the short, medium, and long term funding needs of communities designated as FEMA disaster areas. Several designated communities in Upstate New York and Western New Jersey have been hard hit by recent severe flooding. The $250 million CLP commitment can specifically be used for housing, small business and economic development lending.
The only banks I found in Broome County on their list of partners is Visions Credit Union located on McKinley Ave in Endicott and Partner's Trust in Binghamton.
7/30 - As of 8/1 - Conklin is placing dumpsters around town rather than doing house by house pick up of flood debris. Please use the dumpsters!
7/28 - Demolition News 607-775-4114 (Supervisor's # - no other # available)
1034 Conklin Road
Conklin Fire Department will assist by burning the condemned homes to reduce cost of demolition and removal. Please contact
Avoiding Heat Related Illness - Please Read!
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/04/avoiding-heat-related-illness.html
7/27 Housing Assistance
First Ward Action Council
607-772-2850
fwac-admin@stny.rr.com
7/15 Conklin Seniors - Applications for new senior living center are being taken with preference to flood victims who lost all. Will be opening 11/1. No contact information given. Will try to find. Use Supervisor's Number for now 607-775-4114
Recovering Vital Records
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/recover-vital-records.html
First Call For Help Resource List
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/first-call-for-help-information.html
Coping With The Stress
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/coping-with-stress.html
Government Articles on Cleaning
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/articles-regarding-cleaning.html
Choosing a Contractor
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS01/60706017
Please also see www.sthbra.com on how to choose a contractor 7/15
Free Flood Legal Advice
Binghamton Bar Association
607-726-6331
7/21 Protect Your Credit
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/protecting-your-credit-rating.html
Tetanus Shots
The Broome County Health DepartmentCall the Broome County Health Department at 778-3911 option 1
7/15 Mail is now being delivered to the 13903 area of Conklin as long as roads are open and safe.
7/10 The Broome County Public Library will not be charging for overdue, lost, or damaged library materials that occured as a result of the flooding. 778-6401 or 778-6400
7/10 The George F. Johnson Memorial (Endicott) is reserving one of its public access computer stations for patrons to file online applications for flood aid from FEMA. 757-5350
M - Tr 9 -9; F 9 - 5 .
IRS Payment Delay
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/BUSINESS/60711001

Farmers
Found in the Press and Sun Bulletin - www.HayExchange.com It covers the entire US and some of Canada - shows the price, if it will be delivered and what the hay is composed of before you even have to contact the folks. MANY resources for NY and PA to access at this time.

Grant Information
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/grant_info.shtm
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-and-agency-grant.html
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/fema-aid.html

Business Information
Business Flood Grant Information - must apply for the $5000 grant first and file this as addendum. Apply by 9/5/06. 50% upon approval - 50% upon proof of completion of work. Some Non-Profits can also apply. Go to NYS Disaster Assistance Center for more info or:www.empire.state.ny.us/pdf/flood_grant/application7-7-6b.pdf
7/21 SCORE
Business Counseling - help you get assistance applications in before 9/1 deadline.
Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce - 607-772-8860
Tioga County Chamber of Commerce - 607-687-2020
NY Loves Small Business
http://www.nylovessmallbiz.com/resources.asp
7/15 Grants are now becoming available for large business (+100 employed) and small or non-profits for cleanup and repair/replace. 800-STATE-NY
7/28 Chamber Of Commerce
The Chamber has reached out to as many of our business members as possible via e-mail and by telephone to find out who was affected by the disaster and what kinds of assistance or supplies they need.
We are also compiling a list of companies that can offer assistance or supplies.
Lastly, we are endeavoring to call Chamber member businesses in the hardest hit areas of Broome County that have not had the chance to contact us with their status and/or needs.
A full status report will be posted on the "Business Disaster Relief Info" page of our website.
A list of disaster relief assistance available to businesses will be posted on the "Business Disaster Relief Info" page of our website.

Volunteering
Red Cross of Southern Tier 607-785-7207
Conklin Presbyterian Church 607-775-0365
1175 Conklin Rd.
9 a.m. until dark each day.
Bring boots, gloves, shovels, crowbars.
First Call For Help
607-729-9100 or 1-800-227-5353
8-4

Donating
For Animals:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/animal-disaster-relief.html
For Humans:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-to-donate.html
Conklin Presbyterian Church 775-0365
1175 Conklin Rd.
Donations of any kind are appreciated
Housing
First Ward Action Council
607-772-2850
fwac-admin@stny.rr.com
7/30 - In Kirkwood, there are still about 60 people who need housing.

Community And Agency Grant Opportunities

2006-07-05T18:23:00.000-05:00

Residential Emergency Services to Offer Home Repairs to the Elderly (RESTORE)
http://www.dhcr.state.ny.us/ocd/progs/restore/ocdprgre.htm
Home Depot Building Grants
http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/
NYS Governor's Office for Small Cities - Block Grants
http://www.nysmallcities.com/default.asp
Rural Housing and Economic Development Grants
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/economicdevelopment/programs/rhed/index.cfm
Weatherization Assistance Program
http://www.npcnys.org/Public/State/stateWAP.htm
FEMA Money for Organizations
From a friend who worked FEMA during Katrina:

They may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance grants if they had losses or responded to the flood. This includes operation expenses for vehicles as well as use of a building for a POD (point of distribution). The trick is that they have to file a request for public assistance with FEMA. They are supposed to ask for help. FEMA is not going to come around and ask. At least they didn’t down the road. Had I not done something no one would have gotten a nickel. All expenses need to be documented. Keep track of hours of use daily. It’s a minor record keeping that will yield good dividends.

Volunteer Fire Departments
The NVFC Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund provides a stipend of up to $250 in individual assistance to volunteer firefighters who are affected by a disaster. Volunteer firefighters in need should contact their state fire association. A full list of NVFC state fire associations can be found at www.nvfc.org/links.html#State_Members, or contact NVFC at nvfcoffice@nvfc.org or 888-ASK-NVFC (275-6832).

None of these are for individuals, but only for communities and not for profit organizations.

Individual grants are the slowest to be approved. Those from Katrina are still trickling in. I will continue looking for individual grants throughout the following YEAR - for it will take that long for many of them to become available.

Otsego County Information

2006-07-05T13:09:00.000-05:00

Information Call Centers
NYS
(888) 7-NYS-AID, or (888) 759-7243.
FEMA’s registration number is (800) 621-FEMA, or (800) 621-3362.

Disaster Center
NYS, Red Cross
SUNY Oneonta

Grant Information
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/grant_info.shtm
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-and-agency-grant.html
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/fema-aid.html

Farmers
Found in the Press and Sun Bulletin - www.HayExchange.com It covers the entire US and some of Canada - shows the price, if it will be delivered and what the hay is composed of before you even have to contact the folks. MANY resources for NY and PA to access at this time.

Small Business Resource - 7/11
Small Business Department
http://www.nylovessmallbiz.com/resources.asp
IRS Payment Delay
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/BUSINESS/60711001
7/12 Business Flood Grant Information - must apply for the $5000 grant first and file this as addendum. Apply by 9/5/06. 50% upon approval - 50% upon proof of completion of work. Some Non-Profits can also apply. Go to NYS Disaster Assistance Center for more info or:www.empire.state.ny.us/pdf/flood_grant/application7-7-6b.pdf

Useful Information For Citizens and Volunteers
8/9 Sanitizing Your Well
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/08/cleaning-your-well.html
7/28 SFCU Helping Out
Another place flood victims can turn to for financial assistance is the Sidney Federal Credit Union.
SFCU is providing low interest loans. Anyone who lives or works in Delaware, Chenango or Otsego County can apply for loans at two percent APR for two years. SFCU also has another promotion running called skip a payment. Flood victims who can afford to make payments on their existing loans can skip up to three monthly payments on any type of loan. In order to qualify for any of these promotions members must provide evidence of flood damage.
James Doig says, “We've been here a little over 50 years and we really felt it was appropriate for the members who helped build the credit union for those 50 years to do what we can to help them recover.”
Estimates and invoices from contractors will help flood victims prove they were affected.
For more information on SFCU's flood relief promotions call toll free 1-877-6427-328.
Recovering Vital Documents
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery/Vital_Docs.shtml Cleaning
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/articles-regarding-cleaning.html
Coping With The Stress
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/coping-with-stress.html
Choosing a Contractor
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS01/60706017
See also www.sthbra.com on how to choose a contractor
Avoiding Heat Related Illness - added 7/12
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/04/avoiding-heat-related-illness.html
7/28 Free Flood Legal Advice
NYS Bar Association Lawyer Referral 800-342-3661
Protecting Your Credit - 7/28
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/protecting-your-credit-rating.html

Donate
The Salvation Army
25 River St
Oneonta
432-5960 or 432-6120.

Theresa Capuano
United Way at 432-8006.
Monday through Friday.

Volunteer
Hanford Mills Museum in East Meredith is seeking volunteers to assist with cleanup of the museum site. Liz Callahan, director of the museum, said mostly outdoor work is needed, such as clearing brush and cleaning up debris from the site.
Volunteers may call 278-5744 or (800) 295-4993 or e-mail hanford1@hanfordmills.org. Work is ongoing at the museum site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; those who wish to volunteer are asked to contact the museum in advance.
Volunteers are asked to bring work gloves, shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows and other tools, if possible. Volunteers should dress appropriately for outdoor physical labor. Food and lunch will be provided

Otsego Grant Program
The Otsego County Board of Representatives on Wednesday approved an emergency $300,000 appropriation to assist county residents who suffered losses from last week's flooding. The money, which was unused Medicaid funding, will be provided on a one-time basis to flood victims for food and clothing.

For food, money will be provided by family size as follows:
Family size / Amount
1 $137.10
2 $218.50
3 $291
4 $375.30
5 $463.70
6 $535.20

For clothing, the distribution of money is according to age, as follows:
Age / Amount
Under 6 $48
6 to 11 $73
12 to adult $89
To apply, county residents can call (800) 884-9286, visit the county Department of Social Services or stop on the disaster assistance service center at Lee Hall at the State University College at Oneonta.

Binghamton Information

2006-07-05T11:13:00.000-05:00

Questions, Concerns, Information:
607-240-8121.
During normal business hours, we will have two additional operators available at 240-8122 and 240-8123.

Relief Centers
8/4 - Press & Sun Bulletin - Closing as of 8/4

FEMA Information
1-800-621-3362
8/3 - Senior Assistance.
FEMA is contacting Seniors who were victims of the flood to assist in referring correct agencies and to assist with other issues.
8/3 - Appealing Denial Letters
FEMA states denial letters were sent due to:
Needing Return Insurance Information
Needs Confirmation of residency or occupancy
More paperwork needed
Need to fill out SBA loan application.
You have up to 12 months from the day you registered to submit insurance information.
You have 60 days to appeal IN WRITING from the day you received the denial letter.
FEMA Helpline - 1800-621-FEMA 8-8 daily
NYS Helpline - 1888-329-7540 8-8 M-F; 8-5 S/S
7/21 - FEMA Trailers approved. You will be called in 7-10 days to see if one will fit on your property. If not, rental assistance will be provided. Trailers have been approved for only a 4 month period. Not rated to withstand winters.

NYS Disaster Assistance Numbers
1-888-769-7243
1-888-329-7540

Mental Health Assistance
Catholic Charities - 607-729-9166 call to schedule appointment at following locations:
Mental Health Assistance of Southern Tier
153 Court Street Binghamton
Catholic Charities
232 Main Street Binghamton
St Mary's
975 Rte 11 Kirkwood
Samaritan Counseling Center
202 E Main St Endicott

Community Meals
Blessed Hope 7th Day Adventist - 607-723-3881
22 Bevier St
Saturday - 12N

Boulevard United Methodist Church
Corner of Grand and Boulevard
2nd Saturday of Each Month 530PM

Canteen on Wheels
Corner of Main and Oak
Sundays 12-2PM

Food at First Presbyterian 722-4219
42 Chenango Street
Tuesday 5-6PM

Knights of the Road
9 Leroy St (rear door) Sandwiches
M-F 1130-100

Mt Sinai Church of God 723-2361
126 S Washington St
Wednesdays 4-6PM

St Mary's Rec Center
Hawley St
M-F 1130-1245

Salvation Army 722-2987
127-131 Washington St
M-F 915-1045AM
Thursday-Monday 5PM

Tabernacle United Methodist Church 723-8983
83 Main Street
Wed. 6PM

(For full list, see: http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-meals-available.html)

Community Food Pantries
7/21 - US Post Office will be holding a state-wide food drive to stock 50 pantries in Broome, Tioga and Delaware Counties on 7/25. Thank them!

Catholic Social Services 723-4563
100 Main St
M-W 9-12, F 9-12, Tr 1-4
Can be served once a month
Catherine's Cupboard 722-4388
1031 Chenango St
First and Third Tuesday of the month - 6-8PM
Can be served 3 times/year
Landmark Church
126 Court St
4th Saturday of the month 10AM
Loaves and Fishes 724-5304
25 1/2 Mill St
Monday and Wednesday 11-2
Salvation Army 722-2987
130 Washington St
M-F 9-2 Can be served once per 2 months
Bread Distribution - M-F 11-12

(for full list, see: http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/independent-food-pantries.html)

Useful Information for Citizens
8/9 Sanitize Your Well
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/08/cleaning-your-well.html
Immediate Gap Financing
http://www.fhlbny.com/
$250 Million for Disaster Relief Committed By the FHLBNY
July 12, 2006
New York, New York – The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York today announced a commitment to provide immediate gap financing to begin the process of rebuilding while insurance settlements are being worked out. Up to $250 million in disaster relief funds is being made available through its Community Lending Programs (CLP). Local member lenders can tap these low cost loans to meet the short, medium, and long term funding needs of communities designated as FEMA disaster areas. Several designated communities in Upstate New York and Western New Jersey have been hard hit by recent severe flooding. The $250 million CLP commitment can specifically be used for housing, small business and economic development lending.
The only banks I found in Broome County on their list of partners is Visions Credit Union located on McKinley Ave in Endicott and Partners' Trust in Binghamton.

7/27 Housing Assistance
First Ward Action Council
607-772-2850
fwac-admin@stny.rr.com
8/3 Grants Available Through First Ward Action Council
http://pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/NEWS01/608030346/1006
Avoiding Heat Related Illness - Please Read!
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/04/avoiding-heat-related-illness.html
Recovering Vital Documents
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery/Vital_Docs.shtml First Call For Help Resource List
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/first-call-for-help-information.html
Coping With The Stress
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/coping-with-stress.html
Government Articles on Cleaning
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/articles-regarding-cleaning.html
Choosing a Contractor
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS01/60706017
7/15 Please also see www.sthbra.com for information on Choosing a Contractor
7/15 Free Legal Advice For Flood Victims
Broome County Bar Association 607-723-6331
7/21 - Protecting Your Credit
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/protecting-your-credit-rating.html
Binghamton residents who want assistance cleaning their houses or apartments should call the city's public works dispatch at 607-772-7020. The elderly and handicapped will be given priority.
7/10 The Broome County Public Library will not be charging for overdue, lost, or damaged library materials that occured as a result of the flooding. 607-778-6401 or 607-778-6400
7/10 The George F. Johnson Memorial (Endicott) 607-757-5350
is reserving one of its public access computer stations for patrons to file online applications for flood aid from FEMA.
M-Tr, 9-9; F 9-5

Farmers
Found in the Press and Sun Bulletin - www.HayExchange.com It covers the entire US and some of Canada - shows the price, if it will be delivered and what the hay is composed of before you even have to contact the folks. MANY resources for NY and PA to access at this time.

Grant Information
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/grant_info.shtm ($5000 Grant)
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/fema-aid.html
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-and-agency-grant.html
7/12 Business Flood Grant Information - must apply for the $5000 grant first and file this as addendum. Apply by 9/5/06. 50% upon approval - 50% upon proof of completion of work. Some Non-Profits can also apply. Go to NYS Disaster Assistance Center for more info or:
www.empire.state.ny.us/pdf/flood_grant/application7-7-6b.pdf
7/21 SCORE
Business Counseling - help you get assistance applications in before 9/1 deadline.
Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce - 607-772-8860
Tioga County Chamber of Commerce - 607-687-2020
IRS Payment Delay
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/BUSINESS/60711001
NY Loves Small Business
www.nylovessmallbiz.com/resources.asp
7/15 - Grants are now available for larger (+100) and small or non-profits for cleanup, repair and replacement. 800-STATE-NY
7/28 Chamber Of Commerce
The Chamber has reached out to as many of our business members as possible via e-mail and by telephone to find out who was affected by the disaster and what kinds of assistance or supplies they need. We are also compiling a list of companies that can offer assistance or supplies. Lastly, we are endeavoring to call Chamber member businesses in the hardest hit areas of Broome County that have not had the chance to contact us with their status and/or needs. A full status report will be posted on the "Business Disaster Relief Info" page of our website. A list of disaster relief assistance available to businesses will be posted on the "Business Disaster Relief Info" page of our website.

Volunteering
Red Cross of Southern Tier
607-785-7207
City of Binghamton (teams needed to assist elderly and disabled)
772-7020
First Call For Help
607-729-9100 or 1-800-227-5353
8-4

Donating
For Animals:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/animal-disaster-relief.html
For Humans:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-to-donate.html
Housing
First Ward Action Council
607-772-2850
fwac-admin@stny.rr.com

Delaware County Needs

2006-07-04T18:25:00.000-05:00

Task force to aid Walton Seniors
A task force has been formed through the Walton Fire Department to help disabled or impaired senior citizens. Anyone who wishes to volunteer can come to the Task Force Center at New Hope Church on Stockton Avenue starting Wednesday, July 5.

Tasks may include carrying out personal items so an area can be drained and cleaned, or removing flood-damaged furniture, among other tasks.

Seniors can call 865-7600 for assistance starting Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Volunteers Needed @ Hancock Fire Department
Hancock is in need of workers for cooking and serving food to fire fighters, national guard, and just the people here working contractors, state workers yada yada yada

Volunteers Needed At Walton High School
The shelter is asking for volunteers willing to do any task they can. If you would like to volunteer, Massey suggests going to the Walton High School and tell them what you can do. There are people there will direct you, she said.

Money Needed @ Walton High School
To give monetary or food donations, call 746-9600 to get details.

Food Needed @ Hancock Fire Department
if u know of a way to get in certain types of food ie. bread, milk, eggs, potatos, paper products - please send whatever

Clothing Needed @ Fire Department
we are working on a local clothing drive also since we have families with nothing also

melissa dunlap
Mysterious84@hancock.net

Sheltering operations continue in Hancock, Walton, Sidney and Delhi. As of the evening of July 1, the Red Cross sheltered 4 residents in Hancock, 11 in Walton and 75 in Sidney. Approximately 200 public safety personnel are being housed and fed at SUNY Delhi. An additional 20 National Guard troops will be housed in the Hancock Center.

First Call For Help Information

2006-07-04T07:53:00.000-05:00

FEMA Aid

2006-07-03T21:39:00.000-05:00

8/15
From The Times-Picayune
FEMA has key concern with its trailers
If you can open one home, you can open many, it finds
Tuesday, August 15, 2006 By James Varney
What began as a problem with a single travel trailer has mushroomed into yet another trailer fiasco for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and now the front door locks on as many as 118,000 of the temporary units might have to be changed.
What happened was FEMA learned the keys to one trailer can open as many as 50 others, a problem the agency attributed to the fact that only three companies manufacture the trailer locks in the United States. It didn't, however, learn of the issue through some crime spree, but through a report on potholes plaguing the Renaissance Park trailer lot, the biggest trailer park that FEMA operates in Louisiana with more than 570 units, authorities said.
The rest of the article can be found at
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1155622536314710.xml&coll=1

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved individual aid for people affected by the flooding in Broome, Tioga, Chenango, Delaware and Otsego counties.

The decision means people can get checks with 7 to 10 days after applying, said MaryAnne Jackson, the top FEMA official in New York. Damage will have to be verified. There will be limits to the awards, but she was not sure of the amounts.

Rental assistance is available, she said.

People can apply by calling 1-800-621-FEMA or by going to http://www.fema.gov/. After readers complained the number and web site would not allow them access, FEMA said the issue was temporary and would be resolved momentarily. Potential applicants should try again..

Homeowners, renters and business owners can apply for disaster aid by calling FEMA's toll-free hot line at 800-621-FEMA from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. Aid may come in the form of grants for home repairs, rental assistance and other needs, and U.S. Small Business Administration loans may be available as well.

This will allow a host of other monies from other agencies such as the USDA to assist as well! If you have a USDA office in your county, contact them in the next few days to see if monies have been appropriated for the flood relief.

7/4
Information about state individual and family grants can be accessed by calling 888-7-NYS-AID Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Relief Centers

2006-07-03T21:24:00.000-05:00

Relief Centers
Red Cross/Salvation Army 8/4 - Press & Sun Bulletin - Closing as of 8/4
St Mary's in Kirkwood
St Ambrose in Endicott
St Mary of the Assumption Rec Center in Binghamton

Red Cross 8/4 - Press & Sun Bulletin - Closing as of 8/4
Broome - Binghamton High School
Broome - Susquehanna Valley High School
Chenango - Bainbridge Town Hall
Delaware - Walton High School
Delaware - Sidney Civic Center
Delaware - Deposit High School
Otsego - SUNY Oneonta
Tioga - O-A Middle School
Tioga - Tioga Central School - Tioga Center

NYS 8/4 - Press & Sun Bulletin - Closing as of 8/4
Broome - Binghamton High School
Chenango - Bainbridge Town Hall
Delaware - Deposit High School
Otsego - SUNY Oneonta
Tioga - O-A Middle School

FEMA 8/4 - Press & Sun Bulletin - Closing as of 8/4
Broome - Endwell High School
Broome - Susquehanna High School - Conklin 8/7 - Will remain Open
Chenango - Bainbridge Town Hall
Delaware - Sidney Civic Center - 8/7 Will Remain Open
Delaware - Deposit High School
Delaware - Hancock High School
Delaware - Walton High School - 8/7 - Will Remain Open
Tioga - O-A Middle School

Binghamton Phone Numbers -
Thanks to the donation of over 25 phones by Cingular Wireless, the city has also established one set of numbers for ALL questions, request, and information regarding flood relief:
240-8121;
240-8122;
240-8123.

The phones will be answered 24 hours, seven days a week, and calls to public works dispatch or the city’s emergency assistance line will be re-directed to these new numbers for central coordination.

Vestal Assistance
People who need help cleaning or getting supplies can call the Rev. Larry Hendricks of Grace Lutheran Church in Vestal at 748-0840 or 625-5006.

Town of Vestal has a help desk established. That phone number is
754-1514

Deleware County
Sidney
OLD K-mart
121 Delaware Ave
Sidney
Donation Drop Off

Susquehanna County Relief Centers 8/4 - Press & Sun Bulletin - Closing as of 8/4

Montrose Area High School (showers too 8A-8P)
Great Bend Fire Hall
Hallstead Fire Hall (port a johns and Red Cross)
Lanesboro Borough Building
Susquehanna Fire Hall

Residents and business owners should call 800-621-3362 or log onto www.fema.gov to apply. A disaster recovery center (location to be announced) will open soon in the county to offer further assistance.

The American Red Cross’s Family Services Assistance Centers are open at the Great Bend Fire Dept. on Tannery St., the Lanesboro Community Center on Main St., and the Hallstead Fire Department on Lackawanna St. Call 570-278-4650 or 570-278-1427, or log on http://www.arc.org/, for more information.

Sullivan County 8/4 - Press & Sun Bulletin - Closing as of 8/4
NYS Disaster Assistance Center
Sullivan County International Airport
Terminal Building
County Route 183-A
White Lake

Also, New York State has set up a toll free number for flood victims to call to file by telephone for assistance. That number is 1-888-769-7243.

Help From NC

2006-07-03T17:42:00.000-05:00

YOU SEEM TO BE THE LINK WE ALL NEED....

I GREW UP IN THE ENDICOTT AND BINGHAMTON AREA AND JUST LEFT MARCH 13TH TO GO BACK TO NC.

I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE IN NC WANTING TO HELP.... I AM WILLING TO SEND PACKAGES OR EVEN DRIVE BACK UP IF I HAVE TO TO TAKE DONATIONS BACK " HOME. "

IF YOU CAN GET WORD OUT THAT I AM WILLING TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF ALL COSTS TO HELP GET NEEDED SUPPLIES/ CLOTHES/ WHATEVER BACK TO THE SOUTHERN TIER, THEY CAN CONTACT ME AT MY PERSONAL E-MAIL XUSAIR1969@YAHOO.COM .

I AM IN WINSTON SALEM , NC AND AM WILLING TO DRIVE A BIT TO PICK DONATIONS UP IF I NEED TO. HOWEVER WE CAN HELP PLEASE LET US KNOW !!!

"THANK YOU" SEEMS LIKE SUCH A SMALL WORD BUT THERE IS A LOT OF HEART BEHIND IT !!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!!!!!

PATRICIA

Animal Disaster Relief

2006-07-03T13:33:00.000-05:00

Most animal shelters took in pets that could not go with their owners, and in many cases are still being housed.

Please consider taking

Dog Food - no red dye, please
Cat Food - no red dye please
Kitten Chow - no red dye please
Puppy Chow - no red dye please
Towels
Cat Litter
Cat Toys
Dog Toys

Broome County

Animal Care Council - cats only - 786-7729
131 Washington Ave Endicott

Front Street Dog Shelter - 778-2493
110 Cutler Pond Rd Binghamton

The Humane Society - 724-3709
Jackson St. Binghamton

Project Paw 724-2241
127 Bevier St Binghamton

SPEAK 729-7368
351 Flint Rd Binghamton

Delaware County

Heart of the Catskills Humane Society (607) 746.3080
PO Box 88, Delhi, NY 13753
Rt 10 Bloomville Rd, Delhi, NY

Peace Plantation Animal Shelter
Route 206, Walton, NY 607-865-5759

Tioga County

Candor Animal Shelter
Candor, NY 13743 (607) 659-3871

Stray Haven Animal Shelter
194 Shepard Rd, Waverly, NY 607-565-2859

Chemung County

Chemung County Humane Society
2435 State Route 352, Elmira, NY 607-732-1827

Horseheads Animal Shelter
150 Wygant Rd, Horseheads, NY 607-739-3945

Susquehanna County

The Susquehanna County Humane Society
570-278-1228

If anyone knows of others that are not listed, please contact me at KatrinaCoalition@aol.com

Volunteering

2006-07-03T10:20:00.000-05:00

7/30 - The Giving Circle
Coming To Sidney
www.TheGivingCircle.org
7/28 - Samaritan's Purse
Located at Davis College - Riverside Drive, Johnson City.
www.SamaritansPurse.org

7/30 - Youth Leaders
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/attention-youth-leaders.html
Mobilize the youth of the area!

7/18 Mental Health Volunteers
If you are a licensed Social Worker And would like to volunteer your services to assist in Disaster Mental Health Recovery assistance, please contact the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier 607-771-8888

7/18 Nechama Volunteers Needed
http://www.nechama.org/eastflood.php
Nechama Volunteer Coordinator Seth Gardner 763-732-0610 or sgardner@nechama.org

7/9 Found through Binghamton Indy Media
http://www.binghamtonpmc.org/newswire/display/2173/index.php
Subscribe here
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-binghamton-announce

Broome County Council of Churches
***** Volunteers Needed *****
Drivers - individuals who can and will drive Broome Bounty/CHOW pick upand delivery routes in either a council truck or van. Donations areavailable to us, but we do not have enough drivers to pick them up. Mos thelp is needed in the afternoon.
Warehouse help - individuals or groups who would be willing to sort andpack donated items for distribution. No heavy lifting involved. Help needed at any time of day.
Child care - many of our recovering families need someone to watch their children while they clean or work in a flood environment. Professional facilities are available, we need people who are willing to staff them. Help needed throughout the day.
Recovery teams - small groups, willing to work as a team, to assist in cleanup, recovery tasks. You will be assigned tasks as a team, matching your skills to those needed, from basic recovery/cleaning to ligh tdemolition. If you are interested, it's most helpful if you can sign up as a team, with one team member as the contact person. Help needed at anytime.

If you are able to assist in any of these areas, please contact the Council of Churches at
607-724-9130 or Murray Frick at mfrick@broomecouncil.net
Many thanks And richest blessings
(Rev.) Dr. Murray Frick
Executive DirectorBroome County Council of Churches
www.broomecouncil.net

Call:
First Call For Help
607-729-9100 or 1-800-227-5353
8-4
Red Cross of Susquehanna County (needs assessment volunteers)
570-278-1427
Red Cross of Southern Tier
607-785-7207
American Red Cross of the Southern Tier wants to train volunteers before another disaster hits. City of Binghamton (teams needed to assist elderly and disabled)
772-7020
7/28 United Way
729-2592, Ext. 213.
7/30 - Delaware County Red Cross
607-746-1600
8/7 - Conklin Presbyterian Church - 607-372-8572

7/4 - Please also look at the posts regarding assistance for citizens. All of those agencies providing assistance NEED volunteers. If you live near one and weren't affected severely, please consider volunteering a few hours as often as you can to help out. The more everyone helps, the faster this will get cleaned up and back to normal!

What and Where to Donate

2006-07-03T08:58:00.000-05:00

These are merely suggestions and are to established organizations within the community as well as a national organization or 2.

Apartments Needed Throughout Region
The First Ward Action Council
Voluntary Groups Active in Disaster
(607)772-2850
fax (607)231-2819
fwac-admin@stny.rr.com
Landlords and property managers with apartments or homes for rent - please make contact as soon as possible. Literally hundreds are needed throughout the 5 counties.

Benefits - 8/7
Neighbor Aid
To Benefit Kirkwood/Conklin
Steak BBQ $30/person
8/26 630-1130 PM
Mountain Top Grove - Hance Rd
Purchase at
Town of Binghamton Town Hall
Reliable Market in Conklin
Donations of door prizes needed
Contact Jody Butts 607-217-5218
Monetary Donations to Neighbor Aid
Checks written to Town of Binghamton - Neighbor Aid
Send to
Town of Binghamton
Neighbor Aid
PO Box 55 Binghamton NY 13903-0055
Proceeds to residents and students in Kirkwood/Conklin

Cleaning Supplies
Please use only NEW Items for these lists. The worst thing to have happen is to need to clean what is supposed to be already clean. The following is a GREAT list provided by UMCOR. They've been doing this for YEARS and are in charge of the case management for the entire Gulf Region, so feel their list is pretty accurate. If you plan on donating cleaning supplies, please refer to this list for the most needed items:
Flood Bucket
5-gallon bucket with resealable lid
Bleach (two 1-quart or one 82 oz. bottle.)
5 scouring pads
7 Sponges
1 scrub brush
18 cleaning towels (reusable wipes)
Liquid laundry detergent (two 25 oz. or one 50 oz. bottle)
1 household cleaner, 12-16 oz. bottle
Disinfectant dish soap, 16-28 oz. bottle
50 clothes pins
Clothes line (two 50 ft. or one 100 ft.)
5 dust masks
2 pair latex gloves
1 pair work gloves
24-bag roll of heavy-duty trash bags, 33-45 gallon (remove roll from box before placing in bucket)
1 Insect repellant spray, 6-14 oz. can
1 Air freshener, 8 or 9 oz. can

Only one official drop-off location for these shovels, but I would guess any of the relief centers will take them: * Drop off coal shovels (with a straight-end rather than pointed) and work gloves at United Way, 101 S. Jensen Road, Vestal.

Health Kit
Place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.
1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", No kitchen towels)
1 washcloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)
1 large tube of toothpaste
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

Bedding Kit
2 flat double-bed sheets
2 pillowcases
2 pillows

You can ask your church if they have an outlet for these items, or donate them to the following locations:
St Mary's church in Kirkwood
St Ambrose church in Endicott
St Mary of the Assumption Rec Center in Binghamton
Church of Christ in Endwell
Catholic Charities of Broome County in Binghamton

Clothing
Please note, although well-intentioned, we Broome County Does NOT NEED Clothes. We have far too many at this time as it is. Other counties may still need.

Fire Fighters - Volunteer
The NVFC donates all administrative costs associated with the Support Fund to ensure that 100% of the contributions reach volunteer firefighters in need. Contributions to the Support Fund are tax-deductible and can be made online at http://www.nvfc.org/ or mailed to:
NVFC Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund
P.O. Box 222061
Chantilly, VA 20153-2061

Food
Please refer to the following 2 posts for places to assist in their efforts to feed those who lost everything:
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/community-meals-available.html
http://binghamtonfloodrelief.blogspot.com/2006/07/independent-food-pantries.html

Football - Youth
Johnson City Chenango Valley PeeWee Football League
$60,000 for new uniforms for both players and cheerleaders
Zina Lewis - 607-729-0427
Zopps II 607-729-9488

Furniture
7/14 From the Broome County Council of Churches There is a GREAT need for household items, in the form of furniture, washers, dryers, dishes, etc. Unfortunately, we do not have warehouse facilities to store and distribute these items. With that in mind, we are using a "virtual" warehouse...asking people who have these items to call either First Call For Help or the Salvation Army, identify themselves and what they have to donate.
First Call For Help In Broome County: (607) 729-9100 (I will add the other counties when I know it is established there as well) e-mail: help@uwbroome.org
Salvation Army - 607-722-2987

Library (7/26)
Sidney - $50,000
Sidney Memorial Public Library
River St
Sidney, NY 13838
(607) 563-8021
(607) 563-12008
Walton $250,000
William Be Ogden Free Library
42 Gardiner Place
Walton NY 13856-1399
607-865-5929
Deposit - $50,000, Books
Deposit Free Library
159 Front St
Deposit, NY 13754
(607) 467-2577

Little League
Tioga Nichols Little League
$80,000 for field repair and concession repair
Rob Feeko - rfko@localnet.com, 607-687-9066

Local Officials
Your local officials probably haven't had a full night's sleep in the last month. Please consider taking simple but needed items for them:
Home made food - muffins, simple meals (lasagna, spaghetti pie, meatloaf, deli meat trays, etc)
Coffee/Tea - they're burning through coffee and tea like a wild fire!

Monetary
7/10 Citizens Bank today said that donations to help the victims of the recent flooding in New York’s Southern Tier are being accepted at all Citizens Bank branches throughout the state.
Ask for Salvation Army Account

7/10 Wegmans checkout donation program.
Johnson City, Elmira, Ithaca and Corning in New York.
Allentown, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Downingtown, State College, Williamsport, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Contribute any amount.
In New York all donations will be divided evenly amongst the Catholic Charities, Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse and the Salvation Army.
In Pennsylvania, donations will go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief for 2006 Flood Victims in Pa.

7/10 UMCOR Accepting Donations
You can help with donations of clean up supplies and generous contributions to UMCOR Advance #901670, Domestic Disaster Response. Send or take check to your local United Methodist Church.
UMCOR uses 100% of all funds toward Disaster Relief. The United Methodist Church donates the administrative costs.

7/31 Public Employee Relief Fund
CSEA
www.CSEACares.com
Material and monetary donations will be taken.

School Buses
7/21 Hancock School System
67 Education Lane Hancock, NY 13783 (607) 637-2511
http://hancock.stier.org
They need at least 12 buses for the new school year. Can local districts donate/loan 1 bus each?

School Supplies (8/7)
Colored Folders with Pockets
Spiral Notebooks, Composition Notebooks, 3-Ring Binders
Loose Leaf Paper, Writing Paper, Post-it Notes
Pens (regular and erasable) - Black and Blue ink
Pencils # 2 and colored, Pencil boxes or pouches, erasers
Markers, Crayons, Highlighters
Rulers, Protractors
Glue Sticks, Scissors
BackPacks

Send to or drop off:
Cingular Wireless
3108 Vestal Parkway E
Vestal NY 13850
or
United Way of Broome County
101 S. Jensen Rd
Vestal, NY 13850

Coping With The Stress

2006-07-03T08:53:00.000-05:00

Again, these are articles and information I have found for the relief effort in the Gulf Region.

The links will direct you away from the Binghamton Flood Relief site, but use your "Back" button to return to this index...

Watching Your Stress Levels
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/03/cumulative-stress-test.html

http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/03/measuring-life-stress.html

Helping Children Cope
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/03/helping-children-cope-after-disaster.html

Learn From Their Experience
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/06/emotional-trauma-of-katrina.html

Articles Regarding Cleaning

2006-07-03T08:48:00.000-05:00

7/8 - Updated Review from NIOSH:
Strategies for limiting exposures to mold and preventing mold-related health effects in the aftermath of hurricanes and storms are outlined by scientists and engineers from NIOSH and partner agencies in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an article published in the June 9, 2006, issue of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The report notes that, for most people, undisturbed mold is not a substantial health hazard. It is a greater hazard for persons with conditions such as impaired host defenses or mold allergies. To prevent exposure that could result in adverse health effects from disturbed mold, persons should 1) avoid areas where mold contamination is obvious, 2) use environmental controls, 3) use personal protective equipment, and 4) keep hands, skin, and clothing clean and free from mold-contaminated dust, the article recommends. The article is available on-line at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5508a1.htm.

I have these posted on my blog for hurricane relief. The links will direct you waway from the Binghamton Flood Relief. Just use your "Back" button to return to this index.

Remember that what you are cleaning has been contaminated with raw sewage and industrial waste. Hep A and Hep B are very real threats. Please use protective equipment!

Safety Guidelines for Clean-Up and Recovery
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/05/safety-guidelines-for-volunteers.html

Information from CDC on Clean-Up
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/06/cleaning-after-flood-from-_114986592701966625.html

http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/06/personal-protective-equipment.html

http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/06/guidelines-for-use-of-ppe.html

http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/06/fungal-contamination-cdc.html

Dealing with the Bugs!
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/03/insect-control-and-tolerance.html

Avoiding Heat Related Illness
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/04/avoiding-heat-related-illness.html

Independent Food Pantries

2006-07-03T08:31:00.000-05:00

Using CHOW requires a referral from a social worker, clergy, case-worker, etc. These are independent pantries that do not require a referral. Please remember that they are all working to assist the entire area. Good will offering will be accepted with extreme gratitude during this crisis.

All of these pantries are for LOCAL Residents only. If you live in that area, you can use it, but travelling to other areas for food is not allowed by the pantries.

If you are wishing to donate, please call the phone numbers listed.

Binghamton Area

Catholic Social Services 723-4563
100 Main St
M-W 9-12, F 9-12, Tr 1-4
Can be served once a month

Catherine's Cupboard 722-4388
1031 Chenango St
First and Third Tuesday of the month - 6-8PM
Can be served 3 times/year

Landmark Church
126 Court St
4th Saturday of the month 10AM

Loaves and Fishes 724-5304
25 1/2 Mill St
Monday and Wednesday 11-2

Salvation Army 722-2987
130 Washington St
M-F 9-2 Can be served once per 2 months
Bread Distribution - M-F 11-12

Chenango Bridge Area

St Christopher's 723-0677
103 Castle Creek Rd.
M-F 9-3

Chenango Forks

St Ritas
Route 12
Call in Advance 648-9651

Deposit Area

St Joseph - Fr Dempsey Center 467-3233
74 Second St
Thursday 3-6

Afton/Colesville/Harpersville/Sanataria Springs Area

Inter-Church Pantry 607-639-2082
34 Spring St
Afton
5-7PM Mon; 9-11AM Wed

Colesville Community Pantry
Volunteer Ambulance Services Building
1st and 3rd Tuesdays 10-1 and 4-7

St Josephs 648-5209
659 State Route 7
Call in Advance

Vestal Area

Our Lady of Sorrows 748-8287
157 Clark Street
Call in Advance

Memorial Park Baptist Church 785-3757
1013 Front Street
Call in Advance - leave msg if necessary

Caring Closet 607-797-0029
Vestal Hills Seventh Day Adventist Church
834 Bunn Hill Rd
After 5PM Mon-Fri

Endicott Area

St Ambrose 754-2330
203 Washington Ave
M&W 130-3

Our Lady of Good Counsel 748-7417
701 W Main Street
Call in Advance

The Food Pantry at The Learing Center E 429-0041
1000 Jenkins St
T&F 10-12
T 530-7

Port Crane
Sanitaria Springs United Methodist Church
386 Sanitaria Springs Rd
Port Crane
Tuesday 4-5

Whitney Point Area

St Patrick's 692-3911
59 Keibel Rd
T-F 9-12

Windsor Area

Our Lady of Lourdes 655-8117
Kent St
Call in Advance
Tu, Tr, Sa 10-12
Wed 2-4

Chenango County

Earlville Food Pantry 315-691-6515
Earlville Senior Ctr
1 N. Main St
Earlville
5-6:30PM Tues

Guilford Food Pantry 895-6822
1495 County Rd 35
Guilford
By Appointment

New Berlin Food Pantry 607-847-6128
4311 State Hwy 80
New Berlin
12PM-4PM Wed; After church till 3PM Sun

Tioga County

Will be calling to get addresses as soon as possible
Contact: Jim Osborne, 607-687-4222

Helps provide emergency food to local pantries in following towns:

Berkshire's Helping Hands
Candor
Lounsberry
Newark Valley's Project Neighbor
Owego's Open Door Mission
Tioga County Rural Ministry
Spencer
Waverly's Tioga Outreach Center
Apalachin's Park Terrace Food Pantries.

Bainbridge United Methodist Church 607-967-7383
27 N. Main St
Bainbridge
8AM-10AM Mon & Thurs

Congregational Church 607-657-2501 after 6PM
Rt 38
Richford
6:30-7:30PM Mon; 2-4PM Thur

Candor Food Pantry 607-659-3973
23 Main St (Rt 96)Catatonk
By Appointment Only

Lounsberry United Methodist Church 607-687-3419
East River Rd
Nichols, NY 13812
10AM-1PM Tue; 3PM-6PM Fri

Ecumenical Food Pantry 607-642-9936
61 Main Street
Newark Valley
Tu & Tr 3-4 by appointment only
Senior Pantry - 2nd Wed 10-11

Open Door Mission 607-687-1121
425 North Ave
Owego
10Am-4PM Tue/Wed/Fri; Noon-6PM Thur

Smithville Flats

240 Round Pond Rd 607-656-7202
Smithville Flats
9AM-Noon 2nd Sat

Willseyville

Bread of Life - 607-659-3343
37 Willseyville Rd
Willseyville
1:30PM-2:30PM Wed

Delaware County

7/11
Deposit Food Pantry
74 Second Street
Deposit, New York 13754

Community Meals Available

2006-07-03T08:19:00.000-05:00

These are held regularly and are not part of the emergency relief effort. Good will offerings will be accepting with extreme gratitude, but are not mandatory.

Broome County

American Legion offers meals to volunteers, victims

The Harpursville American Legion is providing hot, homemade meals to flood victims and volunteer. Groups of more than 10 people should call ahead at 693-1944, and meals will be ready when they arrive. Local deliveries are also available.

Located on Welton Street. It's also providing cots for those who need a place to sleep or nap, dry ice and bottled water to go, used clothing and Red Cross kits.

The Legion is also seeking donations of food and cash to keep the shelter operating.

Binghamton

Blessed Hope 7th Day Adventist - 607-723-3881
22 Bevier St
Saturday - 12N

Boulevard United Methodist Church
Corner of Grand and Boulevard
2nd Saturday of Each Month 530PM

Canteen on Wheels
Corner of Main and Oak
Sundays 12-2PM

Food at First Presbyterian 722-4219
42 Chenango Street
Tuesday 5-6PM

Kights of the Road
9 Leroy St (rear door) Sandwiches
M-F 1130-100

Mt Sinai Church of God 723-2361
126 S Washington St
Wednesdays 4-6PM

St Mary's Rec Center
Hawley St
M-F 1130-1245

Salvation Army 722-2987
127-131 Washington St
M-F 915-1045AM
Thursday-Monday 5PM

Tabernacle United Methodist Church 723-8983
83 Main Street
Wed. 6PM

Johnson City

Sarah Jane Johnson Church 797-3938
308 Main Street (Parish House Entrance)
Tuesday 530PM

Endicott

Central United Methodist Church - 754-6060
17 Nanticoke Ave
Thursday 5PM

First United Methodist Church 748-7434
53 McKinley Ave
Saturday Noon

Endwell United Methodist Church 754-5735
3301 Watson Blvd
Monday 5-6PM

St Ambrose Church
203 Washington Ave.
Wednesday 530PM

Whitney Point First United Methodist Church - 607-692-3638
7313 Collin St
Whitney Point
Last Thursday 5-6PM

Delaware County

Sherburne United Methodist - 607-674-5174
11 Chapel St
Sherburne
Saturday 11-1

Susquehanna County

Great Bend Fire Hall
1130-730

Hallstead Fire Hall
1130-730

Lanesboro Borough Building
1130-730

Susquehanna Fire Hall
1130-730

Red Cross @ Hallstead Fire Station

Tioga County

Campville Fire Department 748-9315
Rt. 17 (Campville Rd)
Endicott
Second Saturday 430-6

Newark Valley Methodist Church 642-8811
71 Main St
Newark Valley
3rd Saturday 430-630

Recover Vital Records

2006-07-01T20:24:00.000-05:00

http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery/Vital_Docs.shtml
This site has for citizens, businesses, not-for-profits and Federal employees

It have links and directions to replace your:
Bank Records
Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates
Damaged Money
Driver's License and Vehicle Registry
Civilian Personnel Records
Immigration Documents
Has a medical information form
Medicare Card Replacement
Military Service Records
Passport
Savings Bonds
SS Card
Tax Returns

There is a phone directory if you'd rather do this by phone and a FAQ sheet.

Please Check it out