Sandy Update: Top Reasons You're Eligible to Apply for SBA Disaster Assistance

From SBA:

A month after Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast, homeowners, renters and businesses are dealing with the challenging task of rebuilding their homes, businesses and communities.

There’s a lot of information out there about different forms of federal assistance, and a lot of confusion about the U.S. Small Business Administration’s role in helping homeowners, renters and businesses recover. The SBA is committed to the long-term recovery of the people and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Don’t let misinformation keep you from getting an SBA disaster loan! Here are the facts:

You don’t have to be a business owner to apply for an SBA disaster loan. SBA makes low-interest loans to homeowners of up to $200,000 to repair or replace the residence. Renters and homeowners are also eligible to apply for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property – like furniture, cars, appliances – that isn’t fully covered by insurance.

A new Google Crisis Response project

Google Public Alerts is a platform designed to bring you relevant emergency alerts when and where you’re searching for them.

If a major weather event is headed for your area, you might go online to search for the information you need: What’s happening? Where and when will it strike? How severe will it be? What resources are available to help?

More HERE.

NYLA Distributes $9,000 in Disaster Relief Funds to Libraries Damaged by Flooding

Last week, representatives of NYLA, including President Matt Bollerman, Past-President Marcia Eggleston, Deputy Director Jeremy Johannesen and Michael J. Borges, Executive Director, visited nine libraries to hand deliver $1,000 checks to help them with their recovery efforts. The libraries visited were in varying degrees of restoration, with some already done with repairs and open for business, while others were still weeks or months away from reopening.

Everyone who contributed to our Disaster Relief Fund enabled NYLA to provide this financial assistance to libraries in need. The fundraising efforts demonstrated that when the library community acts in concert we can make a difference.

See the list of libraries that received financial assistance or make a contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund.

Happy Holidays and thanks again for your support!


New York Library Association

BENEFIT SCHOHARIE FREE LIBRARY AND MIDDLEBURGH LIBRARY

BOOKFAIR AT BARNES AND NOBLE- MOHAWK COMMONS OR ONLINE TO BENEFIT SCHOHARIE FREE LIBRARY AND MIDDLEBURGH LIBRARY

IN-STORE - Saturday, December 10, 2011
ONLINE- Saturday, December 10 - Thursday, 15, 2011

Come support libraries that were damaged by Hurricanes Irene and Lee. Stop by Barnes and Noble at Mohawk Commons (Schenectady) anytime on Saturday, December 10 and use Bookfair ID 10622223 at the checkout when you make a purchase. A percentage of your purchase anywhere in the store, including the café, will be donated to the libraries by Barnes and Noble.

Join them for our special family events:

11 AM - Nancy Gifford, Children's Librarian, Schenectady County Public Library will be presenting a story time

1 PM - Making a jigsaw puzzle wreath with the Schoharie County Cooperative Extension

*In-store gift wrapping from 11-1 and 2-4?

For those who want to order online, use bn.com anytime between December
10 and December 15 and be sure to include Bookfair ID 10622223 at the end of the sale.

Barnes and Noble members and educators can use their discounts on eligible purchases in-store or online.

NYLA Disaster Relief Fund - Update

NYLA has created a page on its website which lists libraries impacted by flooding as well as more detailed information about who to contact at those libraries if you are interested in donating books, materials, or your time volunteering with cleanup activities.

So far NYLA has collected $4,400 in its Disaster Relief Fund to distribute to libraries who request financial assistance.

Flood Damaged Libraries - Contributions Needed

Below is list of libraries damaged by Hurricane Irene and subsequent flooding. Donations are desperately needed. Visit http://nyla-omc.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/donate/form.html
http://nyla-omc.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/donate/form.html to make a donation to NYLA’s Disaster Relief Fund, the proceeds will be distributed to affected libraries. The more donations we receive the more we can distribute to impacted libraries.
Moffat Library
Windham Public Library
Desmond-Fish Library
Sarah Hull Hallock Free Library
Starr Memorial Library
Phoenicia Library
Rye Free Reading Room
Schoharie Free Association Library
Middleburgh Public Library
Wells Memorial Library
Goshen Public Library
Wallkill Public Library

In addition, NYLA's online fundraising partner, CauseVox has agreed to create for free a fundraising website for one of the damaged libraries, it would http://empirestatebook.causevox.com/ look like this. So please contact Michael J. Borges (518-432-6952, ext. 101 or director@nyla.org) if you are one of the libraries on this list.

Plus every library should consider establishing an online fundraising presence and CauseVox is easy to use at very minimal cost. For more info , visit HERE.

Announcement Regarding Hurricane Irene from the state tax department

President Barack H. Obama has declared certain counties in New York State to be disaster areas as a result of Hurricane Irene. As a result of this declaration, Commissioner Thomas H. Mattox has postponed certain tax filing and payment deadlines for taxpayers in these counties who were directly affected by the storm.
The relief provided for in this notice applies to taxpayers directly affected by the storm in the counties of Albany, Clinton, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Montgomery, Nassau, Orange, Otsego, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Suffolk, Ulster, Warren, and Westchester. This includes taxpayers residing in or having their principal place of business in these counties. In addition, the relief will also apply to taxpayers directly affected by the storm located in any additional counties in New York State that are declared disaster areas and eligible for federal tax relief after this notice is issued. The relief will also apply to taxpayers directly affected by the storm in counties in other states that are declared disaster areas and eligible for federal tax relief.

See details HERE [PDF].

NYLA Collecting Donations for Flood Damaged Libraries in NYS

The New York Library Asoociation created a Disaster Relief fund several years ago (the last time there was major flooding) to collect donations from the library community and beyond to assist libraries damaged by floods and other natural disasters. So far NYLA knows of potentially two libraries that have been damaged by Hurricane Irene and subsequent flooding – Keene and Wells Memorial Libraries. If you know of any other libraries, please let Michael Borges know.

NYLA can serve as collection point for donations and then distribute proceeds to affected libraries. To make a donation to NYLA’s Disaster Relief Fund visit HERE.

Labor for Your Neighbor

Governor Cuomo began a new program this weekend called "Labor for Your Neighbor," which encourages citizens to pitch in and help their fellow New Yorkers hit the hardest by Hurricane Irene.
The "Labor for Your Neighbor" program was created to build on the outpouring of support already expressed by New Yorkers and to stimulate even more neighbor-to-neighbor help on this long holiday weekend.
Through this program, individual New Yorkers can join Governor Cuomo and roll up their sleeves to help their neighbors take small steps toward recovery.
Click here for more information about the "Labor for Your Neighbor" program.
Volunteers will be shuttled into villages needing assistance and provided with appropriate equipment and supervision. New Yorkers who want to help by making a financial contribution to recovery efforts can do so by clicking the link above and donating through a centralized effort coordinated by the United Way of New York State.
Together, we will rebuild better and stronger than ever before.

Iowa's Libraries and Museums Assess Flood Damage

Posted July 6, 2008.

Be prepared

"What would happen in your neighborhood if there were a prolonged power outage, or some similar disaster or disruption of services? Are we prepared to deal with food or water shortages, or make sure our elderly and vulnerable neighbors are looked after?

A workshop entitled 'Extreme Events, Community Conversation on Preparedness: What About You?' will be held Monday, August 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the SUNY School of Public Health, One University Place in Rensselaer. The event is free of charge, but advance registration is required at www.ualbanycphp.org, or by calling (518) 402-0336.

Keynote speaker is Geroges Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association. There will be workshops on Disaster Mental Health Preparedness, the Role of Faith-Based Communities, and Outreach to Vulnerable Communities. "This seminar will discuss the importance of having a strong local community-based preparedness system. The goal is to assist leaders to determine the degree of preparedness within their communities."