Press Release Archives - #385-96 - Establishes Disaster Assistance Center in Staten Island

Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 12, 1996

Release #385-96

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Bradford Billet (212) 442-9260

MAYOR GIULIANI AND OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OPEN A NEW DISASTER ASSISTANCE CENTER IN STATEN ISLAND

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced the opening of a new Disaster Assistance Center to assist Staten Island residents and business owners who sustained flood damage during torrential rain storms last Wednesday July 31. The multi-agency center, located at Intermediate School 2 at 333 Midland Avenue will be open on Wednesday, August 14 between the hours of 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. At the Center, local area residents can get assistance with an assortment of flood related problems. In addition, representatives from gas, electric, and City agencies will be on site to answer questions.

"These Disaster Assistance Centers are the City's latest effort to mitigate the problems caused by last month's flooding," Mayor Giuliani said. "The City will make certain that every City resource is available to anyone who needs help. I have also asked Governor Pataki to determine if residents and businesses are eligible for Small Business Administration Disaster Declaration and Federal Disaster Aid."

Last week the City opened a Disaster Assistance Center in Queens, which assisted 905 families and businesses. This effort will now be replicated in Brooklyn and Staten Island.

Heavy rainfall, on Wednesday, July 31, flooded homes and business in Midland Beach, Tottenville, Eltingtonville, Oakwood and New Dorp, S.I. The Mayor's Office of Emergency Management coordinated the City's initial response which included the Fire Department and Department of Environmental Protection pumping out numerous flooded cellars and the Mayor's Community Assistance Unit providing additional assistance for residents.

Joint damage assessment teams from the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Buildings and the Red Cross have completed 445 preliminary Disaster Assessments.

The center will be staffed by representatives from the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management, the Mayor's Community Assistance Unit, New York City Comptroller's Offices, the Department of Health, the Department of Sanitation, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Buildings, the Department of the Aging, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Human Resources Administration, the American Red Cross, Con Edison and Brooklyn Union.