CENTRAL JERSEY: Hurricane Sandy Relief Information

How to give; How to get help

Monetary donations are best

    The Princeton Area Community Foundation advises that gifts of money are the most appropriate response to this disaster, and donations should be given directly to organizations providing aid to storm victims. Supplies are difficult and expensive to transport, and only those on the ground know exactly what is needed. Money will allow relief agencies the greatest flexibility. Monetary donation will be put to good use by the following agencies:
    • American Red Cross: www.redcross.org/hurricane-sandy
    • Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties: www.foodbankmoc.org
    • Catholic Charities of Trenton: www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org
    • The Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, formed by Gov. Chris Christie, does not yet have a website, but checks can be mailed to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, P.O. Box 95, Mendham, N.J. 07945-0095. The email address for additional information is [email protected].

Local relief efforts

    • The Upper Freehold Office of Emergency Management is collecting donations of clothes and toiletries for storm victims at the Allentown First Aid Squad Building, 70 Route 526, Allentown from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Any items not used for the evacuees from the shore area sheltering at the first aid squad building will be redistributed to other regional shelters for storm victims. The shelter is looking for clothes, socks, sneakers, blankets and toiletries, including baby wipes, shampoos and personal hygiene products.
    • The Robert Wood Johnson Health and Wellness Center in Hamilton is opening its doors as space permits for the next two weeks to any Mercer County resident in need of shelter due to the storm. The center is located at 3100 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. For more information, call 609-584-7600.
    • The New Egypt Elks Lodge in Plumsted Township is collecting items at 6 p.m., Friday evening, Nov. 9 that will be distributed to storm victims at regional shelters. The Red Cross has asked for NEW sweatshirts, sweatpants, socks, underwear and T-shirts for children, men and women in sizes small through XL. Gently used jackets and coats are also needed. The Elks Lodge is located at 105 Lakewood Road, Plumsted. Contact the Elks at 609-758-8700.
    • Robbinsville residents are collecting donations of clean or new blankets, cleaning supplies (bleach, rubber gloves, work gloves, rakes, brooms mops), dry food, baby diapers, baby wipes, etc., for storm victims. Items can be dropped off at the following locations: 16 Annie Lane, 24 Wildflower Trail, 22 Cottage Place, 13 Patriot Drive, 110 Tindall Road, and 15 Barto Way for delivery to shore storm victims Nov. 9 and again on Nov. 16. Email contact: [email protected].
    • The Plainsboro Fire Department has started a food and clothing drive for hurricane victims in Ocean County, and parts of Queens and Staten Island in New York City. Donations of nonperishable food, clothing and cleaning supplies can be dropped off at the fire house at 405 Plainsboro Road from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday.

FEMA aid

    New Jersey residents and small businesses in all 21 counties are now eligible for individual assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Small Business Administration for disaster relief related to Hurricane Sandy.
    Eligibility allows New Jerseyans to apply for different types of assistance, including temporary housing, repair, replacement or other needs such as Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Small Business Administration disaster loans.
    All 21 counties eligible for public assistance. That program funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the hurricane.
    Register by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairments. Specialists are standing by at the toll-free numbers seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, until further notice. Help in languages other than English is available.
    You can also register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply through a web-enabled mobile device or smartphone by visiting http://m.fema.gov/ and following the link to “apply online for federal assistance.”

Transitional housing aid

    Sandy evacuees with inaccessible or unlivable homes may be able to qualify for FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, which allows eligible evacuees who cannot return to their homes to stay in hotels or motels temporarily until more suitable housing accommodations are available.
    The assistance is intended to provide a place to stay for evacuees whose neighborhoods are not accessible or whose houses have been destroyed. The initial period of assistance is from Nov. 1 to 14, with a Nov. 15 checkout. The federal program will not reimburse applicants for previously incurred hotel expenses. Applicants are responsible for their own meals and for any lodging costs above the authorized allowance.
    To be eligible to receive this federal assistance you must register with FEMA. You can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
    FEMA must be able to verify the identity of the evacuee. The primary residence of the evacuee must be in one of the counties that has been designated a disaster area, and the primary residence is inaccessible or unlivable due to damage or lack of power.
    TSA allows eligible individuals or families to stay in a hotel or motel for a limited time and have the cost of the room and taxes paid directly to the hotel by FEMA. Meals, telephone calls and other incidental charges are not covered.