Whom You Know: MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES $500 MILLION FOR NYC RAPID REPAIRS PROGRAM TO RESTORE POWER, HEAT AND HOT WATER TO HOMES DAMAGED BY HURRICANE SANDY More Than 6,000 Homeowners Have Enrolled in NYC Rapid Repairs; City Has Now Authorized Nearly $1.2 Billion in Emergency Spending

Sunday, November 25, 2012

MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES $500 MILLION FOR NYC RAPID REPAIRS PROGRAM TO RESTORE POWER, HEAT AND HOT WATER TO HOMES DAMAGED BY HURRICANE SANDY More Than 6,000 Homeowners Have Enrolled in NYC Rapid Repairs; City Has Now Authorized Nearly $1.2 Billion in Emergency Spending

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the authorization of $500 million for NYC Rapid Repairs, the first-of-its-kind program that sends teams of contractors and City inspectors to restore power, heat and hot water to homes impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The emergency spending will allow City Rapid Repair teams to quickly assess and repair damaged homes – and cover the upfront costs so homeowners do not have to pay. More than 6,000 homeowners have enrolled in NYC Rapid Repairs, and teams have visited nearly 1,700 homes. There are 134 assessment teams on the ground in Queens and Brooklyn. To date, the City has authorized $1.2 billion in emergency spending to restore critical services impacted by Hurricane Sandy, including the $500 million for NYC Rapid Repairs and $500 million to restore public school and hospital buildings. The Mayor made the announcement after visiting two homes in the Far Rockaways where Rapid Repairs teams restored power, heat and hot water.

“We launched the innovative NYC Rapid Repairs program because it is critical that we return New Yorkers to their homes as soon as possible,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “These emergency funds are a necessary part of our work to repair the neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Sandy, and the City will continue to make these programs and funds available for our ongoing relief work.”

Mayor Bloomberg launched NYC Rapid Repairs earlier this month to streamline the process for restoring power, heat and hot water to damaged homes. Under the typical process, homeowners are responsible for arranging repair work, and applying for federal reimbursement. Through NYC Rapid Repairs and in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the City coordinates assessments and repair work so that they happen more quickly and efficiently. The City also covers the construction costs. Homeowners can enroll in NYC Rapid Repairs by visiting NYC.gov or calling 311. A FEMA ID number is required and can be provided through DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. The Rapid Repairs teams will work closely with City agencies, including the Department of Buildings and Department of Housing Preservation and Development, to make sure that any necessary inspections and certifications are done as quickly as possible.

The City already has authorized $1.2 million in spending following Hurricane Sandy to provide emergency services and recovery and relief programs. Those expenses include:
$500 million for the Department of Housing Preservation and Development for NYC Rapid Repairs.
$200 million for the Department of Education for repairs to school buildings.
$300 million for the Health and Hospitals Corporation for repairs to hospital buildings.
$30 million for the Department of Transportation to repair escalators and elevators and electrical systems at St. George and Whitehall Street Staten Island Ferry Terminals, to procure construction services for the Battery Park underpass and West Street underpass, to repair signal lights sand intersections that were damaged by wind and flooding.
$12 million for the Department of Sanitation Office of Emergency Management to remove debris
$2.5 million to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and Human Resource Administration for food and water distribution.
$2 million to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services for the delivery of maintenance, repair and operations supplies for response operations
$5 million for electrical plumbing and water line inspections for homes in Staten Island and Queens
$1.1 million to the Office of Emergency Management for additional ambulances

The City’s overtime costs for the response to Hurricane Sandy will be in addition to these amounts already authorized.

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