NPM Team - FEMA (yesterday at 3:02 pm)  Reply

There is a lot of misinformation circulating on social networks regarding the response and recovery effort for Hurricane Sandy. Rumors spread fast: please tell a friend, share this page and help us provide accurate information about the types of assistance available.

Check here often for an on-going list of rumors and their true or false status.

Cash Cards / Food Stamps

• There are message boards and traffic on social media sites related to FEMA and/or the American Red Cross distributing cash cards to individuals affected by Hurricane Sandy.  This is FALSE.

(November 5)

• If you are a survivor in a declared county and have losses other than food, including damage to your home, personal property, or vehicle, please apply for assistance online (www.disasterassistance.gov), on a mobile device, or over the phone 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).  This is TRUE.
• If you are seeking additional information about Red Cross assistance, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit www.redcross.org.  This is TRUE.
• Food stamps being given out to residents of New York and New Jersey as a part of FEMA assistance. This is FALSE.  (November 3)
• FEMA's Individuals and Households Program does not provide food assistance or a $300 food voucher.  If you have an emergency need for food, please call 211. If you reside in the NYC area, you may find information about food distribution locations by visiting www.nyc.gov. If you are a survivor in a declared county and have losses other than food, including damage to your home, personal property, or vehicle, please apply for assistance online (www.disasterassistance.gov), on a mobile device, or over the phone 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).  This is TRUE.

Hiring

• There are reports that FEMA is paying $1,000 to go to New York and New Jersey to clean up debris.  This is FALSE.  (November 5)
• For information on how to volunteer and assist with Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts, visit Serve.gov/sandy.  This is TRUE.
• There is a spike of traffic related to FEMA hiring cleanup crews in both New York and New Jersey. This is FALSE.  (November 2)
• For information on how to volunteer and assist with Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts, visit Serve.gov/sandy.  This is TRUE

Shelter

• There was an inaccurate report on a radio station discussing a tent city for sheltering at Monmouth Park race track in New Jersey.  This is FALSE.  (November 5)
• There are tents set up at Monmouth Park for first responders and utility and construction workers as a place to rest, take a break and receive food and water.  If you are in need of shelter, visit the American Red Cross FIND OPEN SHELTERS by visiting, www.redcross.org/find-help/shelter.  This is TRUE.

Water

• There have been recent blog posts and social media traffic expressing that FEMA is out of bottled water.  This is FALSE.  (November 3) 
• We are providing water to our state partners for distribution.  For New York locations and times of food and water distribution centers and daytime warming centers, visit www.nyc.gov.  This is TRUE.
• There have been calls and posts from citizens related to the failure of the Old Bridge Township water system in Old Bridge, New Jersey. This is FALSE.  (November 3)
• The Old Bridge Municipal Utilities Authority (OBMUA) has reported that the water system is stable and safe and that there are no usage restrictions currently in place.  This is TRUE.

Modified by NPM Team - FEMA (yesterday at 3:05 pm)