Westchester County Disaster Recovery Fund Distributes Hurricane Sandy Relief Grants

Funds still available for area residents

Westchester County, N.Y. – (June 18, 2013) – Heavy rainfall in the month of June, accompanied by widespread flooding in parts of the county, is a reminder from Mother Nature that natural disasters and catastrophic events happen, and they can adversely impact lives. At this start of hurricane season and with memories of Sandy fresh on the minds of residents, United Way of Westchester and Putnam and the County of Westchester want to make residents aware of available relief resources. In partnership they developed the Westchester County Disaster Recovery Fund (WCDRF) in 2007, which continues to be a resource which is activated in the case of a natural disaster.  These funds are used to directly help families rebuild their lives.

While many nonprofits and government agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) respond to an immediate crisis, WCDRF is available to provide modest grants that help people recover from the long term effects of a catastrophic event such as a hurricane, extensive flooding and terrorist actions. United Way of Westchester and Putnam is the fiscal agent for WCDRF.

United Way recently sent out grant awards ranging from approximately $200 to $1,600 to eight area residents still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy. These grant recipients lacked the financial resources for home repairs and mold remediation. One recipient lost her job when the employer relocated after Sandy and needed help with basic utility costs. In all cases, WCDRF helped cover recovery needs that were not covered by FEMA or insurance. In the days following Hurricane Sandy, the United Way 2-1-1 helpline fielded more than 25,000 calls and the affiliated Web site – Hudson211.org – tallied nearly 1,300,000 searches.

“Through generous donations and the ongoing work of county and nonprofit representatives and community volunteers, United Way of Westchester and Putnam is able to help residents take small steps toward putting their lives back together,” said Naomi Adler, CEO of the United Way of Westchester and Putnam.

“The Westchester County Disaster Recovery Fund was an important tool in helping our residents rebuild after the destruction of Hurricane Sandy," said Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino. "Thanks to the United Way of Westchester and Putnam, the fund will continue to be there for our residents in the event of future disasters.  Those generous supporters who donated to the fund deserve our thanks. The money has stayed right here in Westchester and helped our neighbors at a time when they needed it most.”

Funds are still available. For more information or to be linked to a disaster recovery case manager, call United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline. United Way call specialists can communicate with callers in more than 250 languages, from 9AM to 7PM, 365 days a year.

To make a donation or to read more about the fund, visit www.uwwp.org/disaster-fund.shtml, Checks can be made out to “United Way of Westchester and Putnam” with a notation for the Disaster Recovery Fund” and mailed to the United Way of Westchester and Putnam at 336 Central Ave., White Plains, NY, 10606.

About the United Way of Westchester and Putnam

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012, the United Way of Westchester and Putnam operates with the fundamental belief that all people deserve a quality education, enough income to support a family, and opportunities for a healthy lifestyle. The not-for-profit organization works with agency partners, government, businesses and community leaders to solve problems that are too complex for any one entity alone. All contributions go toward improving the education, income, and health of the children, youth and families throughout Westchester and Putnam. United Way’s Hudson Valley Region 2-1-1, covering Westchester and Putnam as well as Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties, answers up to 500 calls and 1,000 online inquiries per day ranging from tax, heating, and mortgage questions to childcare, basic needs, natural disaster and crisis calls. The United Way of Westchester and Putnam is located at 336 Central Park Ave., White Plains, NY 10606. They can be reached at 914-997-6700 or by visiting www.uwwp.org. Follow the United Way on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UnitedWayWP) and Twitter (@UnitedWayWP) for the latest news and updates.