Help available to residents dealing with Sandy’s aftermath

AN AERIAL VIEW of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy's winds and storm surge on Atlantic Ave. in Westerly. To see the rest of the R.I. Department of Transportation photo stream, <a href=click here. / COURTESY THE R.I. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION" title="AN AERIAL VIEW of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy's winds and storm surge on Atlantic Ave. in Westerly. To see the rest of the R.I. Department of Transportation photo stream, click here. / COURTESY THE R.I. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"/>
AN AERIAL VIEW of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy's winds and storm surge on Atlantic Ave. in Westerly. To see the rest of the R.I. Department of Transportation photo stream, click here. / COURTESY THE R.I. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

PROVIDENCE – As Rhode Island slowly works to return to normal after the effects of Hurricane Sandy, residents can seek crisis counseling, help with unemployment benefits and register to volunteer for relief efforts.
“Hurricanes can threaten an individual’s sense of control and feelings of safety, and they can affect many aspects of our lives. In addition to property damage and other losses, events like Hurricane Sandy can result in significant emotional distress,” said a release from the R.I. Emergency Management Agency.
Residents who feel as though they need counseling to deal with the effects of Hurricane Sandy should call the toll-free Disaster Distress Helpline at (800) 985-5990. The helpline, which connects callers to trained professionals from the closest crisis counseling centers in a nationwide network, is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association.
In light of the aftermath of the storm, Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee and Director of Labor and Training Charles J. Fogarty are waiving the one-week waiting period for unemployment insurance for some workers let go due to the effects of the storm.
Non-seasonal employers that were forced to lay off workers temporarily as a result of storm-related damage were urged to apply for a waiver with the R.I. Department of Labor and Training. To be deemed eligible for the benefit relief and the waiting period waiver, employers must submit an application to the DLT.
Since the start of Hurricane Sandy, National Grid has restored power to nearly 100,000 Rhode Islanders, but 24,192 still remain in the dark, as of 11 a.m., Thursday. The power utility said it is working to complete restoration by Friday, with possible isolated customers regaining power on Saturday. In Bristol County, Mass., only 1,247 customers were without power as of 11 a.m.
Only the Exeter-West Greenwich and South Kingstown public school systems, as well as a handful of the state’s private and religious schools, were closed on Thursday, according to the list of closures and delays on Turnto10.com. All of Rhode Island’s colleges were open on Thursday.
Westerly, which is one of the towns hit hardest during Sandy, saw severe damage in the Misquamicut area, losing more than 50 feet of coastline. There were also reports of looting on Tuesday. Many cottages at Roy Carpenter’s Beach were either washed away or suffered severe damage during the storm.
Due to Hurricane Sandy’s impact on the town, officials recommended residents celebrate Halloween on Saturday, Nov. 3 instead of Wednesday evening. “With the power outages and downed trees and power lines it is unsafe for children to trick-or-treat,” said a release from the town.
Currently, the Westerly Senior Center shelter remains open for residents in need of help. According to RIEMA, the American Red Cross monitors the needs of residents and will reopen other shelters if necessary.
The Joint Information Center was disbanded on Thursday, RIEMA spokesperson Annemarie Beardsworth announced. All storm-related information should be directed to RIEMA.
As RIEMA partners with United Way of Rhode Island’s 2-1-1 hotline, Rhode Islanders whose brushes with Sandy resulted in property or business damage can report their situations by calling 2-1-1. Filing reports via the hotline helps the state seek disaster assistance for individuals, though filing a report does not guarantee federal or state assistance.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood approved the quick release of $3 million in emergency relief funds for Rhode Island, Chafee announced Wednesday. The emergency funds will help the state begin repairs to infrastructure damaged by Sandy, specifically the seawalls that support the state’s roadways.
“Some of our most important infrastructure – including sea walls that protect communities from surging seas – was damaged in this storm. The swift release of this federal funding will help us take quick action to begin these projects and put Rhode Islanders to work on needed repairs,” said Chafee in a statement. “This is another indication that the Obama Administration is committed to helping affected states recover from this destructive storm.”
The $3 million represents 100 percent of the funds immediately requested by the state. Rhode Island will also be eligible for further aid or reimbursements for infrastructure repairs.
RIEMA issued safety warnings as Rhode Island residents, municipalities and emergency crews work to remove debris. The agency recommended workers wear sturdy boots and leather gloves to protect against nails and glass as well as long pants to protect against cuts, scraps and animal bites. It also recommended face masks, safety goggles and a hard hat as well as an updated tetanus vaccination.
The emergency group reminded residents to never approach a downed power line, but rather assume the line is still live. In spite of fallen tree limbs, RIEMA also asked residents not to attempt chainsaw use if they did not have training or experience using one.
RIEMA has offered suggestions to those looking to help those affected by Sandy by either volunteering or making donations.
Anyone interested in volunteering should visit www.serverhodeisland.org or call 2-1-1 to register. Volunteer opportunities exist for both individuals and businesses, but RIEMA insisted volunteers not show up unannounced at disaster sites. “Volunteer help may be needed in many communities; however, the goal is to match the community needs with volunteer skill sets and availability,” said the RIEMA release.
Donations to Sandy victims can be made to any recognized volunteer agency, though cash donations are the most useful. For additional information on needs, call 2-1-1. Donations can also be made through the National Donation Management Network at www.ndmn.us/RI.
R.I. Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin issued a statement warning all retail sellers not to inflate prices to try to profit from the storm. Rhode Island General Laws 6-13-21 prohibits all retail sellers from increasing the prices of any item immediately prior to or during a declared state of emergency.
“While we have not received any complaints as of yet, it is important to remind everyone to be aware of potential price gouging and to report any incidents to our office,” said Kilmartin in a statement. “I know that the majority of Rhode Islanders do not take this attitude, but unfortunately, sometimes in a crisis there are those who seek to take advantage of the situation.”
Anyone who feels they have been a victim of price gouging just prior to or during the disaster should contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit at (401) 274-4400.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed has extended the deadline for students seeking his military academy nomination. The former deadline was Wednesday, Oct. 31, students may now submit requests up until Monday, Nov. 5.

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