New York Stands with Those Impacted by Hurricane Fiona

Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 18, 2022 and in the Dominican Republic on September 19, 2022.

In the wake of devastating flooding and winds caused by Hurricane Fiona, the worst storm to hit the island since Hurricane Maria in 2017, Governor Kathy Hochul announced actions to support Puerto Rico and to help all impacted by the storm recover.

"...We stand ready to help the people of Puerto Rico recover and rebuild from this terrible storm... In times like this, New York will be there to help in any way we can, including sending personnel and resources to help the island and its residents recover." — Governor Kathy Hochul

Following a call with Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi, Governor Hochul on September 19 directed the New York State Police to send a total of 100 Troopers in the coming weeks to assist with keeping residents safe.

The Governor also announced that the state has been working with partners in the private sector who have pledged their support for response and recovery efforts. Additionally, teams from the New York Power Authority are ready to deploy and assist in restoring power to the island.

The NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) is closely tracking the storm and stands ready to support any requests to assist areas impacted by Fiona.

September 23 - The Department of Financial Services issued guidance calling on New York state-chartered banks to take all reasonable steps to assist consumers and businesses affected by the hurricane including waiving ATM and late fees, increasing ATM withdrawal limits, and facilitating and expediting the transmission of funds. These actions will help ease financial burdens for the many New Yorkers seeking to support family and friends in Puerto Rico, as well as anyone in Puerto Rico with New York bank accounts.

September 28 - Members of Governor Hochul's administration departed for Puerto Rico to assist and assess Hurricane Fiona relief efforts, as the island continues to recover from the devastating storm.

September 29 - Governor Hochul announced New York State is deploying additional resources to Puerto Rico, including a multi-agency team of emergency response personnel and donated food and water supplies.

President Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Puerto Rico. In the coming days and week, more information about relief services will be available.

FEMA has deployed hundreds of personnel to Puerto Rico & are currently assessing damage to determine additional resources needed. The Federal Government is committed to helping bolster response & recovery efforts alongside the Government of Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has guidance in Spanish and English for those recovering from natural disasters.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Response Organization is activated for Hurricane Fiona, and Emergency responders are deployed to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the FEMA Region II Response Coordination Center in New Jersey. Here are latest situation updates from the DOE.

If you or someone you know are in Puerto Rico and are in immediate need of assistance:

• Text SHELTER & your zip code to 43362 or dial 211 to locate a nearby shelter.
• Find a map of shelters from the Red Cross.
• Call for any immediate needs at 1-800-REDCROSS

Find the latest information on power outages, shelter capacity, water access, and more.

Important Phone numbers:

• Police: Call 9-1-1 or (787) 343-2020 or visit policia.pr.gov
• AAA: Call (787) 620-2482 or visit acueductospr.com
• Emergency Medical Services: Call 9-1-1 or visit cempr.pr.gov
• ASSMCA: Call (800) 981-0023 or visit assmca.pr.gov
• Luma Energy: Call (844) 888-5862 or visit lumapr.com
• Emergency Management: Call (787) 724-0124 or visit manejodeemergencias.pr.gov
• The Humane Society PR: Call (787) 720-6039 or visit hspr.org

If you need 24-Hour Phone Support: You can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline by calling 1-800-985-5990. Callers can connect with counselors for support in 100+ languages via 3rd party interpretation, including in Ukrainian and Russian.

If you need a 24-hour Crisis Text Line: Text GOT5 to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.

For 24-Hour Support for Deaf or hard of hearing American Sign Language users: The national Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is now offering direct crisis counseling and support for Deaf or hard of hearing American Sign Language users via a dedicated videophone option. Disaster survivors and responders can connect with trained DDH crisis workers fluent in ASL by dialing 1-800-985-5990 from a videophone-enabled device or via an “ASL Now” link which can be accessed at DisasterDistress.samhsa.gov.

Domestic and Sexual Violence Crisis Hotline

New York State has a 24 hour crisis hotline for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. If your partner hurts or controls you, or you are unsafe in your relationship, you can contact the NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-942-6906, texting 1-844-997-2121, or chatting online at opdv.ny.gov. Callers can connect with advocates for confidential support in most languages, including Spanish.

NYC Care

NYC Care is a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance. It is available regardless of your immigration status or ability to pay. All NYC Care services are provided through NYC Health + Hospitals. With NYC Care, you can get a unique membership card to access health services, choose your own doctor, and get affordable medications.

Learn more about NYC Care by visiting NYCCare.NYC or by calling 1-646-NYC-CARE (1-646-692-2273).

According to FEMA, unsolicited donated goods can burden voluntary organizations, and cash donations are the most direct, efficient, and flexible way to help. Donations to trusted organizations will ensure your money goes directly where it is needed.

Avoid Donation Scams

Anytime disasters occur, scam artists prey on the heartstrings of individuals looking to help. The invasion of Ukraine provides an opportunity for fraudsters to set up fake charities or pose as compelling war victims. Others design websites to mimic a legitimate charity’s official site to steal unsuspecting donors' money and/or personal information.

To prevent donation money from falling into the wrong hands, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection recommends taking the following precautions:

• Verify the request. Scammers are more frequently posing as friends, family or romantic interests on social media and requesting donations. If you receive an unsolicited request for donation relief online, even if it appears to be someone you know, connect with the person directly through a different communication link to verify the request. Do not click on any links or complete forms before verifying the source. If the request is coming from someone you only recently met online, it is most likely a scam and you should be especially wary.

• Research the charity. Don’t rely on a charity website alone. Search online before donating to any charity using the name of the group plus search terms like “review” and “scam”. The Federal Trade Commission recommends checking with give.org, charitynavigator.org, charitywatch.org, or candid.org to see reports and ratings for charities. You can also check with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for verification that a charity is registered. The Office of the Attorney General also recommends reviewing the Charities Registry for financial reports prior to donating to ensure the charity is fiscally sound.

• Resist high-pressure tactics. While the situation is urgent, consumers should resist being pressured to donate immediately. Scammers often pressure you to donate immediately, causing you to overlook red flags in their story. Beware of direct e-mails from “victims” and solicitors who employ heart-wrenching stories, insisting that you donate immediately. Do not to give money over the phone to unsolicited telemarketers; instead, ask the caller to send written materials about the charity and where to donate, if you choose.

• Keep personal information private. Never give your Social Security number, credit card or debit card number, or other personal identifying information in response to an unsolicited charitable request. If donating online, ensure that your internet connection is secure before following through on donation requests.

• Ask how your money will be spent. Consumers want to know that their money is going directly to the victims. A genuine charity should be able to let you know how much of your donation will go directly to the program as opposed to administrative fees.

• Donate by check or credit card. Never give money using cash, gift cards, crypto currency, or any tender that would be difficult to trace. Give your contribution by check or credit card to ensure that you have a record of the donation. Make checks out to the charity, not to an individual. If you choose to donate via a charity's website, check that the website is secure and that your computer is equipped with the latest anti-virus protection.

If you suspect that you have encountered a fraudulent attempt to receive donations, you can file a complaint with the New York State Division of Consumer Protection.

The Division’s Consumer Assistance Hotline is open Monday to Friday, excluding State holidays, 8:30am to 4:30pm at 1-800-697-1220. You can find more information and tips by following the Division of Consumer Protection on social media on Twitter (@NYSConsumer) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/nysconsumer).