Step by Step Guide for Businesses affected by Sandy

Dear MCC Members: We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and that you have been able to re-open your businesses after Hurricane Sandy. As we did post 9/11, MCC has launched the 2012 MCC Small Business Recovery Fund. The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Foundation is working with business partners to raise funds for small businesses throughout the city affected by Hurricane Sandy. Donations are being accepted and small grants will be given to businesses to help with rent, payroll, clean up, etc. Applications must be fully completed in order to be considered for a grant and grants will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Please click here for complete info. Also please see the resources are available through city, state, and federal government agencies and some helpful information to help you recover from losses and move forward with your business. Please see the following step-by-step guidelines for businesses noted below. Please do not hesitate to contact us and let us know how we may help you assist your business on the road to recovery. Step One: Assess your damages and contact your insurance agent to find out your coverage You should then take photographs of damaged property and gather as much documentation as you can of your lost assets. Read these helpful tips on how to assess damage. You can also read these helpful parameters on dealing with damage to commercial properties. If your business has suffered any sort of damage, you should contact your insurance agent at once (whether you have flood insurance or not). Below is a list of private insurance companies: Allstate: Allstate is prepared and ready to respond quickly to Hurricane Sandy with approximately 1,100 claim personnel ready to help. Allstate customers who suffered damage can call 1-800-54-STORM (800-457-8676), go online to http://www.allstate.com/claims/report-claim.aspx or contact their agent to file a claim or receive additional information about the claims process. Claims personnel are available 24/7. Farmers: Farmers Insurance Group, including subsidiaries Foremost Insurance, 21st Century and Bristol West, are prepared to help customers in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Customers with damage should immediately contact their agent or call Farmers' 24-hour-claims hotline, 1-800-435-7764 for immediate assistance. Geico: Teams of GEICO claim adjusters have deployed to affected areas, and will remain there until they have resolved every hurricane-related claim. If you need to report a claim, please visit http://www.geico.com/claims/report/ or call 1-800-841-3000. Claims personnel are available 24/7. The Hartford: The Hartford Insurance Company has set up a catastrophe information center for its customers. Please call 1-800-243-5860 or go online to http://www.thehartford.com for more information. Travelers: Travelers has thousands of trained claim professionals countrywide, who are ready to help as soon as it is safe to enter the affected areas. Travelers insurance customers can find more information or report a claim online at https://www.travelers.com/claim/emergency.aspx or call 1-800-252-4633 for personal insurance or 1-800-238-6225 for business insurance Step Two: Apply for Assistance If your business has suffered damages not covered by your insurance provider, there are several programs that might be of assistance to you. Register with FEMA by visiting www.sba.gov/disaster or calling FEMA's toll free number: (800) 621-FEMA. FEMA will assist you in identifying the types of disaster loans and relief programs available to you from the Federal Government. NYC Business Solutions and the NY Business Development Corporation are offering various types of financial assistance to businesses. Please click here for details. Apply for relief from NYS Empire Development Corporation. The New York State Empire Development Corporation is in the process of finalizing a package of loans and grants available for businesses. Our estimation is that these programs will be similar to those offered after Hurricane Irene. It is important that you register at this site, so that, when these programs are formalized, you will be notified immediately. Register at http://www.esd.ny.gov/sandyAssistance.asp Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance: Assistance is available to displaced workers who have either lost work or income due to the effects of hurricane Sandy. Call the NYS Department of Labor at (800) 209-8124 or apply at labor.ny.gov/ui/claimantinfo/disaster-unemployment-assistance.shtm Click here to download more information: DUA Information Sheet Apply to the 2012 MCC Small Business Recovery Fund for immediate grants: Click here for details. NYC Workforce 1 centers have also received a national emergency grant to assist in finding re-employment for those whose livelihoods have been affected. Find a center near you: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/wf1/html/contact/contact.shtml JP Morgan Chase offers Relief Following Hurricane Sandy. Please click here for details. Please click here to see additional resources for businesses. Step Three: Rebuilding: Seek help with getting back on your feet Building and Power Issues Please contact Con Edison for immediate issues regarding power in your area: http://www.coned.com/ If you have a home heating oil tank and it has leaked into your basement and/or has been damaged by the storm, please contact NYSDEC (718 482-7376) for a no-fee removal of oil. Visit www.nyc.gov/buildings and view their provided post-storm advisories for important information on how to safely make building repairs and prepare for re-habitation after power has been restored. When power is restored, property owners who suffer from flooding will be required to get sign-offs from the Department of Buildings before they can re-occupy their premises. This can be done through a self-certification process from your architect or an expedited inspection from the DOB. For more info, visit www.nyc.gov/buildings Please contact Time Warner Cable Business Class for updates on service in your area: http://www.twcbc.com/nyc/ Office Space: Micro-Office Solutions: Limited cubicle space, office space and open desk seating available at 122 W. 27th Street, New York, NY 10001 AND 1375 Broadway, New York, NY 10018 Both locations include reliable power, phone, and Internet service. Contact Matt: sales@microoffice.com | For further details: MOS Hurricane Response •Businesses looking to house a small number of people that might ordinarily sublet small office space in New York City •Individuals/professionals seeking a productive office environment •Firms needing temporary office space without the long-term commitment associated with a standard office lease in Manhattan •Individuals or businesses needing affordable part-time office space, usually not an option with a traditional office lease in NYC The Real Estate Board of New York also has space availability. http://www.rebny.com/ Restoration and Clean up: If you are restoring your current property, please see the following MCC members forRestoration Services. Please see the following members for recycling and sanitation services. Do you need volunteers to help with clean up? Please write to Laura Bucko at laura@manhattancc.org. We may be able to connect you with volunteers. Other Services: MCC members are offering their services for free or for highly reduced rates.Please click here to for offers to help with marketing, technology, telecommunications, storage, engineering and cleaning/mold and mildew remediation. Fraud Be very careful of contractors you hire and request proper identification, licenses, etc. Please read the following message from Eric Schneiderman, NYS Attorney General. Please report price gouging and any post-hurricane scams. All ConEd and LIPA employees and all City and State employees are required to carry identification. Please be wary of people fraudulently posing as such. Be wary of contractors, especially those from out-of-state, who may be soliciting for business. Make sure they are licensed and vetted through the Better Business Bureau and local authorities. Be sure to request references and look them up online. **If you have specific questions about how to get help for your business, please e-mail Laura Bucko VP/Director of Communications, MCC at laura@manhattancc.org and we will direct you to resources available. http://www.manhattancc.org/common/News/articles/detail.cfm?QID=9586&classification=news&topicID=0&clientID=11001&subnav=news