Community Recovery & Resilience Hub
If a natural disaster or other emergencies have impacted you or a loved one, we encourage you to explore the resources below.
For further assistance, please reach out to us at basicneeds@sunyempire.edu.
FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) connects individuals and families with crisis counseling, answers to insurance questions, housing assistance, unemployment benefits, food banks, and medical assistance. FEMA also offers step-by-step recovery guides for those impacted by domestic disasters, available in over 20 languages. The FEMA Helpline can be reached by calling 1-800-621-3362 and is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), seven days a week. FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and Coordination offers online resources for people with disabilities before, during, and after disasters.
The American Red Cross
The Red Cross offers many relief services for “disasters big and small,” including house fires, flooding, hurricanes, and tornados. The Red Cross provides domestic and international relief and recovery services including overnight shelter, access to meals and emergency supplies, medical services, and mental health services. The Red Cross provides resources and outreach for international disaster relief programs.
Disaster Assistance Improvement Program
The Disaster Assistance Improvement Program’s (DAIP) mission is to provide disaster survivors with information, support, services, and a means to access and apply for disaster assistance. By completing a short questionnaire, users are connected with a variety of services and programs they can apply for online. DAIP also offers several disaster preparedness and rebuilding online resources.
SUNY Empire
At SUNY Empire we are committed to helping students in their time of need. We offer 24/7 crisis counseling through TELUS Health, a state and federal benefit screener, as well as emergency grants and a virtual food pantry. These resources can be accessed on our Personal Student Support Page.
Loss of Internet?
This short article regarding loss of internet in disaster areas will walk you through ways to stay safe and connected before, during, and after a natural disaster, even if you lose power or are unable to connect to the internet.
Remember:
- If your safety is at risk due to a natural disaster, call, or text 911.
- If your mobile network is down, you can use neighboring networks for emergency calls.
- If you cannot get through, keep trying and wait a few minutes between calls.
- For shelter options (non-emergency), text "Shelter" and your zip code to 43362 (FEMA).
- For other types of assistance, dial 211 to connect with community services.