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SELECT FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS (TO SEE REPORT FOR FULL SET OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, VISIT WWW.LESREADY.ORG) • The lack of damage from Hurricane Irene, the RECOMMENDATIONS FINDING 1. previous year, lulled residents into a false sense “We heard it [Hurricane Sandy] was The majority of LES residents of security. coming and we were asked to FOR NEW YORK CITY did not evacuate before • Of those that did evacuate, most did not utilize evacuate but didn’t because City shelters. the news made Sandy look GOVERNMENT: just like Irene in terms of Hurricane Sandy hit and o Only 15% went to a public shelter/ severity levels.” – Focus many decided to “shelter in evacuation center in NYC; group participant • Should make sure people are prepared to evacuate and that place.” o 71% went to friend or family’s house in NYC. buildings have information with regard to where people can evacuate. • Should provide transportation so people can evacuate. • Should assure the public that shelters are safe and properly NYCHA RESIDENTS staffed and put protocols in place that provide people with safety and security. FINDING 2. ZONE A RESIDENTS • Must ensure that information at shelters and about the Residents of the Lower East availability of shelters is available in at least Mandarin, Side were severely impacted *These percentages refer Cantonese, Spanish and Russian languages. by Hurricane Sandy. to the total number of residents surveyed. • Should make all notices, flyers and announcements available in, at minimum, Spanish, Chinese and Russian, the most LES Ready, also known as the Lower East Side Long Term common languages of Lower East Side residents in addition 98% of survey respondents report Recovery Group, is a coalition of community groups and to English as well as any other languages that are prevalent that they were affected by Hurricane institutions that will cooperatively coordinate our response, in a given community. These should be posted prominently in Sandy. (99% of NYCHA residents, resources, preparedness planning and training in response buildings and public spaces in the community. 100% of Zone A residents). to Hurricane Sandy and in the event of future disasters. 96% 93% 89% 86% 85% 81% 18% 20% 13% 19% 14% 17% 14% 19% 10% 26% 9% 13% • Should utilize charging stations that are solar powered Our work will focus on Manhattan’s Community Board 3 and can work when electricity is out. Cooper Union students area and the immediately adjacent neighborhoods that our 94% lost 85% did 81% did 20% had 16% lost 13% lost 11% had/ 11% had 8% had and faculty are currently commissioned by the Two Bridges power* not have not have to take personal wages have their home their groups may serve. The goal of this newsletter is to keep you hot water heat extended property mold flood home Neighborhood Council to create a prototype for solar time off in their damaged powered charging station under an agreement called the informed about our efforts and connected to our work. work home Cooper Lumen Design Challenge. To learn more visit: • Must improve communication with residents before, during, and after a natural disaster and pay special attention to WWW.LESREADY.ORG ensuring that seniors, people with disabilities and people with limited English proficiency get the information that they need. Follow us at: This jumps to 35% for FINDING 3. people who have difficulty • Need to improve communications with local organizations understanding or speaking and work to ensure relief efforts are coordinated and disaster www.facebook.com/LESReadyNYC English. 45% of people who have Poor communication from preparedness plans are complimenting one another. 27% of survey difficulty speaking the City and a lack of respondents reported English that they did not have @LESReadyNYC information hampered the access to information during and immediately 29% of recovery effort. after the storm. English RECOMMENDATIONS 40% 38% 28% speakers of of of 29% 45% FOR LES READY: Community- Cantonese Mandarin Spanish speakers speakers speakers based research 27% 35% • Provide ongoing education and awareness campaigns; project of: “During Hurricane including showing people the flood maps and other relevant Information access during Did not have access to information Did not have their information. Photos courtesy of LES Ready, University Settlement Project Hope and Sixth Street Community Center. Sandy, that was the first and immediately after the in their primary language needs met time I ever experienced storm • Provide training for residents on how to shelter in place: something like that, from what supplies are needed and/or what actions should be having no power, heat, taken if residents are without power, water, heat, etc. Hurricane Sandy, which hit New York City on October 29th, or hot water to the food The most useful • Make sure people are prepared to evacuate, that buildings have information with regard to where people can evacuate devastated many neighborhoods throughout the City. The Lower going bad. My family and sources of East Side—which was located in New York City’s Emergency and that families have a plan. I decided to leave the day information EVERYDAY STEPS YOU Evacuation Zone A when Sandy hit (now referred to as Zone 1) after Sandy because we were radio and • Provide training for volunteers that are doing outreach: have TIPS FOR DISASTER CAN TAKE TO PREPARE was one of those communities that was particularly hard hit. couldn’t stand to stay social networks. LES Ready certification course for before disaster and YOURSELF TO BETTER FACE Tunnels, train stations, and homes were inaccessible and most another night…” then also provide abbreviated (30 minutes or less) training for AN EMERGENCY grocery stores, pharmacies, and other businesses were closed for – Survey comment volunteers during emergency. PREPAREDNESS several days. 45% of respondents got 40% from a friend, 28% from • Have clear communication plan between the City and LES information from a radio family, or neighbor television Ready to access and get supplies for distribution (See LES The Lower East Side is home to one of the highest concentrations Ready Disaster plan for detailed communications plan). of public housing in the country. These residents were hit especially hard by Sandy, some going without heat, hot water, or MAKE A PLAN IF YOU DECIDE TO use of elevators for weeks. Overall, government response in the SENIORS immediate aftermath of the storm was slow and inadequate given • TALK TO EACH OTHER! Make and SHELTER IN PLACE • If you receive home-based care (e.g., the immense needs of the Lower East Side. To fill the gap where • 62 % of survey respondents did NOT receive any relief from the government or other LES READY MEMBER practice evacuation plans and home care attendant, home health the government fell short, community organizations had to take FINDING 4. “official” sources. choose a meeting place to regroup if • Assume you’ll be without electricity aide, visiting nurse service), include matters into their own hands. you are separated. Discuss the possible and running water for at least 3 days. Despite the hardships faced • And for those that did receive “official” assistance, 53 % had to wait four days or more. caregivers in developing your plan and ORGANIZATIONS emergencies and how you would cope Fill your bathtub and keep clean water familiarize yourself with your homecare The Lower East Side has a long history of coming together as a by residents, relief was slow • 57 % of our survey respondents received assistance from at least one of these with them. Write your plan down, along (at least 3 gallons per person per day, agency’s emergency plan. community and building social bonds and networks. Today the community sources. 9BC Tompkins Square Block Association with all important contact information for 3 days or more.) and inadequate from the city • If you rely on home-delivered meals, LES has numerous community-based organizations (CBOs) that o 28% from a family member, friend or neighbor All the Way East 4th Street Block Association and meeting place addresses. Make American Red Cross • Keep cash on hand; EBT & ATM Cards \ always stock nonperishable food serve the needs of residents. This robust community infrastructure and federal government. This o 27% from community organizations copies for each member of your family. Asian Americans for Equality may not be working. at home in case meal deliveries are played a critical role in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Hours o 10% from a tenant/resident/block association Think about places where you could created a gap that community Association of Latino Business Owners and Residents • Keep enough food and supplies in your suspended during an emergency. after the storm ended, and well before government agencies or o 9% from religious organizations (ALBOR) stay if asked to evacuate for some time. large non-profits such as the Red Cross arrived, these community groups partially filled. home to survive on your own, for • If you receive dialysis or other medical Catholic Charities • Make sure children know their last at least three days (ex: water, non- groups had already started assessing the needs of residents and Charles B. Wang Community Health Center treatments, find out your provider’s name, phone number, address. perishable and canned foods, batteries, distributing lifesaving supplies. Chinese-American Planning Council emergency plan, including where your • Make copies of your prescriptions, flashlights, candles, hand cranked Chinese Progressive Association back-up site is located. Although CBOs were the most effective in meeting the needs of Commission on the Public Health System health insurance cards, copies of your radios, first aid kit, hygiene items such important documents in a clear plastic. as toilet paper). Lower East Side residents quickly and efficiently in the wake of are Community Board 3 4% (ex: insurance cards, lease, photo ID, Sandy, they encountered several difficulties in providing relief.