Staff Access

Basic Needs

Disaster

 

Sections:

• Key Agency - Red Cross
• Fire
• Mental Health
• Benefits and Consumer Protections
• Planning/Preparedness
• Archives

 

Key Disaster Relief Agency- American Red Cross 1-800-564-1234 or www.redcross.org/get-help. Available resources include emotional support, disaster recovery, and guides to taking care of your emotional health (in various languages).

Fire

• Picking Up the Pieces After a Fire- Red Cross
  • American Red Cross Disaster Services - MGH Community News, 10/09
    • Shelter- if the survivor has no friends or family able to provide shelter, the Red Cross can put them up for 1-2 nights at a hotel. Unfortunately they cannot provide ongoing shelter. This service is meant to serve as a bridge while survivors marshal other resources or access other assistance.
• After the Fire- FEMA
• What to do after you’ve been a victim of a house fire from the Merrimack Valley Regional Network to End Homelessness Blog. Excerpts:
  • Contact the landlord or property manager. Find out who the insurance adjustor is for the property. If repairs need to be made before you can move back in, try to find out how long it will take the landlord to complete necessary repairs. The City will have to inspect the living space before you will be allowed to move back in.
  • Depending upon when the fire occurred, you may be eligible to get a return on the rent you paid for that month. You might also be able to get your security deposit returned if you are not going to be able to move back into the apartment.
  • You may be eligible to receive up to $750 in relocation benefits through the landlord’s insurance company. The $750 can be used towards a down payment on a new apartment. It can also be used to reimburse you for out-of-pocket expenses for food, clothes, and other expenses you incurred due to the fire. If you have a lease, you must discuss terminating the lease with your landlord or an attorney.
• Live in Boston? The Boston Office of Housing Stability may help you learn and exercise your rights.  Contact: Boston Office of Housing Stability  call 617-635-4200, Monday through Friday from 8 am - 5 pm or email rentalhousing@boston.gov.
• Also see- our Shelter page

Mental Health

• Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990
  Or online: http://disasterdistress.samhsa.gov/ or text: talkwithus to 66746,
  A program of The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), that provides crisis counseling and support that is free, multilingual, and available 24/7. The service is available to U.S. residents who are experiencing psychological distress as a result of natural or man-made disasters,including incidents of mass violence.
  More information: Disaster Distress Hotline- Crisis Counseling, MGH Community News, July 2012.
• MGH Disaster Mental Health Handouts
  • For Families/Loved-Ones
  • For Parents (helping children)
  • For Patients
• National Center for PTSD - VA
  • For professionals- Psychological First Aid
  • For the public
• The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Disaster Resources for Social Workers and Clients.
• APA Psychology Help Center

 

• For Children:
  • Recovering Emotionally and Talking with Children -American Red Cross page
    • Taking Care of Your Emotional Health Guide and Helping Children Cope with Disaster are available in multiple languages at the above link.
  • Resources to support families and children who have experienced trauma (DPH list)
  • Tips On Helping Kids Cope In Tough Times - Scholastic
  • MGH Disaster Mental Health Handout - For Parents

Benefits and Consumer Protection

• SNAP Misfortune Replacement Benefits


• SNAP replacement benefits are available for a variety of reasons. If a family lost food as a result of a disaster (or power shut-off) and/or their food became unsafe to eat due to loss of refrigeration, they may be eligible for SNAP replacement benefits. SNAP households have 10 days from the loss of food to verbally make the request and another 10 days to follow up.
• DTA can issue up to one month of replacement SNAP. 
• Learn more about SNAP misfortune replacement benefits, including how make a request to DTA.
• Medicare

Getting care in a disaster or emergency - including getting prescription drugs, getting dialysis treatment, getting chemotherapy or other cancer treatment, replacing a lost or damaaged card, replacing lost or damaged durable medical equipment and qualifying for a special enrollment period.


Justice in Aging- Medicare and Disasters: Information for Advocates (9/18)

• Special Enrollment Periods - A special enrollment period may be available for Medicare beneficiaries and certain individuals seeking health plans offered through the Federal Health Insurance Exchange. Check the CMS site.
• Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (hhs.gov) - helps people in a federally-identified disaster area who do not have health insurance get the prescription drugs, vaccinations, medical supplies, and equipment that they need.
• Quick Tips to Help Homeowners Access Insurance Benefits after a Disaster (Homeowner's insurance, flood insurance)- National Center on Law & Elder Rights, 10/18
• Consumer Protection: Avoiding Fraud

Unfortunately, during times of crisis, potential for fraud and identity theft can increase. Survivors should be alert for phony requests for post-disaster donations and identify theft. Here are some fraud protection resources:
• US Department of Justice, how to report fraudand identity theft
• Federal Trade Commission, phone scams and what to do, 10 Things You Can Do to Avoid Fraud, email phishing, and identity theft
• Better Business Bureau, finding trusted contact information for charities
• Department of Homeland Security, information on helping disaster survivors

Planning/Preparedness

Disaster planning for the disabled

Preparing for Emergencies - Red Cross (scroll down)

Archives:

• Gas Explosions and Fires page (9/18)
• 2017 Hurricane Evacuee Resources
• Archive- Boston Marathon Bombing

 

rev 9/18