ATTENTION: NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Pumping Heating Oil From Home Basements

Homeowners,

If you have a home heating oil (HHO) tank and it has leaked into your basement and/or has been damaged by the storm please contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at (718) 482-7376. The Department can come and pump the oil out of your basement or damaged tank. There will be no charge for this service.

When you call, please know the location and size of HHO tank, status of tank (full, partially full, empty), estimated amount of oil released into basement, approximate depth of oil/water in your basement, and accessibility of basement.

Please Note: At this time, the Department is NOT pumping flood waters from basements, only HHO. Homeowners whose boilers may have leaked in their basements. If left uncleaned for long periods of time, this may produce a public health risk.

ATTENTION: HEAP Program

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally-funded program intended for low-income households. The program may assist with household's energy bills- which includes electricity, gas, and oil bills. Even if heat and utilities are included in a renter's payments, HEAP may be able to assist. Grants vary depending on household income and type of heating.

There are two HEAP components--
-Regular component opened on November 16, 2011
-Emergency component opened on January 3, 2012

HEAP's regular component benefits households who pay heat, utilities, and cooking gas; have utilities and heat included in the rent; and reside in public housing.

HEAP's emergency component benefits households when heat service is disconnected or scheduled for disconnection; when the household is without heating fuel or has low fuel; and when heating equipment is inoperable.
- One emergency grant, primary fuel grant, and/or heat related emergency grant is available per vendor during the HEAP season
- One boiler repair/replacement is available

A person is eligible for HEAP benefits if they are a US citizen or qualified alien and meet income eligibility guidelines; receive temporary assistance (safety-net or family assistance); receive food stamps; receive supplemental security income (SSI); and/or live in subsidized housing [Mitchell-Lama apartments, Public Housing (NYCHA), and apartments financed with Section 8 Certificates and Vouchers].
- Income eligibility depends on household size in relation to total household income

Those seeking to apply for HEAP must provide proof of residence, identity, utility costs, and income. The HEAP Brooklyn Field office is located at 1 Metrotech Center (Lobby). Customers should call (800) 692-0557 for more information.

ATTENTION: OEM Opens Citywide "Cooling Centers"

NEW YORK CITY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCE COOLING CENTERS WILL BE OPEN WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
New Yorkers Urged to Take Precautions During Heat Event

The New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) today announced that cooling centers will be open in all five boroughs on Wednesday, June 8 and Thursday, June 9. According to the National Weather Service, the heat index is expected to exceed 95 degrees on Wednesday and may exceed 100 degrees on Thursday.

Cooling centers are public places, such as Department for the Aging (DFTA) senior centers, libraries and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and Salvation Army community centers where air conditioning is available.

To find the cooling center nearest to you, call 311, or use OEM’s Cooling Center Finder at http://www.nyc.gov/oem.

ATTENTION: HEAP Offers Heating Benefits For Low-Income Households

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Training Available

HEAP is a federally funded program that issues heating benefits to supplement a household’s annual energy costs.

HEAP also offers emergency benefits for households in heat-related energy emergencies.

HEAP offers a furnace repair and/or replacement benefit for households with inoperable heating equipment. The regular and emergency HEAP components will be accepting applications as of November 2nd. See more information here.

If you would like to attend HEAP Training please call (212) 442-7401 or (212) 442-3026.
Training will be conducted in each borough.

The HEAP application will be available online at www.nyc.gov/aging or by calling 311 and requesting a HEAP Application. Completed applications may be returned to the NYC Department for the Aging, HEAP Unit, 2 Lafayette Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10007.