Bloomberg Rolls Out Rapid Repairs for Sandy Victims

Mayor Bloomberg announced this week that Rapid Repairs, a free program to help residential property owners affected by Hurricane Sandy make emergency repairs, is now up and running.

The goal of the program is to serve as temporary band-aid and a way to complete some of the smaller, emergency repairs to give residents a chance to stay in their homes while they complete more permanent repairs.

Some of these emergency repairs covered in the program include permanent or temporary restoration of heat, power and hot water and other limited repairs to protect a home from further significant damage.

Who is eligible for NYC Rapid Repairs?

• You must be a residential property owner within the five boroughs of NYC.
• If you own a single or two-family home, you must have a FEMA number. If you own a multi-family building, you do not need a FEMA number to register with NYC Rapid Repairs. To obtain a FEMA number, visit a NYC Restoration Center, FEMA's website or call the agency at 1-800-621-3362.
• Your home must be deemed structurally safe by the NYC Department of Buildings as denoted by a yellow or green placard on your door or no placard at all. If you have a red placard, you can still register with Rapid Repairs, but you will need to make any necessary repairs to transition to a yellow or green placard before a Rapid Repairs team can safely enter your home. Call 311 or visit the city Buildings Department's website for more information on red placards.
• Your home must be free of standing water to allow for a safe inspection. If you have standing water in your home, register with Rapid Repairs. The city will drain your home prior to scheduling an appointment with a Rapid Repairs team.

If eligible, homeowners must register with NYC Rapid Repairs. The city will then schedule an appointment for a qualified Rapid Repairs team to come out.

To register for Rapid Repairs, visit the city's website, call 311 or visit a NYC Restoration Center. These are the only ways to register for NYC Rapid Repairs.