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	< Back to UOSS News Information for Evacuees & Others Affected by Hurricane Katrina September 22nd, 2005 The resources listed in here are directed to Hurricane Katrina EVACUEES who are temporarily in or relocating to New Jersey. For additional or more updated information, New Jersey residents may dial 2-1-1 from anywhere in the state to receive information on volunteer and donation opportunities. The hurricane-related information is changing day by day so please check back for updates to this information at http://www.nj211.org. If anything here is incorrect, or you have additions, please contact: info@nj211.org. GETTING STARTED FOR EVACUEES IN NJ Safety First FEMA Evacuees must register with FEMA! You may register by calling (800) 621-3362. You might want to try calling at odd times as the volume is very heavy. TTY users can call (800) 462-7588. The call takes about 15 minutes. Or you can register on-line at http://www.fema.org. Click on the green box at the right hand margin of the homepage. If you do not have a FEMA Registration Number you will not receive services. You can also use the number for identification at banks, airlines, etc. Red Cross If you are located outside of the affected areas, you should register with the local Red Cross for disaster assistance. (Look up Red Cross Information on internet using you zip code http://www.redcross.org/where/where.html) American Red Cross also has Launched a Toll-Free Call Center Expanding Ability to Meet Essential Needs of Hurricane Evacuees, Red Cross' (800) 975-7585, 24/7 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE Unemployment Insurance is a program designed to provide temporary financial assistance to workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own and who meet the requirements of the Louisiana Employment Security Law. Unemployment insurance benefits are paid as a matter of past employment and legal entitlement, and not on the basis of need. To receive information on how to apply call your state's toll free line at: Lousiana By registering online with the Louisiana Department of Labor at: http://www.laworks.net/ or by calling (866) 783-5567 or from LA call (800) 818-7811 Alabama - call (866) 234-5382 Mississippi - call (888) 844-3577 The NJ State Department of Labor has three call centers for Katrina. Evacuees who plan in staying in NJ and want to apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits or Disaster Unemployment Insurance. They are the reemployment centers in: Hudson (northeast NJ): (201) 601-4100 Freehold (northwest NJ and central NJ): (732) 761-2020 Cumberland (southern NJ): (856) 507-2340 Job search assistance services are offered by New Jersey's One-Stop Career Center for the location of the nearest One Stop Center, call 2-1-1 or search online at http://www.wnjpin.net/oscc/index.html. Camden County Red Cross Chapter http://www.camdenredcross.org mesmond@camdenredcross.org (866) 365-7100, ext. 223 Unemployment Services Next Steps Begin the application process to stabilize basic needs such as interim housing, income support, medical, education for children, insurance claims, if applicable, etc. (application process varies by program). INFORMATION AND REFERRAL Call 2-1-1 to learn about local community resources available to Hurricane Katrina Evacuees and for referrals to local services. A Care Management professional is also available to help you and your family identify needed services, to assist with referrals, contacts and authorizations, to help educate regarding benefits and systems, and to identify community resources (with assistance and continued support from 2-1-1). Specific services regarding your home state can be found at: Louisiana - http://katrina.louisiana.gov/ Alabama - http://www.governor.state.al.us/hurricane_katrina/katrina2.htm Toll Free: (866) 283-2838 Mississippi - http://www.ms.gov/index.jsp Hotline: (866) 230-8903 CRISIS INTERVENTION Call (800) 273-TALK (8255) Or in NJ (877) 294-HELP (4357), (877) 294-4356 - TTY SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) AND SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI) Evacuees who already receive SSI and SSDI should contact the Social Security Administration directly at (800) 772-1213 to learn how checks may be reissued or to report a change in address. APPLYING FOR SERVICES IN NEW JERSEY ENROLLING IN NJ SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE FACILITIES Students from LA, MS, and AL may temporarily transfer to New Jersey public and private schools. Please check with the educational facility before bringing your child to school. Normal immunization and residency requirements may be waived. Evacuated children are considered homeless and are entitled to enroll in the school district where they temporarily reside, and they qualify for free lunches and school supplies. CASH ASSISTANCE Services are available through your County Welfare Agency (CWA), Municipal Welfare Agency (MWA) or local Board of Social Services where you are staying. See attached list or go to the following link: http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/dfdcwa39.html Temporary Assistance to Needy Families / TANF Work First NJ provides temporary cash assistance, medical assistance (Medicaid) and many other support services to families through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. Evacuees may apply for TANF at any county or municipal welfare agency in NJ. Evacuees will be expedited, regardless of previous receipt of benefits in another state; eligibility factors will be more lenient, since evacuees may not have proper documentation. TANF provides a monthly assistance payment to caretakers of dependent children younger than 18 who are deprived of parental support and care. Work First NJ - General Assistance The state's welfare reform program, Work First NJ (WFNJ), emphasizes work as the first step toward building a new life and a brighter future. The goal is to help people get off welfare, secure employment and become self-sufficient, through job training, education and work activities. New Jersey is one of only a few states that also provides cash benefits medical assistance (Medicaid) and support services to individuals and couples with no dependent children, through our General Assistance (GA) program. FOOD Food Stamps - Covers the purchase of food items. Evacuees may apply for expedited food stamps at any county welfare agency. Evacuees will be expedited, regardless of previous receipt of benefits in another state; eligibility factors will be more lenient, since evacuees may not have proper documentation. If evacuees received benefits in their home state a person may access their benefits without their card until September 30, 2005. They my also receive this benefit fro New Jersey and the eligibility worker can have the closed in the disaster areas. WIC Services - Services include vouchers for food and formula, immunizations for children, nutritional education, breastfeeding education and support, and referrals to other health services. Evacuee applications will be expedited, regardless of previous receipt of benefits in another state, and infants will not be required to be weighed to determine nutrition need. Eligibility factors will be more lenient, since evacuees may not have proper documentation, but families still need to meet basic WIC requirements (children, ages 0-5, and pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum teens and women). Parents, step-parents, guardians, and foster parents can apply for their children. Evacuees who received WIC in LA and AL can use their WIC checks at any New Jersey store during the month of September. Evacuees who received WIC in AL, LA and MS need to apply directly at any WIC office. To locate WIC offices in NJ, call 2-1-1. HEALTH CARE Medicaid Evacuees with Medicaid from LA, MS, and AL may apply at the county board of social services or municipal welfare agency for expedited evaluation for NJ medical assistance and program ID cards. Evacuees with immediate health care needs in NJ should contact their county board of social services. For new applicants, medicaid categories are limited to very low income families with dependent children, pregnant women, children to age 21, individuals age 65 and older, or individuals determined blind or permanently disabled. Residency requirements will be waived for evacuees. Pregnant women, children and other qualified aliens may be eligible, regardless of their date of entry into the United States. NJ FamilyCare NJ FamlyCare offers free or low cost health insurance for uninsured children 18 years old or younger and certain low-income parents who live in New Jersey. Lawful permanent residents or those in a qualified immigrant status may be eligible, regardless of their date of entry into the United States. Assets are not a determining factor and no one is turned down due to a pre-existing medical condition. It's easy to apply. Just click here and you can complete the application online or download one from our website www.njfamilycare.org. You can even apply over the phone by calling 1-800-701-0710 or by contacting their county board of social services for expedited evacuee determinations. OTHER STATE SERVICES The Division of Mental Health Services coordinates and provides community-based supports, like counseling, emergency screening, case management and residential and day program services and, if necessary, in-patient care for people with mental illness. http://www.disastermentalhealthnj.com/ or toll free at (877) 294-HELP (4357) (877) 294-4356 - TTY The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund provides eligible families with financial assistance to help them cover medical expenses that were previously incurred because their child became catastrophically ill or injured. The Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired which coordinates and provides preventive, rehabilitative and assistive services to people who are blind or visually impaired or at risk of becoming so. The Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is the State's central information and referral service for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. The Division of Developmental Disabilities coordinates and provides services for people with autism, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, spina bifida and traumatic brain injuries. The Division of Disability Services provides information and referral services to people with disabilities and their families, who are seeking help locating appropriate resources in their communities. Health Care for People with Disabilities is provided by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, through its New Jersey Care 2000+ program. Referral and information also can be obtained by calling the Division of Disability Services at (888) 285-3036. IDENTIFICATION Replacement DL or ID - Evacuees AL, LA and MS may request a replacement Drivers License (DL) or Identification Card (ID) by completing the replacement application for the specific state. All requests require a signature for verification. If you submit without the signature of the person on the DL/ID, the request will not be processed. In the remarks section, the applicant should provide contact information, including phone, mobile phone or pager, if possible. Also include the reason for being out of state as evacuation due to Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana : Individuals currently licensed or having possessed a LA identification card can apply for a free reconstructed driver's license or ID card. For evacuees located inside Louisiana: call (225) 925-4610 or 925-3993. For evacuees located outside of Louisiana: (225) 925-4195 or 1-877-DMV-LINE (1-877-368-5463) Fax: (225) 368-5463 or (225) 925-6542 (225) 925-3901 or (225) 925-1937 or (225)925-6303 Internet: http://omv.dps.state.la.us or http://www.expresslane.org The application is to be completed to include the person's full name, date of birth, race, sex, social security number, a "mail to" address, and a telephone number, if possible. The application must be signed by the applicant as the signature comparison will be their "proof of identification". Every effort to process and mail the driver's license or ID card within a 72 hour turnaround period. Alabama Department of Public Safety Driver License Division: Toll-Free: (866) 283-2838 Internet: http://www.dps.state.al.us/public/driverlicense/ Mississippi Department of Public Safety Driver License Division: Phone: (601) 987-1200 Internet: http://www.dps.state.ms.us/dps/dps.nsf/divpages/hp2ds?OpenDocument LEGAL SERVICES Legal Services of New Jersey is offering to assist any evacuee with civil issues, please visit http://www.lsnj.org or call (888) LSNJ-LAW (888) 576-5529. NEW JERSEY DRIVERS LICENSE OR ID Evacuees who wish to obtain a New Jersey Drivers License or ID will be required to meet the New Jersey documentation requirements. Locate a branch of the Camden County DMV at http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/mvf_group1.html#Camden NEW OR REPLACEMENT SOCIAL SECURITY CARD Anyone receiving Social Security payments that have been interrupted by Hurricane Katrina can go to any Social Security office to get an emergency payment. For information about changing mailing addresses, obtaining a new card, direct deposit, or locating the nearest Social Security office, call (800) 772-1213 or go online at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/emergency/ or http://www.dds.ga.gov/docs/forms/SS_Card_Replacement.pdf. CHANGE OF ADDRESS Evacuees need to make sure that they change their address with both FEMA (online or via telephone) and the U.S. Postal Services by paper form or online at http://www.usps.gov HOUSING There are a variety of local organizations working to develop housing options. In the short-term the Red Cross may be able to pay for up to 2 weeks stay in a local hotel. For other information, dial 2-1-1 for local referrals or connection to a care manager. The NJ Housing Resource Center provides an online resource tool for finding affordable rental properties, it can be accessed at http://www.njhousing.gov/. HUD has established a toll-free number (888) 297-8685 for the public to get information on housing needs. Residents living in Rural Development-financed apartments who have been displaced are qualified to receive priority admission to any of our vacant apartment units in the U.S. Contac them at (800) 414-1226. Though we cannot recommend any of the below sites, they are resources you may find useful. http://www.redcross.org (click on link to http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/katrina) Salvation Army - Go to http://www.salvationarmyusa.org, see "Saturn" on opening screen. Fill out short form, and Sal Army broadcasts message to network of radio operators. (800 725-2769) National Next Of Kin Registry (NOKR) - http://nokr.org/nok/restricted/home.htm The Katrina PeopleFinder Project, which is compiling records of missing persons from all available online sources, now has a searchable database of over 345,000 records. For more information about this volunteer project, please go to http://192.122.183.218/wiki/index.php/Katrina_PeopleFinder_Project or http://www.katrinalist.net Salvation Army's Team Emergency Radio Network - SATERN Health and welfare Information can be requested. Your inquiry will be sent to the disaster area, where SATERN personnel will attempt to locate the person or persons about whom you are inquiring. http://www.satern.org INSURANCE QUESTIONS Alabama Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line (800) 433-3966 (334) 241-4141 (outside Alabama) Louisiana Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line (800) 259-5300 (225) 342-5900 (outside Louisiana) Mississippi Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line (800) 562-2957 (601) 359-2453 (outside Mississippi) NJ Dept of Insurance & Banking CANNOT answer questions about other states' insurance regulations. If you have homeowners, automobile, flood, renters, or other insurance, please contact your insurance company to file your claims. The Catastrophe Hot Lines follow: ACE USA Clients receive individual 800 numbers or call 800 433-0385 (ACE USA/INAMAR Marine claims); 800 234-7354 (Disaster Mortgage Protection claims) Acuity 800-242-7666 Alfa Insurance Group 888-964-2532 Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation 866-239-AMIC (866-239-2642) Allmerica 800-628-0250 Allstate 800-54-STORM (800-547-8676) Allstate Floridian Insurance Company 800-54-STORM (800-547-8676) American Bankers Insurance Company 800-245-1505 American Federation Insurance Company 800-527-3907 American General Property Insurance Company of Florida 800-321-2452 American International Group 800-433-8880 (auto & home) American National Property & Casualty Company & Affiliates 800-333-2861 American Reliable Insurance Company 800-245-1505 American Skyline Insurance Company 888-298-5224 American States Insurance Company 888-557-5010 American Strategic Insurance 866-ASI-LOSS (274-5677) American Superior Insurance 954-577-2202 Arch Insurance 800-817-3252 Argus Fire & Casualty Company 954-331-4722 Armed Forces Insurance Exchange 800-828-7736 Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company 800-945-7461 Atlantic Preferred Insurance Company 800-673-4952 Auto Owners Insurance Group (Palm City) 800-783-1269 Auto Owners Insurance Group (Ft. Meyers) 800-437-2256 AXA Re Property and Casualty 800-216-3711 Bankers Insurance Company 800-765-9700 v Bankers Security Insurance Company 800-765-9700 Bituminous 800-822-2905 (Florida); 800-678-3104 (National); 800-605-0311 (Mississippi and Louisiana) Bristol West Insurance Group 800-BRISTOL Capital Preferred 800-734-4749 or 888-388-2742 Catawba Insurance 800-711-9386 Century Surety Insurance Company 800-850-0422 CHUBB Insurance Group 800-252-4670 (800-CLAIMS-0) Church Mutual Insurance 800-554-2642 Cincinnati Insurance Company (call your local agent first and then 877-242-2544) Citizens Property Insurance Corp. 866-411-2742 (866-411-CPIC) Clarendon National Insurance Company 800-216-3711 Clarendon Select Insurance Company 800-509-1592 CNA 877-262-2727 Colony Insurance Company 800-577-6614 ext. 1715 Companion Property & Casualty 800-649-2948 Cotton States Mutual Group 800-282-6536 CUNA Mutual 800-637-2676 Cypress 888-352-9773 EMC Insurance Companies 800-910-4988 Encompass Insurance Company 800-588-7400 Erie Insurance Group 800-367-3743 Farmers 800-435-7764 FCCI (first report of injury) 800-226-3224 Federated Mutual 888-333-4949 Federated National Insurance Company 800-420-7075 Fidelity & Casualty Insurance Company 800-725-9472 Fidelity National Insurance Company 800-220-1351 Fidelity National Property and Casualty Insurance Company 800-725-9472 Fireman's Fund 888-347-3428 (888-FIREHAT) First Floridian 800-252-4633 (800-CLAIM33), 800-238-6225 (business) First Premium Insurance Group (Lloyd's Mobile Home) 800-432-3072 First Protective Insurance Company 877-744-5224 First Trenton 800-468-7341 Florida Family Insurance Company 888-486-4663 or 888-850-4663 Florida Farm Bureau Insurance Companies 800-330-3327 Florida Select 888-700-0101 Florida Preferred Property Insurance Company 800-673-4952 FM Global 877-639-5677 (877-NEWLOSS) Foremost Insurance Company 800-527-3907 GE Employers Re 866-413-8978 GEICO 800-841-3000 General Star Indemnity Company 800-624-5237 General Star National Insurance Company 800-624-5237 Georgia Casualty & Surety 800-279-8279 (claim reporting); 866-458-7506 (claim dept.) Georgia Farm Bureau 866-842-3276 GMAC Insurance (Auto Claims) 800-468-3466 Granada Insurance Company 800-392-9966 Great American 800-221-7274 Guide One 888-748-4326 Hanover Insurance (Allmerica) 800-628-0250 Harbor Insurance Company - 800 216-3711 The Hartford - 800-243-5860 Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest 800-637-5410 or 800-243-5860 Hartford Steam 800-HSB-LOSS Holyoke Mutual - 800-225-2533 ICAT 866-789-4228 Industrial Risk Insurers - 860-520-7347 (Business claims) Interstate Fire & Casualty 800-456-8458, Ext. 770 Liberty Mutual - 800-2CLAIMS (800-225-2467) Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company 800-637-0757 (in state); 800-633-1833 (24 hour) Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation 800-274-9830 Louisiana Farm Bureau 866-275-7322 Main Street America Group 877-282-3844 Mercury Insurance Group 800-987-6000 MetLife Auto & Home 800-854-6011 Mississippi Farm Bureau 866-275-7322 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) - 1-800-427-4661 National Insurance Company 800-239-2121 Nationwide 800-421-3535 North Pointe Insurance Company 877-878-1991 Ohio Casualty and West American Insurance Company 888-701-8727 Old Dominion Insurance Company 877-425-2467 or 800-606-7992 Omaha Property & Casualty 800-638-2592 (Flood only) Omega Insurance Company 800 216-3711 OneBeacon 877-248-4968 Poe Financial Group 800-673-4952 Progressive Auto Insurance 800-PROGRESSIVE (766-4737) QualSure Insurance Corp. 877-563-0150 Regency (Tower Hill) 800-216-3711 Republic Fire & Casualty (Homeowners, Dwelling Fire, Auto & Commercial) 800-451-0286 Republic Group (Republic Fire & Casualty, Republic Underwriters Southern Insurance Company, Southern Underwriters Insurance) 800-451-0286 Republic Underwriters (Commercial) 800-451-0286 RLI Insurance Company 800-444-0406 Royal & Sun Alliance 800-847-6925 SAFECO 800-332-3226 Scottsdale Insurance Company 800-423-7675 Security National Insurance Company 800-Bristol Selective 866-455-9969 Service Insurance Company 800-780-8423 Shelter Insurance Group 800-SHELTER (800-743-5837) Sompo Japan 800-444-6870 Southern Family Insurance Company 800-673-4952 Southern Fidelity 866-874-7342 Southern Insurance Company (Commercial) 800-451-0286 Southern Underwriters (Commercial) 800-451-0286 Southwest Business Corp. (Lloyd's Excess Flood) 800-527-0066 Ex. 7389 St. Johns Insurance Company 800-748-2030 St. Paul Insurance Companies 800-CLAIM 33 (800-252-4633) -Auto and Home Claims; 800-STPAUL (800-787-2851) - Business Claims St. Paul Travelers 800-CLAIM33 (800-252-4633) - Auto and Home Claims; 800-787-2851 - Business Claims; 800-356-6663 -Flood Claims State Farm Insurance 800-SF-CLAIM (800-732-5246) Sunshine State Insurance Company 877-329-8795 TAPCO 888-437-0373 Texas Farm Bureau 800-772-6535 Tower Hill Insurance Companies 800-216-3711 or 800-509-1592 Travelers 800-252-4633 (800-CLAIM 33) – Personal Claims; 800-238-6225 - Business Claims; 800-356-6663 (Flood claims) Travelers Boat & Yacht 800-772-4482 Travelers WC (first report of injury) 800-238-6225 United Fire Insurance Company 800-343-9131 United Property and Casualty Company 800-861-4370 Universal Insurance Company 888-846-7647 USAA 800-531-8222 USF&G 800-787-2851; 800-631-6478 (homeowners claim); 407-660-9000 (customer service) USLI 800-523-5545 Vanguard Fire & Casualty Company 888-343-5585 W.R. Berkley Corp. 203-629-2000 XL Insurance 800-688-1840 Zenith (first report of injury) 800-440-5020 Zurich Insurance Company 800-987-3373