ALC Environmental air testing report, Nov-Dec 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Assistance for cleaning your apartment EPA: Addressing Disaster If you were affected by the World Trade People who use the rental assistance Health Concerns Center attack and receive rental assistance checks for rent may request more assis- EPA has been monitoring for a range of tom the Federal Emergency Management tance if they cannot return to their apart- substances since the day of the World Trade Agency (FEMA), you may use the funds to ments. Call the FEMA Helpline at Center explosion. Monitoring confirms the clean your residence. 800-525-0321 (TTY: 800-462-7585) for presence of some pollutants including more information. You will need to provide asbestos, but test results show there is no "We're giving people the option to decide receipts for lodging. cause for concern about long-term health what makes the most sense for them — effects from any hazardous materials. either cleaning their dwellings or finding For mom information on cleaning apart- someplace else to live," said Michael ments, visit the New York City Health 1 vo key factors are used in determining Cosbar, FEMA housing officer. Department's web site at nyc.gov/health. whether or not a hazardous substance poses a health ham how much a person is exposed Instead of using the check to rent another to and how long the person will be exposed. place, renters can use the funds to clean While some individual test results exceeded their residences. Visit FEMA on the federal standards, those standards were written to protect People who might be However, If you use the funds for cleaning, you will be ineligible for more Internet at directly exposed for decades.

FEMA rental assistance because you will EPA monitoring finds no evidence of be able to move back Into your home. ~.fema.gov significant levels of airborne asbestos or contaminants beyond the disaster site. See www.epa.gov for further information.

Many people who live and work in Lower Help for seniors, people with disabilities Manhattan have experienced lung irritation, coughing, sneezing and nanny noses from the smoke and dust. There are no known long- She's in her 60s and walks with a cane. She person such as the toss of special equip- term health effects from breathing smoke or is proud of her ability to live and work on ment, supplies or other special needs? dust. 'r own. But the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on .,e World Trade Center shook the founda- "We want to make sure that all people who Some workers involved in the response work tions of her independence. are eligible for assistance get help with or conducting area cleanups wear protective their needs, including the special needs of gear because their work exposes them to Her previous 20-minute walk to work now the elderly and people with disabilities," hazardous materials on a daily basis through- takes an hour as she zigzags around a Federal Coordinating Officer Ted Monette out their careers. bewildering maze of destroyed and said. damaged buildings and police checkpoints. Suppressing and removing dust are keys to Corner stores are slow to reopen. Older New Yorkers affected by the disaster controlling asbestos. Within days of the may call the New York City Department disaster, EPA had l0 vacuum cleaner trucks This Lower Manhattan resident is one of for the Aging (Dl TA) at 212-442-1000 blitzing the financial district. Power washers many especially affected by the tragedy (TTY: 212-442-3079) for their non- cleaned building fronts and wetted down who have disabilities and/or are elderly. disasters related needs. Representatives streets and sidewalks to capture the dust. They can, however, get help from a wide from DFTA, the Mayor's Office for People variety of programs designed to help those with Disabilities and the state's Office for Once Wall Street reopened, three giant affected by the disaster rebuild their lives. the Aging also will be at the Disaster vacuums began systematically cleaning Assistance Service Center at 141 Worth St. streets and sidewalks, parking areas, parks By calling FEMA's registration number at at Centre St- in Manhattan. and playgrounds in the impacted area. Worst 800-462-9029 (TTY 800-462-7585), has been completed in virtually every area victims can apply for city, state and federal The state of New York also offers services outside the immediate WTC work zone that disaster assistance. through its Office of Advocate for Persons needed cleaning with Disabilities. The toll-free number is To make sure their special needs are met, 808-522-4369 (TTY: 518-473-4231). To ensure that dust is not tracked into the applicants are given the option of answer- clean areas by people and vehicles leaving the ing two questions during the phone "People can call our agency to obtain work zone, EPA has established a number of interview: Does anyone in your household information about services for special wash-down stations. Cars and trucks are have a mental or physical disability? Has needs," State Coordinating Officer power-washed and debris being hauled to disaster caused problems for this Edward F. Jacoby, Jr., said. piers is wetted down.

2- United We Stand

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