Updated June 23, 2011

City of Springfield Call Center 3-1-1 or (413) 736-3111

Residents

Emergency shelter

Residents that have been displaced by the tornado and who are in need of emergency shelter should go to the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main Street, Springfield, MA.Housing Search Assistance for People Not Staying in Emergency ShelterResidents that have been displaced by the tornado and need assistance in locating replacement housing should go to the City of Springfield Office of Housing, 1600 E. Columbus Avenue, Springfield, MA – Tel #: (413) 787-6500.

Shelter residents will continue to receive rehousing assistance on-site at the MassMutual Center.

Available Vacant Units - Property owners and managers with available units to rent please call the Springfield Office of Housing – Tel #: (413) 787-6500. In addition to long-term rental units, there is also a need for units that can be made available for 3-12 months for homeowners undertaking repairs.

Home Safety

Residents with questions about condemned houses can call the Building Department to request an inspection. Please note an “X” on a structure does not necessarily mean a structure will be demolished. “X’s” have been placed on some structures by emergency responders as part of initial search and rescue operations.

City of Springfield Inspectional Services Division - Hours of operation: 7:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

70 Tapley Street
Springfield, MA

• Questions regarding structure condemnations: (413) 787-6731 or (413) 787-6732
• Questions regarding structure inspections and general questions: (413) 787-6031
• Electrical Inspections/Permits: (413) 787-6040
• Plumbing Inspections/Permits: (413) 787-6047

The Springfield Fire Department is urging people in affected areas to turn off the main switch on their electrical breakers or remove the fuses in order to reduce the risk of a fire when the electricity is turned back on.

Police: Non-emergency please call: 413-787-6302

Tarps are available by calling City 3-1-1 or 736-3111. DO NOT COVER CHIMNEY OR AIRVENTS WITH TARPS TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

Securing Homes

City and state police officers are blocking the entrances to affected areas and checking the identification of anyone trying to enter to ensure they are either recovery workers or residents.

Mayor Sarno advises residents not to sign contracts or give checks to any contractor before they are sure it is a legitimate operation. Anyone with questions about contractors can be directed to:

• Better Business Bureau Consumer Hotline: (866) 566-9222

• Mayor’s Office of Consumer Information: (413) 787-6437 or email moci@springfieldcityhall.com
• Massachusetts Attorney General's office: (413) 784-1240

Please report any fraudulent activities to the police (413) 787-6302

Clean-up efforts

The clearing and removal of disaster debris is a major part of the June 1st tornado recovery effort and the City of Springfield has begun debris collection and removal in all of the areas impacted by the tornado. The impacted areas have been divided into 17 separate zones.

Debris removal operations will continue seven days a week and work crews will be in each of the 17 zones from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., until all storm related eligible debris has been collected from the right-of-way. Multiple collections will take place in each zone and residents should be aware that due to the various sizes of debris piles at each structure, some locations will require crews to return in order to get the most appropriate size equipment to handle specific situations. Residents should be assured they are not being skipped.

In an effort to reduce the amount of debris that has to be disposed of, as well as the associated debris disposal costs, residents are asked to separate disaster debris as noted below and place it in piles on the curbside (but not in the street). If residents have already placed debris curbside for pickup and it is not separated according to the following guidelines, the debris will still be collected.

Following the below guidelines will make for a more efficient and safe debris removal process:

Vegetative materials - Trees, limbs, stumps, brush, leaves, etc.
Construction and demolition debris – Metals, wood materials, concrete, drywall, shingles, carpeting, etc.
Household hazardous waste - Paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, pesticides, etc.

Please be sure these materials are in a secured container and are not leaking in any way. Residents will be required to move their debris to the right of way (curbside). Debris removal crews WILL NOT, at this time, enter onto private property to collect or remove debris. It is the homeowners’ responsibility to bring the debris to the curbside. If placing materials at the curbside will cause a traffic or other safety hazards, or if residents are unable to move debris to the curbside due to physical limitations, debris size / weight, etc., please call the City’s call center at 3-1-1 or (413) 736-3111 to arrange for special pickup at a later time.

To report unsafe debris situations (e.g., leaning trees, partially collapsed structures, etc.) please call 3-1-1 or (413) 736-3111.

This operation is ONLY for disaster debris and residents should not place garbage or other household refuse with the disaster debris, as it will not be accepted. Regular trash removal services will continue as scheduled. The Department of Public Works reminds residents to place their municipal rubbish collection carts (green barrels) and recycling carts (blue barrels) curbside with a minimum of three feet clearance from any obstacles so that automated and semiautomated vehicles can reach them.

The City of Springfield also reminds contractors who have been hired by residents that they are responsible for their own debris removal. The City will not remove debris generated by hired contractors.

Residents are encouraged to work with their homeowners’ insurance company regarding reimbursement for expenses incurred and other coverage related matters.

Utilities

Utility Company Numbers:

• WMECO:  Outage-  413-781-4300 / 877-659-6326
• Columbia Gas: 800-677-5052
• Springfield Water and Sewer: 413-787-6206
• Comcast Cable:  800-266-2278
• Verizon 800-837-4966 www.verizon.com/support

Mail

The U.S. Postal Service - Residents who are not receiving their mail in area codes 01103, 01109, 01119, 01129, 01105, 01107 or 01104 can pick up their mail at the City post office:

1883 MAIN ST

SPRINGFIELD, MA 01101

(413) 731-0573 or <cite>www.usps.com</cite>

Anyone temporarily relocating can fill out a temporary change of address form at their local post office.

Food

In the neighborhoods damaged by the tornado, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army have three feeding sites set up around the city that are serving breakfast, lunch and dinner:

• Milton Bradley Elementary School at 22 Mulberry St.
• St Anthony Maronite Church at 375 Island Pond Road

More information is available by calling 311 from a landline phone or (413) 736-3111 on a cell phone.

Open Pantry Community Services

• Emergency Food Pantry Monday-Wednesday & Friday from 9:00AM. Waiving Intake process for tornado survivors

            2460 Main Street, Springfield

• Loaves and Fishes Kitchen – Provide 2 meals a day 12:00PM & 5:00PM

Monday

Springfield Rescue Mission

Operation SONshine, a mobile feeding van travels though the inner-city neighborhoods to distribute bagged lunches, clothing, blankets and hygiene items. Food assistance from Operation SONshine is also extended to police, National Guard and city workers cleaning up storm damage. 

A free public breakfast is also held Monday – Saturday at 19 Bliss Street, where additional meals, clothing, toiletry items and food boxes are available.

Springfield Rescue Mission
19 Bliss Street, Springfield, MA  01102-9045
413-732-0808
www.hope4springfield.org

donor@hope4springfield.org

Clothing, toiletries, furniture household items and schools supplies

Individuals and families who have lost some or all of their belongings are also encouraged to visit SRM’s Clothing & Give-Away Center located at 15 Bliss Street.  The Clothing & Give-Away Center serves men, women, children and families by providing them with clothing, furniture, hygiene items, and school supplies – all free of charge.

Springfield Rescue Mission
19 Bliss Street, Springfield, MA  01102-9045
413-732-0808
www.hope4springfield.org

Reconnecting with friends, family and pets impacted by the tornado:

The Red Cross Safe and Well website is being used to track residents who have been displaced by the tornadoes in the Springfield area.  The Safe and Well website is a free, public communication tool where those affected by disasters can register on the site and post messages that they are safe.  Loved ones can then conduct a search on the site to view the posted messages.

To access the website, please go to www.redcross.org/safeandwell.  You can enter yourself as “Safe and Well” if you were impacted by the storm, or search for a loved one you cannot locate.

If you do not have access to a computer and the internet, the City’s 3-1-1 Call Center can assist you with entering yourself into the system or searching for a loved one.  The number into the 3-1-1 Center is 413-736-3111.

Registration computers will be made available at shelter locations within the City of Springfield for residents located at those sites.

Thomas J O'Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center is taking household pets at:

627 Cottage Street
Springfield, MA 01104-3220
(413) 781-1484

Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society will reopen Tuesday, June 7 and will be accepting stray animals at:

171 Union Street
Springfield, MA 01103
(413) 781-4000

DAMAGE/CLAIM REPORTING

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has designated Mass 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-6277 as the Commonwealths primary telephone information call center during times of emergency. Private homeowners and businesses are encouraged to report damages by calling 2-1-1. MEMA - www.mass.gov/mema or http://www.mass211.org/

Massachusetts Division of Insurance Hotline (617) 521-7777

Division of Insurance has set up a dedicated consumer hotline to deal with callers who have insurance issues related to the storm – the hotline is (617) 521-7777 or visit www.mass.gov\doi. Consumers calling this number will speak to an experienced insurance professional who can help them with questions or problems with the claims process.

Springfield Public Schools

Springfield Public Schools have resumed classes on Monday except for Mary A. Dryden Veterans Memorial School and Elias Brookings Middle School which were damaged by the tornado. Pre-school is cancelled for the rest of the year for both schools.

• Students at Dryden are asked to show up at Frederick Harris School, located at 58 Hartford Terrace.
• Walking students from Brookings are asked to show up to the J.C. Williams center at 116 Florence St. Children in kindergarten through second grade will be shuttled to Edward P. Boland School on Armory Street. Brookings students in third, fourth or fifth grade will be shuttled to Rebecca Johnson School on Catharine Street. Students will depart J.C. Williams Center 116 Florence Street at 8:20 A.M and return at 3:20 PM.

www.sps.springfield.ma.us

Volunteer and Humanitarian Efforts:

To volunteer call :

United Way Volunteer Center: call 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-6277

Salvation Army:  413-733-1518

City Hall:  413-787-6100

Please leave name, email, number and what services you can provide. We are still assessing citywide damage, and determining what type of volunteer help we will need.

Donations:

• Red Cross is taking monetary contributions for the Tornado Relief Fund of Western Mass Please call: 800-733-2767
• United Way of Pioneer Valley - Tornado Relief Fund, http://www.uwpv.org  and click on the donate button, or mail your check made payable to:

United Way of Pioneer Valley
184 Mill Street
Springfield, MA 01108

For more information, please call the United Way 413-693-0227 or go to www.uwpv.org

• Hampden Bank accepting donations towards:

Greater Springfield Tornado Relief Fund, 19 Harrison Ave. 01103-2048, or dropped off at any Hampden Bank branch office

• United Bank - Monetary Donations can be made at any UNITED BANK.
• Chicopee Saving Bank

70 Center Street
Chicopee, MA 01013-1681
(413) 594-6692

• Salvation Army is accepting clothing and food donations at their drop off center:

327 Liberty St. 413-785-1921

• Springfield Rescue Mission:

Donor Relations Office: 413-732-0808 ext. 110
donor@hope4springfield.org

DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS

Important Personal Documents

Tornado affected residents and businesses can request a copy of Certificates and Licenses at the City Clerk’s Office of the following:

• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Death Certificate
• Dog License
• Business Certificate

CITY CLERK’S OFFICE
36 COURT ST.
SPRINGFIELD, MA 01103
TELEPHONE (413) 736-3111
www.springfieldcityhall.com

Other Government Agencies

Registry of Motor Vehicles

• Driver’s License

165 Liberty Street
Springfield, MA 01103-1118
(800) 858-3926

US Social Security Administration

• Social Security Cards

70 Bond Street, Springfield
(866) 964-5061
www.ssa.gov

Office of Workforce Development is operating a Rapid Response center at 95 Liberty Street in Springfield, You can also call Kathy at (617) 438-7896 or Department of Transitional Assistance 413-858-1000.

Information and assistance is available for:

• Disaster Unemployment Assistance: Provides unemployment benefits to individuals who have become unemployed as a result of a presidentially-declared major disaster. For more information call 1-877-872-5627 (TTY 1-877-889-5627)

• Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (D-SNAP): A food assistance program specifically for disaster survivors following a presidentially-declared disaster. For more information call 1-866-950-3663

• Veteran’s Services
• Assistance for the Self- Employed

Staff is available from 8:00am to 6:00pm including Saturday and Sunday, until further notice.

COUNSELING

River Valley Counseling Center's Mental Health Clinic at 120 Maple Street in Springfield, MA, will make every effort to prioritize counseling referrals of individuals affected by the tornado this week.  Intake calls can be directed to (413) 781-2666.

FEMA ASSISTANCE (NOT YET AVAILABLE- UNTIL FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARED)

• FEMA provides assistance with housing needs and non-housing needs.
• Money is available to rent temporary housing, to repair damage to primary residences that is not covered by insurance, and to replace a primary residence destroyed by the disaster that is not covered by insurance.
• Money is also available to mitigate serious needs caused by the disaster.  Assistance with medical and dental costs, funeral and burial costs, clothing, tools, heating fuel, clean-up items, vehicle repair, and moving and storage expenses associated with the disaster may be available.

For more information call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585)

DISASTER LEGAL SERVICES

FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR TORNADO VICTIMS

Hampden County Bar Association will provide free legal assistance to members of the community displaced by the recent tornadoes.

CALL (413) 732-4648

THE HAMPDEN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION LAWYER REFERRAL & INFORMATION SERVICE

Attorneys will be provide free assistance in answering questions regarding legal rights, responding to any condemnation complaints relating to your property and assist individuals with insurance claims and related matters.

More info on Legal Assistance

Provides legal assistance to low-income individuals who, prior to or as a result of a disaster, are unable to secure legal services adequate to meet their disaster-related needs.

Local lawyers typically provide assistance such as: help with insurance claims for doctor and hospital bills, loss of property, loss of life, etc.; drawing up new wills, powers of attorney and other legal documents lost during the disaster; help with home repair contracts and contractors; advice on problems with landlords.

For more information call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) or

Hampden County Bar Association                                    
Lawyer Referral & Information Service
Hours of operation Monday through Friday 9 - 4.

Phone Number: (413) 732 4648

Hampden County Bar Association to provide legal assistance to residents affected by the storm.

Also, the contact info for the Massachusetts Bar Association: Toll-free in Massachusetts: (866) MASS-LRS or (866) 627-7577   

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DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR BUSINESSES

CITY OF SPRINGFIELD

The city has efforts to assist business owners in reopening and rebuilding if necessary. "If you have a business that was affected by the tornado, please call (413) 787-6020 or visit the city's website at www.springfieldcityhall.com to reach the Planning & Economic Development Department.

Businesses that have space needs are urged to contact our Economic Development Department at 413-787-6664.

http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/171.0.html

Any food establishment that has sustained damage call the Department of Health and Human Services (413) 787-6719 to be re-inspected prior to resuming normal operations.

SBA ASSISTANCE

• SBA provides low-interest business loans of up to $2,000,000 to cover both repair of physical damage and to help a business overcome disaster-related economic injury.
• Rates will not exceed 4% for businesses with no other credit options and repayment terms of up to 30 years are available.
• If your business property secures an existing mortgage, a refinance of that mortgage can be included in the new loan.

For more information call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY 1-800-877-8339)

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

• Provides unemployment benefits to individuals who have become unemployed as a result of a presidentially-declared major disaster.
• Self-employed persons who cannot work as a result of the disaster can also apply for benefits.

For more information call 1-877-872-5627 (TTY 1-877-889-5627)

FEMA ASSISTANCE

May be available for sole proprietors who have disaster-related damage to vehicles or tools needed for their jobs.

For more information call 1-800-632-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585)

Other Disaster Relief
Tornado victims in need of other disaster assistance, including Red Cross assistance, disaster unemployment insurance and disaster food stamps, should go to the state Disaster Assistance Center at 95 Liberty Street, Springfield, MA – Tel #: (413) 858-1000.