Credit: dakine kane/flickr

greentechmedia.com - by Bobby Magill - October 31, 2013

New York City’s Rockaway Peninsula took the brunt of Hurricane Sandy when the storm blew ashore a year ago, leaving the Rockaways in Queens devastated from flooding and 34,000 without electricity for weeks.

In the ensuing twelve months, the city has suggested many ways to make itself more able to withstand such storms. As part of New York City’s climate change response plan, “A Stronger, More Resilient New York,” issued earlier this year, one of the city’s suggestions to help the Rockaways survive the next hurricane is for the peninsula to become the site of a microgrid pilot project that will help keep the lights on at hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure during and after a storm.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

submitted by Seth Golbey - January 21, 2014
Voluntary Agencies Group Supervisor
FEMA-4085-DR-NY

(TO DOWNLOAD FLYER - CLICK ON ATTACHMENT BELOW)

Block and Tenant Associations Workshop Schedule

February – March 2014

All of the following interactive workshops will be held at

1385 East 94^th St, bet Avenues K and L

6:30-9:00pm

Who should attend:  

All Canarsiens interested in starting or strengthening a Block, Condo/Coop, or Tenant Association

Date:  Tuesday, February 18

Topic:  Canarsie Resilience: Building a Stronger Community Block by-Block

• Discussion of Block/Tenant/Condo workshops series
• Learn more about NY Resiliency and  Bridge Streetservices

Work Group Assignment: Participants will review and begin completing a 12-month action plan

Stephen Elbaz revealed mold behind the wall vinyl at a Brooklyn co-op.   Uli Seit for The New York Times

nytimes.com - by Mireya Navarro - May 1, 2013

Since the hurricane, thousands of homeowners have been startled to discover that co-ops are largely barred from federal disaster assistance. The rules have stirred growing criticism from members of Congress from the region, who contend that the system fails to take into account how people live in New York City, where co-ops have flourished.

The lawmakers are calling for the rules to be changed, saying that as severe weather becomes more common, the region will be increasingly shortchanged in disaster aid.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Prepared by Heriberto Martinez, PCP
Voluntary Agency Liaison Deputy Group Supervisor
Federal Emergency Management Agency

New York Hurricane Sandy
Grants Information: Funders, Resources, and Grant Writing Tool February 10, 2014

(CLICK ON ATTACHMENT BELOW - 154 page Word document)

globalecovillages.org - March 22, 2012

We found this article which was originally published in the subscription only 'Architects' Journal' in 2009.  When we did a little more search engine research we found an earlier article titled "Hanham Hall: Eco-town or eco-spin?" also reprinted below.  We wanted to post these articles though to start some necessary conversations about models, prototypes, and criteria that are still in the process of birthing the 'EcoVillage' into the world. 

What kind of criteria do you think needs to be met to qualify a development to call itself an EcoVillage?

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

In October, 2013, Doctors of the World opened the doors of the Rockaways Free Clinic to local uninsured adults. A year after Hurricane Sandy ravaged the area, many residents were still displaced from healthcare services. Learn how the Rockaways Free Clinic has proven a beacon of hope for locals; hear their stories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqMsMDsk6Wk

FOR RELATED ARTICLES - CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

http://rockaway.newyork.resiliencesystem.org/doctors-world-opens-first-us-clinic-rockaways

Rockaway West

(Includes the neighborhoods of Belle Harbor, Neponsit, Rockaway Beach, and Rockaway Park)

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON ROCKAWAY WEST

stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr/community/rockaway-west

MEETINGS:

01.29.14
Rockaway West Planning Committee Meeting

02.03.14
Rockaway West Planning Committee Meeting

CLICK HERE - Rockaway West Conceptual Plan
(44 page .PDF report)

Shuttered Peninsula Hospital in Rockaway could be transformed into senior housing under one proposal by a non-profit group.  Debbie Egan-Chin/New York Daily News

nydailynews.com - by Lisa L. Colangelo - January 21, 2014

The shuttered Peninsula Hospital building has caught the eye of a nonprofit group that wants to transform it into housing for veterans and senior citizens.

But Rockaway residents, who haven’t given up hope the hospital will reopen as another medical facility, are wary of the plan.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

From: NYC OEM <***@***.***>
Date: January 22, 2014 at 2:09:24 PM CST
Subject: Update - Weather - Bitter Cold - Low Temperatures and Wind Chills (Citywide)

Wed Jan 22 14:57:45 2014 
STATUS: Open - Active 
PROGNOSIS: Monitoring 
Weather-Cold/Snow 
Citywide  1/21- 1/24

(OEM Weather Distribution List)

SYNOPSIS

Intensifying low pressure well south of long island will move farther out to sea through tonight as weak high pressure builds from the west.  A weakening Alberta Clipper will move through on Thursday . . . followed by a high pressure ridge building in through the end of the week.  Another Alberta Clipper low will pass late Saturday . . . reinforcing the cold air across the area.  Unsettled weather is possible during the beginning of next week. 

TEMPERATURES

Today: cold; high around 15°F with wind chill values as low as 13 below (-13°F); lows around 6°F with wind chill values as low as 5 to 10 below (-5°F to -10°F). 

Thursday: cold; highs in the lower 20s with wind chill values as low as 8 below (-8°F) in the morning; lows around 9°F with wind chill values as low as 8 below (-8°F) after midnight. 

Photo: Dennis Clark

nypost.com - by Susan Edelman - January 12, 2014

This principal runs a school of “no.”

Students at PS 106 in Far Rockaway, Queens, have gotten no math or reading and writing books for the rigorous Common Core curriculum, whistleblowers say.

The 234 kids get no gym or art classes. Instead, they watch movies every day.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Johanna Dominique in her apartment on the Rockaway Peninsula. A water stain that appeared when Hurricane Sandy hit, persists across her repaired ceiling. Ángel Franco/The New York Times

nytimes.com - by Sarah Maslin Nir - January 13, 2014

The buildings are offset by the Atlantic, a pastiche of warm tones and cool grays, jutting balconies overlooking tranquil landscaped gardens and million-dollar views. The apartment complex is in the Arverne section of the Rockaway Peninsula; it looks as if it could be Boca Raton, Fla.

But in this cluster of buildings, looks are often deceiving.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Projects Statewide to Strengthen New York’s Communities Against Extreme Weather

governor.ny.gov - Andrew M. Cuomo - Governor - January 7, 2014