In the Wake of Storm Ida, FEMA Warns Flood Victims to Beware of Fraud & Scams

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have warned that after a disaster, scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals often attempt to take advantage of disaster survivors. Federal and state emergency management officials are urging New York residents to watch for and report any suspicious activity. When a disaster strikes, unscrupulous people may try to take advantage of survivors by posing as official disaster-aid workers or even as relatives trying to help survivors complete their applications, officials warned. They said common post-disaster fraud practices include the following: Fake Offers of State or Federal Aid Federal and

By SÍLE MOLONEY

State officials, as well as those from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who are helping New Yorkers recover from the remnants of Hurricane Ida have shared some tips on how to speed up receipt of disaster aid, as follows: Registering online is the fastest way to access FEMA assistance. Download the FEMA app or visit disasterassistance.gov. Not only can you register here, you can check the status of your claim, upload requested documents, and access FEMA downloadable pamphlets and other aids. You can also register by telephone calling 800-621-3362. Individuals who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a 13-year-old girl who has been reported missing from the 49th precinct in the Laconia section of the Bronx. It was reported to police that Shiloh Lalondriz, 13, was last seen on Sept. 9, at approximately 6.30 p.m., in front of her home at 2725 Throop Avenue in Laconia. She is described as female, weighs approximately 123 pounds, is Hispanic, is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, has brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a blue shirt with a “2” printed on the back, blue socks and

New York State Eviction Moratorium Extension Follows Bronx Rally

By SARAH HUFFMAN

A housing rally organized by Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) in Hunts Point on Aug. 3 achieved the desired result: an extension of the State eviction moratorium. In addition, the State moratorium offers greater protections than its federal counterpart, which is also fortunate as in the meantime, the federal moratorium extension has been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Torres was joined at the Aug. 3 rally, held at 1231 Lafayette Avenue, by New York City Council Member Vanessa Gibson (C.D. 16) and advocates from Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA), the Supportive Housing Network of New York,

Bronxites Pick up the Pieces & Seek Relief in the Wake of Storm Ida

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

The relative and literal “calm before the storm” on the afternoon and early evening of Wednesday, Sept. 1, perhaps lured many Bronxites into a fall sense of security that then-impending Storm Ida would not be as extreme as forecast. The consequences of such nonchalance proved to be devastating. Between noon and 6 p.m., the day was overcast, humidity was at 82 percent, temperatures ranged from 68 to 72 degrees F, southwesterly winds were traveling at 11.8 mph but there was no rain. At 6.18 p.m., the National Weather Service (NWS) tweeted that tornado warnings had been issued for

By DAVID GREENE

Many Bronxites across the borough are patiently waiting for the cold weather to arrive so that those prone to carousing outside, blasting loud music from speakers, while in the parks or in cars, will gradually move indoors, and badly affected neighborhoods will return to the once peaceful communities they used to be. For years, despite hundreds of noise complaints sent to 311 by Bronxites across the borough, meetings with elected officials, and enforcement by NYPD officers, the goal of eliminating unwanted noise, particularly over the summer months, has remained elusive. Now, however, a new law, along with new technology,

9/11 Memorial Events Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the Supreme Court of Bronx County is hosting a 9/11 memorial service on Monday, 13th Sept. at noon, at Lou Gehrig Plaza. See attached flyer for more information. Partnerships for Parks announced that on Saturday, October 16th, nearly 1,000 volunteers will gather in parks across the city for Fall IMP-act Day, the group’s annual citywide park beautification day. For the 20th anniversary of 9/11, volunteers will begin planting 70,000 daffodil bulbs which will bloom in the spring of 2022, honoring the lives lost to the terrorist attacks through the Daffodil

By DAVID GREENE

This week, we asked readers their thoughts on U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to end America’s longest war in Afghanistan. “I think it’s about time they did this. I am so happy to hear that they’re doing this. They’ve been in Afghanistan for such a long time, I think it’s about time they do pull them out. No, it wasn’t done the right way. I don’t believe so, but few wars end peacefully. I don’t believe this world learned anything from the occupation. I think it’s gotten worse. We’ve gotten very stupid.” Kendall Levine, Hunts Point “It was a

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City’s Emergency Management Department provided the following update on Thursday evening, Sept. 2. on its recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Ida’s arrival in New York City. Officials said they are continuing to coordinate the interagency response to what they said was historic citywide flooding, as reported by Norwood News. They said several City agencies, including the FDNY, NYPD, the Departments of Environmental Protection, Parks, Buildings, Transportation, the New York City Housing Authority, and Emergency Management, continue to respond to hazards caused by the storm, and are also working with partners like Con Edison and the American Red