Hurricane Sandy Hoboken Jersey City Update

Picture from 415 Newark St

Hurricane Sandy Update for Hoboken and Jersey City, I compiled info from different sites and put all together here for you and my clients.. below is the email I just sent in case you aren't on my list. 

"Hello friends, I hope this email finds you at least in good health. As I know many of you have suffered losses I wanted to send you some information to keep you updated in hopes that some of it will be helpful to you.

I am in the area, if you need help with something, please contact me.

Make sure to contact your insurance providers as soon as you can to start your claim filing process. If you find you need additional assistance please visit the below.

http://www.disasterassistance.gov .

This website consolidates the application process across several Federal agencies, including FEMA and the Small Business Administration. The website also reduces the number of forms you will ultimately have to fill out, shortens the time it takes to apply, and allows you to check the progress of your applications online.

If you want to apply by phone rather than the Internet, you can call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362).

VOTING INFO - Please visit the county clerk's office for instructions on filing a mail ballot via email by today at 5PM or to find your polling location.

HOBOKEN:
Red Cross is on site and Mayor Dawn Zimmer will hold a conference outside city hall today at 2PM.
Garbage trucks are out collecting but there is tons of debris and garbage in the streets still.
The Hoboken parks have been reported contaminated, please do not take your children or dogs to play in the grass until the city clears them ok.
Health inspectors are out checking on restaurants before they can open to the public.
Part of Hoboken still do not have power - check this map for live updates as streets get lit. goo.gl/maps/Kb4PP

Food distribution locations in town are 7 PODs (10am-4pm): High School, 76 Bloomfield St, 1st & Jackson, 220 Adams, 5th & Park, 9th & Jefferson, 13th & Willow
PATH trains remain suspended. NJTransit buses resume and NYWaterway ferry is running. Both reported long wait and long lines, add extra time for your commute.


JERSEY CITY:
Jersey City still has thousands of residents without power, downtown jersey city recently announced that Paulus Hook has power.
Residents from 689 Marin Blvd and 700 Grove were forced to evacuate due to a possible structural issue after flooding created a buoyancy issue. Article here

PATH trains remain suspended. NJTransit buses resume and NYWaterway ferry is running. Both reported long wait and long lines, add extra time for your commute.


Meal Distribution Sites for Monday, November 5th, 2012,
Updated @11:00am. 

Please keep in mind these sites frequently change. While the changes are mostly daily, they may also be every couple of hours on any given day. With such a fluid situation, residents are encouraged to check back here frequently.
Curfew: The city just announced that the curfew has been lifted for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Hot Meals Will Be Served At the following sites at the approximate times on Monday, 11/5:

Country Village College Little League Field	1PM & 6PM
The HUB, 360 MLK Drive	1PM & 6PM
Curries Woods Community Center, 63-65 Ruby Terrace	1 PM & 6PM
Dr Ercel Webb Pool, 303 Van Horne Street	1 PM & 6PM
Boys & Girls Club 1 Canal Street	1 PM &  6PM
St. Paul's Lutheran Church Hall, 440 Hoboken Avenue	**5 PM**
Red Cross MRE Meals & Water, West Side Avenue & Sip Avenue	1 PM
Marion Gardens Community Room, Dales Avenue	1 PM

Sandy and Your Closing, How Does The Hurricane Affect Your Transaction

If you are wondering how Hurricane Sandy will affect your closing here are a few things you will want to do.

One, reach out to your mortgage rep, once you or they have power, to ask how far out will your closing date be pushed back if at all. 

Of course if you were due to close this week, you are undoubtedly delayed. 

When natural disasters strike, mortgage companies will require an appraiser to do an inspection of the property, usually from the exterior, to see if any damage to your property was sustained before moving forward.  

This typically happens very quickly after a disaster, and many times the agents and people involved in transaction are not notified. Your mortgage company will update you and let you know the inspection was done.

If your property did sustain damage due to flooding or fire or sewage etc, you will need to discuss with your attorney your options so you can best make a decision on how to proceed. 

If property was not damaged, and all is ok your transaction will move forward as planned.

For Hurricane Sandy, the biggest hurdle right now from a real estate perspective, is the lack of power, this means documents can't be printed, communication lines are blocked and the obvious location of the actual closing is an issue. 

If timing is of critical importance, you should reach out to your attorney or your agent to contact other side. Perhaps an arrangement can be made, such as buyer moving in early or just moving in furniture and boxes until actual close. 

This is when, being nice and reasonable throughout a transaction can help in the face of a terrible stress filled situation as the case with Hurricane Sandy and the devastation to Hoboken and Jersey City.

Remember, there are many people involved in a closing, title company, insurance company, mortgage company, attorney's, buyer's, seller's and real estate agents, they all have to be able to participate in your close.