Call 911 if you are in need of immediate medical attention.

Help from MDA: MDA is actively trying to reach all individuals it serves who live in the affected areas to assess their well-being and provide assistance. If you have evacuated to a different area and need MDA services (including help with durable medical equipment or visiting an MDA clinic), find the nearest MDA office (mda.org/locate) by entering the ZIP code of your current location, or by calling (800) 572-1717 (weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Arizona time).

DisasterAssistance.gov: To obtain the most accurate list of disaster assistance programs for which you may be eligible, complete this anonymous questionnaire at disasterassistance.gov/disaster-assistance/questionnaire.

FEMA: For information about shelters and applying for disaster aid, go to fema.gov/sandy.

Red Cross:

• Shelter information: redcross.org/find-help/shelter
• Find your local Red Cross office: redcross.org/find-your-local-chapter

Housing and Urban Development (HUD): The “Disaster Recovery Information Guide” (portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=DisasterPrep.pdf) provides a wealth of specific information for those whose homes were damaged in a declared federal emergency.

The guide includes:

• information about re-entering and cleaning out a flooded home;
• Information about help with mortgage payments and foreclosures;
• contact information for national, state and local government resources; and
• other recovery information.

211: For local information about help with food, housing, health care and more, dial 211 or visit 211.org. (Note: The 211 service is not available in all areas.)

Mental health help: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a list of resources specifically designed for those suffering stress and trauma as a result of a disaster like Hurricane Sandy. Go to http://emergency.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/

State offices and agencies of emergency management: fema.gov/regional-operations/state-offices-and-agencies-emergency-management

Salvation Army: For information about what the Salvation Army is doing in affected areas, go to disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.

Quest and ALS Newsmagazine Articles

How to Get Personal Care Assistance in Emergency Shelters (quest.mda.org/news/how-get-personal-care-assistance-emergency-shelters)
A new federal program provides personal care aides for individuals with disabilities who need to stay in emergency shelters during a declared disaster.

What Will You Do if the Power Goes Out? (alsn.mda.org/article/what-will-you-do-if-power-goes-out)
Heavy storms often cause power outages, which is problematic for people who rely on electrically powered equipment to breathe. Fortunately, there are a variety of backup power options that can be used.

Going to the Emergency Room: Tips for People with Neuromuscular Diseases (quest.mda.org/article/going-emergency-room-tips-people-neuromuscular-diseases)
Because most emergency room doctors and nurses are not familiar with neuromuscular diseases, a trip to the ER may result in inappropriate care for some people with muscle diseases. This article describes some common problems that can occur in the ER and provides tips for avoiding these scenarios.