Release Date: June 24, 2008
Release Number: 1763-041
» More Information on Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) have opened at new sites in six Iowa counties: Butler, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Louisa and Marion. The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are opening the DRCs to provide face-to-face assistance to those affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding beginning May 25 and continuing.
The DRCs are located in:
Butler County (through Wednesday, June 25)
Butler County Fairgrounds, 101 S. Main St., Allison, IA 50602
Chickasaw County (through Saturday, June 28)
Community Services Building, 260 E. Prospect St., New Hampton, IA 50659
Clayton County (through noon Friday, June 27)
Johnson's Reception Hall, 916 ½ High St., Elkader, IA 52043
Fayette County (through Saturday, June 28)
Fayette County Courthouse, 114 N. Vine St., West Union, IA 52175
Louisa County (through Saturday, June 28)
American Legion Hall, 99 Second St., Columbus Junction, IA 52057
Marion County (through Saturday, June 28)
Former Pamida Store, 1302 N. Lincoln St., Knoxville, IA 50138
The centers are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents of any county designated in the federal disaster declaration may go to any DRC listed below for information.
FEMA disaster assistance specialists and representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be available to answer questions. Other state, federal and non-profit organizations will have information at the DRC as well.
Residents do not have to wait for a DRC to open in their area to register with FEMA for disaster assistance. Anyone with storm-related damage is encouraged to register with FEMA prior to visiting a disaster recovery center, but phones are available at the center if residents have not pre-registered. Register by calling FEMA's toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585 for those with speech or hearing impairments, 24 hours, seven days a week or register online anytime at www.fema.gov.
When applicants call to register, they will be asked to provide current contact information - address and phone number - their social security number, insurance information, a brief description of damage sustained as well as the specific location of damaged property. Direct deposit is available for those who are eligible for assistance and can provide their bank information. Those who suffered additional storm-related damage after registering should call the toll-free registration line again to report the additional damage.
Disaster Recovery Centers open as of June 24 include:
Benton County
Black Hawk County
Bremer County
Buchanan County
Butler County
Cerro Gordo County
Clayton County
Des Moines County
Fayette County
Floyd County
Johnson County
Linn County
Louisa County
Marion County
Page County
Polk County
Story County
Tama County
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Thursday, 26-Jun-2008 14:44:02