New Disaster Recovery Center Locations Announced
Release Date: August 31, 2007
Release Number: 1717-006
» More Information on Minnesota Severe Storms and Flooding
ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Some mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) serving Minnesota residents affected by recent severe storms and flooding will soon relocate and additional ones will open, according to officials from Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and the U.S Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
"We are proud to have served so many people in the first week of DRC operations. Keeping the mobile DRCs on the move will help us reach even more residents," said Federal Coordinating Officer Carlos Mitchell. "These centers provide people who suffered losses the chance to personally interact with various agencies and begin their road to recovery."
At the DRCs, affected residents can speak face-to-face with disaster recovery representatives. The specialists answer questions and provide written materials about the variety of disaster assistance programs available. To date, more than 800 people have made use of the DRCs.
Updated DRC hours and locations are:
Fillmore County
TRW West Automotive Building
901 Home St.
Rushford, MN
HOURS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:
Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. noon
Houston County
Hokah Fire Station and Community Center
Hwy 44 & Hwy 16
Hokah, MN
Friday, Aug. 31: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - noon
CEASES OPERATIONS AT NOON SUNDAY, SEPT. 2.
*Olmsted County
American Legion
11 Madison Ave.
Eyota, MN
OPENS SATURDAY, SEPT 1.
HOURS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:
Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - noon
*Steele County
143 W. Broadway St.
Owatonna, MN
OPENS SATURDAY, SEPT 1.
HOURS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:
Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - noon
*Wabasha County
Ambulance Garage
130 E. Main St.
Elgin, MN
OPENS MONDAY, SEPT. 3
OPEN SEVEN DAYS ONLY. HOURS:
Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - noon
CEASES OPERATIONS AT NOON SUNDAY, SEPT. 9
Winona County
J.C. Penney Building
1858 W. Service Drive
Winona, MN
HOURS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:
Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - noon
*Winona County
Community Center
830 Whitewater Ave.
St. Charles, MN
OPEN THREE DAYS ONLY:
Monday, Sept. 3: noon - 7 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
CEASES OPERATIONS AT 7 P.M. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5
(*Denotes new location)
To speed the aid process, residents are encouraged to first register with FEMA before visiting a DRC. Those affected by the severe storms and flooding can begin applying for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech or hearing impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to midnight (local time) seven days a week. Individuals can also register online at www.fema.gov.
Six Minnesota counties have been designated for FEMA Individual Assistance programs: Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha and Winona. Many types of federal and state disaster assistance are available for homeowners and renters in these counties to help compensate losses not fully covered by insurance. These can include rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable; grants to repair homes and replace essential household items to make damaged dwellings safe and sanitary; and grants to meet serious disaster-related needs not covered by other programs. Assistance can also include low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to repair major damage and replace damaged personal property.
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: Friday, 31-Aug-2007 17:11:28