Disaster Recovery Centers to Open in Six Counties 

Release Date: March 8, 2008
Release Number: 1746-016

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LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Starting Monday, March 10, weather permitting, federal and state recovery experts will be on site in six Kentucky counties to help victims of last month's tornadoes and severe storms access disaster recovery programs. A complete list of locations is below.

Officials from the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM) and the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that a mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) will open in Bath, Harrison, Hopkins, Nicholas, Shelby and Spencer counties. These six counties were added Wednesday to the nine counties that had previously been designated eligible for assistance because of the storms that cut a swath of destruction through the commonwealth Feb. 5-6. The originally designated counties are Allen, Christian, Fayette, Hardin, Hart, Meade, Mercer, Monroe and Muhlenberg.

"At the DRCs, people can get their questions answered about registration for disaster assistance, learn techniques for rebuilding stronger and safer, obtain help applying for low-interest U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans and find other information about programs that may be useful to help them get back on their feet," said Charlie Winter, assistant director of KYEM and state coordinating officer for storm recovery.

It is not necessary, however, to go to a center to apply for or obtain help with an application for federal assistance. FEMA officials encourage affected homeowners, renters and business owners, if possible, to register for assistance before they visit a DRC. FEMA's toll free telephone registration and help line, 800-621-FEMA (3362), is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time seven days a week. For speech- or hearing-impaired applicants, the TTY number is 800-462-7585. Applicants can register online any time at www.fema.gov.

"We urge everyone with losses from these storms to register for assistance now," said Michael Bolch, the federal official leading FEMA's response in Kentucky. "FEMA can't duplicate benefits from insurance, but there may be losses that aren't insured. Registration is the only way to assure you receive all the aid for which you're eligible to help you recover from the disaster."

Federal disaster assistance can include grants for short-term rental needs, for homeowners to make repairs and for a variety of other disaster-related expenses. Grants cover basic needs only and will not normally compensate storm victims for their entire loss.

Applicants will be asked to provide:

Low-interest SBA loans may be available to pay for repair, rebuilding or replacement of property not fully covered by insurance. SBA representatives are at all DRCs to answer questions, provide applications and assistance completing them, and to accept completed applications. For more information about disaster loans call SBA at 800-659-2955 or visit the website at www.sba.gov.

Each center will remain open for about a week, although specific closing dates have not yet been set.

Disaster Recovery Centers Opening Monday, March 10
Operating Hours:  8 a.m.-6 pm Daily

Hopkins County
City Hall
106 Northeast Railroad St.
White Plains, KY  42464

Bath County
Bath County Extension Office
2914 East Highway 60
Owingsville, KY  40360

Spencer County
Emergency Medical Service
44 Spears Drive
Taylorsville, KY  40071

Harrison County
Search & Rescue Squad
113 West Pike Street
Cynthiana, KY  41031

Shelby County
Shelby County Emergency Management Office
98 Seventh Street
Shelbyville, KY 40066

Nicholas County
National Guard Armory
2299 Concrete Road
Carlisle, KY  40311

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: Monday, 10-Mar-2008 08:29:50