Vancouver Disaster Recovery Center Opens Monday To Alternate Weeks with Kelso 

Release Date: January 3, 2007
Release Number: 1671-017

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LACEY, Wash. -- The State of Washington and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Clark County to help individuals and business owners who suffered damages from the Nov. 2-11 flooding.  Other DRCs are currently operating in Baring, Granite Falls, Kelso, Monroe, Packwood, and Puyallup.

The Clark County DRC in Vancouver will open Monday, Jan. 8, at noon at the Clark County Utilities Education Building, 8600 NE 117th Avenue, Vancouver.  After the initial opening it will operate Monday through Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The Clark County DRC at Vancouver and the Cowlitz County DRC at Kelso will operate alternating weeks. 

"These centers provide face-to-face assistance to people who have already applied for FEMA help and may have further questions," said Libby Turner, federal coordinating officer. "Besides FEMA employees, there will be representatives from the State, voluntary agencies, and customer service representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). While checks aren't written at a DRC, these program specialists can connect applicants to services that may help."

"State staff for the Individual Assistance Program will be present at the Vancouver center to explain the assistance programs and to help address individual disaster assistance issues," said Kurt Hardin, state coordinating officer for the flood disaster.

The SBA representatives at the DRC explain how SBA low-interest disaster loans can help homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations pay for their disaster losses, SBA officials said.

"These representatives also answer any questions about SBA's disaster loan program, assist applicants with their loan applications, and accept completed applications," said Mark Randle, SBA public information officer.  "If you're not able to visit a DRC, call SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or go on-line at www.sba.gov."

Current DRCs are located at:

Cowlitz County*
Kelso Train Depot
501 S. 1st Street
Kelso, Wash.
Jan. 2-6 and Jan. 15-20

Clark County*
Clark County Utilities
Education Building
8600 NE 117th Avenue
Vancouver, Wash.
Jan. 8-14 and Jan. 21-27

Lewis County
Packwood Elementary School
12990Highway12 
Packwood, Wash.

Pierce County
Microchip Technology Campus
1111 39th Avenue SE
Building A, First Floor
Puyallup, Wash.

Snohomish County
Evergreen State Fairground
14405 179th Avenue SE Building 501
Monroe, Wash.

Snohomish County
American Legion Hall
301 S. Granite Avenue
Granite Falls, Wash.

King County
Baring Fire Training Facility
64100 NE Index Creek Road
Baring, Wash.

* Kelso and Vancouver DRCs will alternate weeks of operation.

To apply for assistance call FEMA's toll-free registration number: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-463-7585 for persons who are speech or hearing impaired.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national disaster or emergency incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with State and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 03-Jan-2007 14:44:13