Cerro Grande Customer Service Centers to Consolidate 

Release Date: December 15, 2000
Release Number: HQ-00-CG22

SANTA FE, N.M. -- The Cerro Grande Fire Assistance Service Center located at Canyon School in Los Alamos is in the process of merging with the Customer Service Center located at 235 Central Park Square ( IT Building). The consolidation will be complete after the close of business December 30, 2000. All Customer Service Staff and Claims Reviewers from the Canyon School Center will be located at the IT Center , located one block north of Central Avenue, off of 15th Street on the west side of the road. Parking is available in front of the building, and the service center is located on the second floor.

The transition will not affect customers' access to their Claims Reviewer nor will it delay any service. Letters have been sent to all people who have filed claims at the Canyon School Center informing them of the consolidation.

The Canyon School Center was a temporary site for FEMA operations immediately following the fire, and later was set up as a temporary center to assist in processing claims under the Cerro Grande Fire Assistance Act, which commenced activity August 28. LANL will reoccupy the vacated space, and continue to use it as a training center.

According to Don Erbach, Cerro Grande Fire Assistance Act Director, " We have the capacity in the IT Center to have our Los Alamos operations in one centralized location. The high standard of care towards customer service will continue as before." He added, "The rumor that we are reducing our overall staff at the remaining Customer Service Centers is an issue we want to dispel. We are not downsizing. In fact we have already replaced those claims reviewers who were not able to stay."

Along with the Los Alamos IT Center other customer service centers located in White Rock, Espanola, San Ildefonso Pueblo, and Santa Clara Pueblo will continue to operate under normal hours of operation, 9:00am- 6:00 pm Monday through Friday, and from 9 am to noon on Saturday. All centers are closed on Sunday.

For any questions regarding the consolidation or about the filing of claims, people may call the toll free information line (888) 748- 1853.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 30-Dec-2003 16:58:03