Disaster Recovery Centers To Close For The Holiday 

Release Date: May 24, 2002
Release Number: 1414-18

» More Information on Kentucky Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

London, KY -- Four disaster recovery centers being operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Commonwealth of Kentucky will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday of this weekend in commemoration of the Memorial Day holiday.

Three centers-located in Providence in Webster County, Freeburn in Pike County and London in Laurel County-will reopen Tuesday, May 28, and will be operational from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday until further notice.

The fourth center, in Irvington in Breckinridge County, will shut its doors at the close of business today and will not reopen after the holiday. However, people in that area will still be able to get direct help in understanding the assistance programs by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

The disaster recovery centers are staffed by program specialists from FEMA and the Commonwealth who can give one-on-one help to understand what assistance may be available to individuals and businesses for recovery in the disaster-declared counties.

Mike Bolch, the federal official coordinating recovery efforts, reminded Kentuckians who suffered property losses in the state's floods and storms over the past two months that they must first register with FEMA to be eligible for any of the assistance programs.

"Be sure to call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) to get the application process started," said Bolch. "No assistance can be delivered until a person is registered."

Those with speech or hearing impairments should call TTY 1-800-462-7585.

State Coordinating Officer Cash Centers also reminded all applicants who have received U. S. Small Business Administration loan packets to fill them out and return them. "No one is going to force anyone to take a loan," he said, "but the loan applications may help determine individuals' eligibility for some state and federal programs."

Last Modified: Friday, 22-Aug-2003 10:36:43