Disaster Assistance Service Center Hours to Change
Release Date: October 13, 2001
Release Number: 1391-28
» More Information on New York Terrorist Attack
New York, NY -- The Disaster Assistance Service Center (DASC) on 141 Worth St. in Manhattan will be changing hours of operation starting Monday, October 15.
New Hours
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"Federal, state, local and voluntary agency representatives have been meeting with nearly 500 visitors a day since the DASC opened and have helped more than 5,000 people so far," said Edward F. Jacoby, Jr., state coordinating officer. "The change in hours is meant to improve our ability to provide services. We want to accommodate people by working the hours that are most convenient for them to visit."
To avoid long lines, people are asked to make an appointment during their initial visit to the DASC. When they return for their appointments, they will meet with program representatives who will evaluate their situations on an individual basis. The DASC is staffed with representatives from many agencies, including the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Safe Horizon, the city's Human Resources Administration, the state's Department of Labor, the U.S. Small Business Administration and FEMA.
The center will continue to provide professional childcare for people who are visiting with representatives to get advice and information on disaster housing and relocation, unemployment benefits, mental health counseling, low-interest disaster-related loans, legal and insurance issues, and more.
People can begin the recovery process today by calling FEMA's toll-free registration number:1-800-462-9029. The line is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For people who have a speech- or hearing-impairment, the TTY number is 1-800-462-7585. A telephone-translation service is available for people who speak languages other than English or Spanish. People who need to register in another language should have someone with them who speaks either English or Spanish when they call FEMA. This person will need to tell the operator which language is required. Then a translator will come on the line and speak to the applicant.
Last Modified: Monday, 06-Oct-2003 13:49:43