Recovery Centers Close, Loans and Other Disaster Assistance Continues 

Release Date: August 8, 2008
Release Number: 1771-049

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The last Disaster Recovery Center closed today at 4:00 p.m. However, on Monday, August 11 that center reopens and transitions to a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center where SBA specialists will remain to assist applicants. It's located at Michelsen's Office Furniture, 8020 North 2nd Street in Machesney Park.

Anyone who has applied for disaster assistance and has received a disaster-loan application from the SBA is urged to complete and return it as soon as possible. If SBA determines that a homeowner or renter is ineligible for a loan, that applicant will automatically be referred to FEMA for other possible grant assistance.  Applicants can also apply online with the SBA via their secure Web Site at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ In total there are three Disaster Loan Outreach Centers open in Illinois. These locations are:

Hancock County
Dallas City Elementary School
921 Creamery Hill Road
Dallas City, IL 62330
Hours:  Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Closes: Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.

Rock Island County
Milan Municipal Building
405 East 1st St
Milan, IL 61264
Hours:  Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Closes:  Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 6 p.m.

Winnebago County
Michelsen's Office Furniture
8020 N. 2nd St
Machesney Park, IL 61115
Opens: Monday, August 11 at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hours:  Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closes: Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 6 p.m.

A FEMA Individual Assistance Specialist will be at each site to answer FEMA related questions.

To date, 3,004 homeowners and renters from the 18 designated counties have applied for disaster assistance.

More than 1,773 Illinois residents have visited FEMA's Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) for face-to-face meetings with disaster recovery specialists.

Renters and homeowners in the 18 Illinois disaster-designated counties who sustained damages or losses from the severe storms and flooding from June 1 through July 22 should be sure to register with FEMA right away if they have not already done so. The deadline to register is August 25, just over two weeks away. 

Even those who are awaiting additional information or services from other sources should register now for assistance by calling FEMA's toll-free registration line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Applicants with a hearing- or speech-impairment who have TTY equipment should call TTY 1-800-462-7585. The telephone lines are available daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. CDT. Applicants can also register online at www.fema.gov.

IEMA and FEMA have begun staging Disaster Mobile Homes in Springfield in preparation for occupancy by qualified applicants who have no other housing options.

The counties designated eligible for Individual Assistance are: Adams, Calhoun, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Hancock, Henderson, Jasper, Jersey, Lake, Lawrence, Mercer, Rock Island, Whiteside and Winnebago. Individual Assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs and other necessary disaster-related expenses not covered by other sources.

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, 11-Aug-2008 08:23:02