FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers To Close Saturday; Help Still Available
Release Date: June 14, 2006
Release Number: 1643-018
» More Information on New Hampshire Severe Storms and Flooding
NEWINGTON, N.H. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency will close down its operations at the four New Hampshire Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) locations on Saturday, June 17 at 1 p.m. The centers will remain operational however, as Operation Flood Recovery Sites, under the auspices of local community action programs and as U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Assistance Centers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday thru Friday.
The centers are located at:
Rockingham County
Rockingham Community Action Inc.
Jedediah Brown Homestead - 55 Prescott Rd.
Raymond, N.H.Belknap/Merrimack County
Community Action of Belknap/Merrimack
2 Industrial Park
Concord, N.H.Hillsborough County
Southern NH Services, Inc.
160 Silver St.
Manchester, N.H.Strafford County
Strafford County Community Action Center
150 Wakefield Street
Rochester, N.H.
At the center, disaster recovery specialists from FEMA, the New Hampshire Bureau of Emergency Management, SBA and local Community Action Programs explain assistance programs and answer questions from area residents who suffered losses in May's flooding.
"We urge any applicant seeking one-on-one help to visit the center before it closes," said Kenneth Clark, federal coordinating officer for the disaster. "But if applicants need assistance after the center closes they can call the FEMA Helpline."
Residents with disaster-related questions will continue to be able to get answers and information about their applications by selecting the FEMA Helpline option at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For people with hearing or speech impairment, the Helpline number is 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). Applicants can also find information and register for assistance at www.fema.gov.
State Coordinating Officer Mike Poirier said visiting the center can be very helpful for people who want to learn more about risk reduction methods to lessen future losses. "It's the last chance to talk face-to-face with FEMA mitigation specialists about your particular situation," Poirier said. "So we urge applicants to get to the centers before FEMA leaves on Saturday."
New Hampshire residents with uninsured disaster-related losses will still be able to register for assistance until July 24 at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Lines are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 06-Dec-2006 09:54:45