Disaster Recovery Centers In Allen And Wyandot Counties To Close Saturday, Sept. 15
Disaster Assistance Still Readily Available
Release Date: September 8, 2007
Release Number: 1720-016
» More Information on Ohio Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
LINDSAY, Ohio -- Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Allen and Wyandot counties will close at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. The centers are located in Bluffton and Carey, respectively.
Those who still have questions about assistance or low-interest disaster loans and those who want to register for assistance can call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) toll free at 1-800-621-FEMA or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired, or go online at www.fema.gov. Phone lines are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (EDT) every day.
"It's important for people to know that even though these sites are closing, the first step to register for assistance is still the same," said Federal Coordinating Officer Jesse Munoz of FEMA. "We urge anyone who's been impacted by the storms and floods to register right away."
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is establishing Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in both villages at locations to be announced early next week. SBA customer service representatives will continue to assist homeowners and businesses of all sizes in filling out long-term, low-interest loan applications.
"The reduced level of activity at the centers means we are moving forward in the recovery process," said State Coordinating Officer Nancy Dragani of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. "Now we're starting to focus more attention on long-term recovery needs."
More than 1,400 Ohioans have visited a DRC since they first opened in six northwest Ohio counties on Aug. 31, four days after the president issued a disaster declaration. Two more centers were opened after Hardin and Seneca counties were added to the original declaration on Sept. 4.
The temporary centers were established to provide detailed program information to those who have already registered for assistance. In addition to representatives from federal, state and volunteer agencies, disaster recovery specialists staff the centers to answer questions and provide information on recovery, restoration and rebuilding.
After the centers close in Allen and Wyandot counties close, four DRCs will remain open to serve the needs of all impacted residents of the eight-county disaster area: They are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
- Crawford County - Crawford County Commissioners Office, (Law Library, lower level), 112 E. Mansfield St., Bucyrus, OH 44820;
- Hancock County - Findlay Community Recreation Center ("The Cube"), 3430 N. Main St., Findlay, OH 45840;
- Putnam County - Educational Services Center, 124 Putnam Parkway, Ottawa, OH 45875; and
- Richland County - Shelby YMCA, 111 W. Smiley Ave., Shelby, OH 44875.
In addition, two DRCs are open this week for three days only, Sept. 10-12, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
- Seneca County - Seneca County Public Safety Building, 126 Hopewell Ave. (at the County Fairgrounds), Tiffin, OH 44883; and
- Hardin County - Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1182, 204 E. Lima, Forest, OH 45843.
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, 10-Sep-2007 10:16:33