Disaster Recovery Centers Transition to SBA Loan Centers 

Release Date: September 19, 2007
Release Number: 1722-013

» More Information on Illinois Severe Storms and Flooding

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- The state/federal Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) at the Lincoln Mall, 1255 W. Galena in Freeport, and at the Pioneer Parking Deck, 315 N. Main St. in Rockford, will close Saturday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. and will reopen Monday, Sept. 24  as U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) federal and state disaster officials announced today. The DLOC in Rockford will remain at the Pioneer Parking Deck. The Freeport DLOC will be located in the Freeport Public Library, 100 East Douglas ST, 2nd Floor Board Room. Both DLOCs will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday until further notice.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the SBA opened the DRCs to provide face-to-face assistance and disaster information to individuals and business owners who suffered damage from the Aug. 7 and 8 severe storms and flooding.

The Freeport DRC has assisted 171 Stephenson County residents and the Rockford DRC has assisted 167 Winnebago County residents since opening Sept. 6.  Applicants can continue to reach federal recovery experts online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired. Both lines are operational from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until further notice.

SBA representatives will continue to provide Stephenson and Winnebago County homeowners, renters and business owners with personal assistance in completing their loan applications, answering questions about SBA's loan program and explaining how an SBA loan can help pay for their disaster losses. A FEMA representative also will be available at both DLOCs to provide information on federal aid programs.

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: Wednesday, 19-Sep-2007 13:57:28