Only A Few Days Remain To Visit Disaster Recovery Centers
Help continues to be available
Release Date: February 23, 2005
Release Number: 1573-030
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Only a few days remain for residents who wish to visit the temporary Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Allen, Shelby and Lake Counties . These DRCs will be closing at 7 p.m. Saturday, February 26, but disaster officials pointed out that assistance is still only a toll-free call away and will continue after these centers close.
"Help with questions on federal disaster assistance is just a phone call away," said Ron Sherman, Federal Coordinating Officer of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Operators at the FEMA toll-free number are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week to help with many of the questions that are brought to the recovery centers."
Assistance is still available and those who have questions about grants or low-interest disaster loans may call the toll-free application/helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for those with speech and hearing impairments .
The centers are located at Taylor University Library, 1025 W. Rudisill Blvd. , Ft. Wayne ; City Hall, 44 W. Washington St. , Shelbyville; and the City Hall Annex, 839 Broadway, Gary. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Outreach Center at Emergency Management Agency Building , 2900 W. 93 rd St. , Crown Point will also close at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 26.
"The temporary centers are opened to provide detailed program information. In addition to FEMA and SBA personnel, disaster recovery specialists are available to answer questions and provide information on recovery, restoration and rebuilding," said Phil Roberts, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) state coordinating officer. "At this stage of the recovery process, the emphasis for assistance is to meet the long-term needs of victims."
March 22 is the deadline to call or apply online. There are two easy ways to begin the application process. Residents may call to FEMA's toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585. Both numbers are available from 7 am to 7 pm, seven days a week until further notice, and multilingual operators are also available to answer your call. In addition, residents with Internet access now have the option to register on the agency's website at http://www.fema.gov where valuable recovery information is also available.
Two DRCs operating in Grant and Randolph Counties will become Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Outreach Centers (DOCs) at the same locations: Marion Municipal Bldg., 301 S. Branson St. , Marion and the Emergency Management Agency Office, 325 S. Oak St. , Winchester . A FEMA representative will continue to be available to answer questions. These centers will be open starting Monday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and are scheduled to close on Friday, March 4.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and effectively manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 23-Feb-2005 14:39:28