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STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106 |
M. Jodi Rell Governor |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 3, 2010
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Contact: 860-524-7313
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Governor Rell: More FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers to Open
Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that four additional Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) will be opening across the state beginning this Friday and Saturday to help individuals, households and businesses affected by the severe March storms and flooding.
“These centers will be staffed with specialists who are ready to help residents through the process of applying for disaster assistance,” Governor Rell said. “I encourage residents to visit the centers to get their questions answered.”
A DRC opened at the Groton Senior Center on 102 Newtown Road on Thursday. June 3. The additional opening dates and locations are:
Opening June 4 at 9 a.m.:
Three Rivers Community College
Room D 26
574 New London Turnpike
Norwich
Opening June 5 at 9 a.m.:
Quinebaug Valley Community College
West Wing Room 105 W
742 Upper Maple Street
Danielson
Opening June 5 at 1 p.m.:
North Haven Campus of Gateway Community College Auditorium
88 Bassett Road
North Haven
Opening June 5 at 1 p.m.:
Killingworth Fire Department
333 Route 81
Killingworth
DRC hours are:
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays to Fridays
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays
Closed Sundays
Governor Rell urged homeowners, renters and business owners to register before visiting a DRC by calling FEMA at 800-621-FEMA (3362). Multilingual operators are available. People with speech or hearing impairment may call TTY 800-462-7585 to apply. The telephone numbers will operate 6:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily until further notice. Registration can also be done online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
Once registered, FEMA disaster recovery specialists at a center can check on the status of an individual’s case, answer questions about their claim, or request information FEMA needs to process his or her claim.
Recovery specialists can supply contacts for other programs that may provide help as well as suggest low-cost, risk-reduction measures to make homes or businesses safer. Other federal agency representatives at the centers include IRS tax specialists to discuss disaster-related issues. Representatives from volunteer agencies are available to suggest existing community resources.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) customer service representatives will be on hand at DRCs to meet with individuals and business owners to answer any questions about their disaster loan program, help them complete their SBA disaster loan application and accept the completed disaster loan applications. Anyone seeking information from SBA who is not able to go to a DRC should call the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, for information and assistance or visit the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov.
SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes. These loans are to repair or replace real estate and contents, and for economic injury of small businesses and most private non-profits. Survivors are encouraged to apply before their insurance is settled.