Hurricane Irene Update: Fema to open State and federal Disaster Recovery Centers in Kings, Queens, Bronx, and Richmond Counties of New York

Sep 22, 2011, New York, NY: Fema to open State and federal Disaster Recovery Centers in Kings, Queens, Bronx, and Richmond Counties of New York.  Attached below is a Press Release released by FEMA which provides this information. These centers, which will be open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Read below for more information-

NEW YORK, N.Y. – State and federal Disaster Recovery Centers are set to open in four of the city’s five boroughs on Monday September 26, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials. The state and FEMA have already opened similar facilities throughout the areas of New York state hit by Hurricane Irene to assist individuals, households and businesses of any size affected by the storm.

The centers, which will be open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will operate at the following locations from September 26 through October 7:

Kings County

Brooklyn College, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Bronx County

Bronx Borough Hall, 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY

Queens County

Dept. of Finance-Financial Business Center, 144-06 94^th Street, Jamaica, NY

Richmond County

Staten Island Armory, 321 Manor Road, Staten Island, NY

The centers will be staffed with disaster-recovery specialists who can provide information and answer questions about hurricane-related assistance, according to FEMA and state officials.

“Before visiting a recovery center, I strongly recommend people seeking assistance, to register with FEMA ,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Philip E. Parr. “Having spoken with or contacted state or local officials does not count. You must first register with FEMA in order to apply for help.”

Registration is quick and simple, Parr said. By phone, call the FEMA registration line at

800-621-3362. For those with speech or hearing disabilities, use the TTY number,

800-462-7585. Applicants can also register online at http://globalmessaging2.prnewswire.com/clickthrough/servlet/clickthrough?msg_id=6996392&adr_order=3&url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5EaXNhc3RlckFzc2lzdGFuY2UuZ292“>www.DisasterAssistance.gov or with any

web-enabled mobile device or smartphone at m.fema.gov. Follow the link to “apply online for federal assistance.”

Information needed when registering with FEMA includes the address of the damaged property, names of those living in the household, a general description of the damage, the Social Security Account number of any family member living in the home, the extent of insurance coverage and  other information needed to expedite the process.

New York state agencies will join FEMA to provide services to the public at the centers. These include, but are not limited to: information about state disaster aid and help for unemployed persons and displaced workers as the result of the hurricane; information for senior citizens about state-funded programs; access to forms and services pertaining to motor-vehicle issues; coordination and assistance with any needs for daycare services; and access to MyBenefits pre-screening tool. Representatives of these and other agencies will participate as determined by need.

Also on hand at the Disaster Recovery Centers will be specialists from the Small Business Administration (SBA) who can explain the low-interest loan packages available to individuals, nonprofits and businesses of any size. These loans are for the repair or replacement of real estate and/or personal property damaged by the storm and related flooding, officials said.  People who register with FEMA may be sent a loan application from the SBA.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for transportation, medical and dental, and funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. Applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for FEMA assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement and moving and storage expenses.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.