SHAMOKIN - A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) may be coming to Shamokin, starting this Saturday to assist those who suffered loss and damage in the Flood of 2011.
In a press release sent out Tuesday, the Northumberland County Department of Public Safety, in connection with the Northumberland County commissioners, announced the center's opening.
"The DRC will open at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, Arch Street, Shamokin, and then from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week," Reiner said. "They will remain there for about a month, until everyone is helped."
The opening was also mentioned at a luncheon Tuesday of the Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.
"Homeowners, renters and business owners from Northumberland and surrounding counties are encouraged to visit the center if they have any additional questions or concerns regarding assistance," Reiner wrote in the release.
A DRC is a readily-accessible facility or mobile office where applicants may go for information about FEMA or other disaster assistance programs, or for answers to questions related to their specific case.
Some of the services provided at the center include guidance regarding disaster recovery, clarification of any written correspondence received, housing assistance and rental resource information, general information, resolution to problems and referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance, status reports of applications being processed by FEMA and Small Business Administration (SBA) program information if a SBA representative is present.
"The center provides an opportunity for disaster victims to meet face-to-face with representatives from both state and federal agencies and gather information about other forms of assistance," Reiner wrote.
In addition, several other state agencies may have representatives there, according to PEMA representative Cory Angell.
"Other state agencies that will be represented include the Department of Community and Economic Development, the state Department of Health and PennDOT," Angell said.
Currently, there are 14 DRCs throughout the state to assist those in flood ravaged areas. Two of the latest opened today in Montgomery and Schuylkill Counties. The Schuylkill County site is located at the Pine Grove Hook and Ladder Company.
State and federal officials, however, did not confirm the opening of the Shamokin center Tuesday.
"There is nothing that we can say at this point," said FEMA representative Eugene Brezany. "It's been talked about and everyone is in the same book, but not necessarily on the same page."
Brezany said that if such a center was opening, a joint press release would be released.
Angell said that the holdup could be as simple as a walkthrough of the building.
"FEMA needs to come in and do a final inspection of the building before it can be opened," he said. "They need to be 100 percent sure that the location can meet all their needs."
Reiner, on the other hand, said that approval has already come.
"FEMA was in last Saturday and did the inspection, and everything was a go," the county director said.
The center has already been used to help flood victims in two instances earlier this month, first as a shelter for those evacuated in Shamokin, then as a location for victims to fill out disaster relief forms necessary for Northumberland County to assess the damage and submit that information for funding.