SHAMOKIN - The disaster recovery center (DRC) set up at Northumberland County Career and Arts Center will close Friday.
Next week, with new hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., will be the last chance for local residents to meet face to face with state and federal officials from numerous agencies all in one place.
The center will be open Friday, which is Veterans Day.
Meanwhile, those who suffered damage from the storms that ravage central and eastern Pennsylvania during Hurricane Irene in August and Tropical Storm Lee in September have only until Nov. 14 to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster assistance.
"I urge everyone who has suffered damage from the September storms and flooding to, first, register with the FEMA and then visit a DRC. You'll find a wealth of disaster-related information there," said Commonwealth Coordinating Officer John Forr said.
Personnel from state and federal agencies at the DRCs and the information they can provide include:
- FEMA - Answers to questions about the application process; information regarding grants for temporary housing, home repairs, personal property losses and other disaster-related needs such as medical, dental and funeral costs; and tips regarding rebuilding stronger and safer to prevent future storm damage.
- U.S. Small Business Administration - low-interest disaster loans available to individuals, nonprofits and businesses of any size for the repair or replacement of real estate and/or personal property damaged by the storms and related flooding.
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania agencies- a broad range of services including replacement of vehicle titles and driver's licenses, tax assistance, and help with insurance claims and problems with insurance. Commonwealth agencies at DRCs are listed below.
"It's best to register before you visit a Disaster Recovery Center," said Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas J. McCool. "That way, any questions you have can be answered face to face. You can visit any DRC regardless of where you live or work."
Officials of both the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and FEMA urge those who sustained disaster-related losses to register by the deadline, even if they are unsure of their eligibility.
There are four ways to register with FEMA:
1. Call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Operators assist callers seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Help is available in most languages. If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 1-800-462-7585
2. Register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
3. Register using a tablet or smartphone by visiting m.fema.gov.
4. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
If you have a disability and need help registering, contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 and ask for assistance.
Information to have ready when registering with FEMA includes the address of the damaged property, names of members of the household, a general description of the damage, the Social Security number of any family member living in the home, the extent of insurance coverage and certain other information needed to expedite the process.