Disaster Recovery Center to open Monday in Concord

The Concord Journal

Posted Apr 30, 2010 @ 11:19 AM

Concord —

A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Concord will open at 9 a.m., Monday, May 3, to provide face-to-face help to Middlesex County residents about any disaster-related need or concern caused by the record-setting rainfall and resulting flooding beginning in mid-March.

The center will be located at the Concord Armory, 91 Everett St., and will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday until further notice.The latest center joins the six DRCs currently open in disaster designated counties. To date, the total DRC outreach effort has provided recovery information to nearly 2,400 homeowners, renters and business owners with uninsured losses or damages arising from the severe flooding.

Disaster officials ask that before visiting any DRC, people first register by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or 800-462-7585 (TTY) for people with speech or hearing disabilities. The toll-free numbers are staffed 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual registration assistance and help is available. Online registration is also available.

Once registered, staff at a center can quickly review and update applicant information and provide specific answers to individual questions and concerns. Center specialists can also identify possible help from voluntary agencies or provide disaster-related information to reduce future damage risks.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) representatives will be at the disaster centers to answer any questions about the SBA’s low-interest disaster loan program for homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes. These loans are to repair or replace real estate and/or personal property damaged by the storms and flooding.

Representatives will help complete and accept SBA disaster loan applications. Anyone not able to go to a DRC should call the SBA Customer Service Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday toll-free at 800-659-2955, or 800-877-8339 (TTY) for people with speech or hearing disabilities, for information and assistance. Another option is to visit the SBA website or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/concord/newsnow/x826099742/Disaster-Recovery-Center-to-open-Monday-in-Concord