BOSTON — Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will open Wednesday, April 7 in five of the seven federally declared Eastern and Central Massachusetts counties to assist individuals, households and businesses affected by the severe storms and record-rainfall that flooded large areas of the state beginning March 12.
Each DRC is staffed with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state agency disaster recovery specialists who are ready to help survivors through the process of applying for disaster assistance. Applicants should register by calling FEMA toll-free 800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with speech or hearing impairment may call TTY 800-462-7585 and apply. Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily until further notice. Registration for disaster assistance can also be made online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
Homeowners, renters and business owners are urged to register before visiting a center so necessary information is already entered. Once registered, FEMA disaster recovery specialists at a center can check an individual’s case, answer questions about their claim, or request information FEMA needs to process their claim.
Recovery specialists can also supply contacts for other programs that may provide help as well as suggesting 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. Volunteer agency personnel are also available to suggest existing community resources to help in the recovery process.
U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) representatives will be on hand at the DRC to meet with individuals and business owners to answer any questions about SBA’s disaster loan program; help them complete their SBA disaster loan application and accept the completed 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. local time, Monday through Friday, at 800-659-2955 for information and assistance or visit the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. These loans are to repair or replace homes, businesses and personal property not covered by insurance and damaged by the recent flooding.
Hours of operation will vary at each center. Locations and daily hours are:
Middlesex County
Billerica Public Library
15 Concord Road
Billerica, MA 01821
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.On The Web at: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=50817
