NORWICH – More state and federal Disaster Recovery Centers opened on Tuesday in an effort to assist individuals, households and businesses affected by Tropical Storm Lee and the subsequent flooding, according to state and federal officials.
The centers will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Chenango County Emergency Management Office Director Matt Beckwith said they will remain open as long as long as there is a need.
“They’ll be here until they officially decide the need is not there anymore,” said Beckwith. “Which could be a week, a month or six months from now.”
The Chenango County DRC is located at the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, 279 County Road 46.
The centers will be staffed with disaster-recovery specialists – in addition to county and state agencies including the American Red Cross, Area Agency on the Aging, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Labor, Social Services, Department of Health and others – who can provide information and answer questions about storm-related assistance, officials said.
“Before visiting a recovery center, I strongly recommend people seeking assistance to register with FEMA,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Philip E. Parr in a press release. “Having spoken with or contacted state or local officials does not count. You must register with FEMA in order to apply for help.”
Katie Rose, DRC manager at the Chenango County center, said the goal is simple, assisting applicants and answering any registration – or disaster-related – questions they may have. For those already registered, FEMA officials at the Chenango County DRC will be able to go online, check the status of an individual’s case and provide updates.
According to both Parr and Rose, registration is as easy as calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free line is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. People with speech disabilities, added Rose, can use the TTY number, 1-800-462-7585. Applicants can also register online at 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.”
“As long as we have people coming in, we will stay open ... it’s based on numbers,” said Rose. “In other words, anyone with any questions we’re asking to please come in. That’s what we’re here for and we’re happy to help.”
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 number of any family member living in the home, the extent of insurance coverage and certain other information needed to expedite the process.
State agencies joining FEMA at the DRC will provide services including information on 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 the MyBenefits pre-screening tool. State and county representatives 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.
“We feel so badly for all of the people that have been affected by this disaster and we’re happy to be here ... we’re happy to help,” said Rose. “There’s no way we can know how they feel, and every situation is different, but we’re here to help.”