FEMA disaster recovery centers will be open this weekend in Clinton and Essex counties

Here’s the information, direct from the state and FEMA. In a nutshell, the centers in Essex County are longer-term and they’ll be open until further notice–the center in Mooers, in Clinton county, is only there until Monday.

“Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Clinton, Westchester and Dutchess counties will be open from Friday, September 16, through Sunday, September 18, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. After Sunday, September 18, the mobile DRCs will be deployed to other locations, but will return to each county at a date yet to be determined. Counties will be notified once future dates are set.”

The Essex and Clinton County centers locations are:

Clinton County

Mooers Town Hall/Fire Station, 2508 Rt. 11, Mooers, NY

Essex County (2)

Community Center, 11 School Lane, Ausable Forks, NY 12912

and

Moriah Fire Station, 630 Tarbell Hill Road, Moriah, NY 12960

A press release from FEMA and the New York State Office Emergency Managment also said this:

“The centers are staffed with disaster-recovery specialists who can provide information and answer questions about hurricane-related assistance, according to FEMA and state officials.

“Before visiting a recovery center, I strongly recommend people seeking assistance, to register with FEMA beforehand,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Philip E. Parr. “Having spoken with or contacted state or local officials does not count. You must register with FEMA in order to apply for help.”

Registration is quick and simple, Parr said. By phone, call the FEMA registration line at 800-621-3362. For those with speech or hearing disabilities, use the TTY number, 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.

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 Account number of any family member living in the home, the extent of insurance coverage and certain other information needed to expedite the process.

New York state agencies will join FEMA to provide services to the public at the centers. These include, but are not limited to: information about 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 MyBenefits pre-screening tool. Representatives of these and other agencies 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 will be sent a loan application from the SBA. No one is obligated to take out a loan, according to the SBA. Applicants have six months after approval to decide whether to accept the loan.

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 assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement and moving and storage expenses.”

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