DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. -- Disasters don’t take a holiday and neither will the staff at the Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) operating in Freeport, Cicero, Westchester and the Austin area. The centers will be open daily, including Labor Day, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., until further notice.
Online application services are available 24/7 at www.disasterassistance.gov, or call 1 800-621-FEMA (3362). TTY users call 1 800-462-7585. Phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week, including Labor Day.
DRCs are operated jointly by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). Visitors to the DRCs will find information on:
- FEMA and state disaster assistance programs
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans and how to complete a loan application
- Cost-effective, smart building techniques to reduce damage from future floods
- Flood insurance
Applying is the first step toward disaster recovery. Individuals can apply online any day of the week at www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1 800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. TTY users may call 1 800-462-7585. Phone assistance is available in many languages.
Centers are at the following locations:
Stephenson County Highway Administration Building
295 W. Lamm Road (near County Road 12/South Walnut Avenue)
Freeport, IL 61032
Cicero Public Safety Building
5410 W. 34th St.
Cicero, IL 60804
St. Joseph High School
1840 Mayfair Ave.
(West entrance via Oxford Street)
Westchester, IL 60154
Austin Area Disaster Recovery Center
(Former Old Navy building)
Washington Square
4905 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60639
SBA representatives at the centers will be available to meet individually with each visitor to answer questions about the SBA disaster loan program, to help them complete a disaster loan application if they have received one, and to accept completed applications. Anyone with questions who is unable to come to a DRC should visit the SBA Website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance or call 1 800-659-2955 . TTY users may call 1 800-877-8339.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards