WESTFIELD, Mass. -- A disaster recovery center (DRC) is opening in Great Barrington on Tuesday, September 13, to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by Tropical Storm Irene. The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, until further notice:
Great Barrington
Housatonic Community Center
1064 Main Street
Great Barrington, MA 01236
Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies are available at this DRC to explain assistance programs and help individuals and business owners apply for disaster aid. Recovery specialists also can help disaster survivors with referrals to other assistance programs.
Four other DRCs are now open in Berkshire and Franklin counties. An applicant may go to any one of the five DRCs now operating, Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Greenfield
Green River Elementary School
62 Meridian Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Pittsfield
Pittsfield Public Library
1 Wendell Avenue
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Buckland
Mohawk Trail Regional High School
26 Ashfield Road
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Williamstown
Developers Finance Building
430 Main Street
Williamstown, MA 01267
Before going to a center, people with storm losses should register with FEMA. Individuals and business owners may do so by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Those with a speech or hearing disability may call (TTY) 800-462-7585. Help is available in many languages.
They can also register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or directly through a Web-enabled mobile device or smartphone...visit m.fema.gov and follow the link to "apply online for federal assistance."
Federal disaster assistance can include grants for rental assistance and home repairs, low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help recover from the effects of the disaster.
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.