ALBANY, NY – To continue serving disaster survivors affected by Hurricane Irene in New York, the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) currently operating in Orange County will close on Friday, October 28, and transition to a  U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) opening Monday, October 31.

SBA representatives at the DLOC will provide homeowners, renters, business owners and nonprofit organizations with face-to-face service in answering questions about SBA’s low-interest disaster loans, completing loan applications and closing on SBA loans.  SBA loans may be available to repair or replace real estate, contents and/or personal property damaged in Hurricane Irene.

If SBA is unable to approve a loan for a homeowner or renter, the applicant may be referred back to FEMA for additional grant consideration.  Applicants may be awarded assistance for personal items, repair or replacement of a vehicle, or other losses.

The DLOC will open Monday, October 31, 2011. It will be open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed Saturday and Sunday.  It will be located at: Orange County Training Center, 9 Training Center Lane, New Hampton, NY 10953.

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.