Some Disaster Recovery Centers Will Reopen After Veterans Day

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Commonwealth and FEMA have announced that all Disaster Recovery Centers will be closed for Veterans Day. Several will reopen following the holiday to continue helping residents with registration or to answer questions about their applications.

FEMA has approved a request from the Commonwealth to extend the registration deadline to Dec. 10 to allow homeowners and renters in Bedford, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and York counties extra time to apply for assistance for damage caused by the Remnants of Hurricane Ida between Aug. 31 and Sept. 5.

You can visit a disaster recovery center at:

• Montgomery County Community College, Health Sciences Gym, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell
  • Scheduled to close permanently on Wednesday, Nov. 10
     
• Former CVS store, 7219 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia
  • Scheduled to close permanently on Saturday, Nov. 13
     
• Ashbridge Square Shopping Center, 945 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown
  • Scheduled to close permanently on Saturday, Nov. 1
     
• Manchester Township Municipal Building, 3200 Farmtrail Rd, York
  • Tentatively scheduled to close permanently on Saturday, Nov. 20.
     
• Bedford Fire Department, 248 W Penn St, Bedford
  • Tentatively scheduled to close permanently on Saturday, Nov. 20.

Hours of operation for the fixed DRCs are:

• Monday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (All recovery centers closed Thursday, Nov. 11 for Veterans Day)
• Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed

​​​​​​​A mobile center is scheduled to be at:

• SpringHill Suites 430 Plymouth Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA.
  • Hours of operation: Tuesday, Nov. 9, and Wednesday, Nov. 10: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
     
• Oaks Fire Company No. 1, 260 Greentree Rd., Phoenixville, PA 1946
  • Hours of operations: Wednesday, Nov. 17 and Thursday, Nov. 18: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  

Help will still be available after the centers close. You can get in touch with FEMA:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• Download the FEMA app to your smartphone from Google Play or the Apple App store.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. Lines are open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Help is available in most languages.

Applicants for disaster assistance should have the following information prior to registration: Social Security number; address of the damaged primary residence; insurance coverage information; current telephone number and mailing address; and bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

To meet the needs of people with disabilities or other access and functional needs, disaster recovery centers offer accommodations including sign language interpreters upon request, materials in alternate formats (Braille, large print), assistive technologies, including Video Relay Service (VRS), and wheelchairs.

Assistance from FEMA may include funds for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home, such as rental assistance or reimbursement for hotel costs; funds to support the repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes that serve as the household’s primary residence, including repair or replacement of furnaces, hot water heaters, HVAC, and privately-owned access routes, such as driveways, roads, or bridges. Funds for disaster-caused expenses and serious needs, such as repair or replacement of personal property and vehicles and funds for moving and storage, medical, dental, childcare and other miscellaneous items may also be available.

Survivors should keep their contact information updated because FEMA may need to reach them to perform a home inspection or get additional information. FEMA encourages survivors to request direct deposits of disaster assistance to their financial institution. Survivors should let FEMA know as soon as possible of any changes to their mailing or banking information.

Disaster assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.

For updates on the Pennsylvania response and recovery, follow the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency on Twitter twitter.com/PEMAHQ and Facebook https://m.facebook.com/PEMAHQ/. Additional information is available at fema.gov/disaster/4618.