PHILADELPHIA –Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC), jointly operated by county agencies, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), will open in Delaware and Montgomery Counties on Friday, September 17, 2021. The DRCs will offer information on available resources to homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage to their property from the remnants of Hurricane from August 31 - September 5, 2021.
In addition to these DRCs, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) Teams continue go door to door in communities throughout impacted areas in Pennsylvania in a combined effort by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and FEMA to continue to reach survivors in need. These teams are canvassing in affected communities to connect directly with survivors who need help applying for assistance. Team members will wear FEMA attire and carry FEMA photo IDs.
Individual Assistance (IA), to individuals and households for emergency work and the repair or replacement of homes damaged by Ida’s remnants is available to qualified residents of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and York Counties.
The Montgomery County DRC, operated in partnership with the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety, will be located at:
Montgomery County Community College
Health Sciences Center Gymnasium
Address: 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell PA
Hours of Operation: 1 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on September 17
Following September 17, 2021, hours of operation will be:
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The DRC will be closed on Sundays.
The Delaware County DRC, operated in partnership with the Delaware County Emergency Services Department, will be located at:
Chadds Ford Township Office
Address: 10 Ring Rd Chadds Ford, PA
Hours of Operation from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. on September 17
Following September 17, 2021, hours of operation will be:
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The DRC will be closed on Sundays.
Additional DRC locations will be announced later, with the operating hours of Monday thru Friday 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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.
Survivors are encouraged to file insurance claims for damage to their homes, personal property, businesses and vehicles before they apply for FEMA assistance. Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center is not required to register with FEMA.
In addition to visiting a DRC, you can register by:
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 1-800-462-7585. If you use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center, call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST.
- Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov or DisasterAssistance.gov/es for Spanish
- Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish), wherever you get your mobile applications.
The DRC will be accessible for individuals with disabilities and have on-site communication accessibility tools like amplified listening devices and Video Remote Interpreting. Additional accommodations can be made upon arrival. ASL interpreters and multilingual services will be available upon request. Residents can locate open disaster recovery centers in their area vie the FEMA App, by texting DRC and their zip code to 4FEMA (43362) or online via FEMA’s DRC Locator.
Specialists at these temporary disaster recovery centers are equipped to help individuals apply with FEMA, upload documents needed in the application process and answer questions about specific cases. In addition, Customer Service Representatives from the Small Business Administration will also be on hand to provide program information, answer any questions and explain how to apply for SBA’s low-interest disaster loans for businesses, private non-profits, homeowners and renters.
For information about SBA’s disaster assistance, call 1-800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit SBA’s website at SBA.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard of hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.
Additional agencies and services will be present once the DRCs reach full operational capability next week. All centers will follow COVID-19 precautions and masks will be required by both FEMA specialists and survivors.
FEMA’s Individual Assistance program is designed to help survivors with immediate essential needs and to help displaced survivors find a safe, functional place to live temporarily until they can return home. Many survivors may have additional needs beyond what can be provided by FEMA. The agency works closely with state, federal, faith-based and voluntary agencies to help match survivors who have remaining needs with other sources of assistance.
For more information on how to register, please visit: How to Register with FEMA for Disaster Assistance in Pennsylvania | FEMA.gov
For more information on what to expect after you register, please visit: What to Expect After Registering for FEMA Disaster Assistance in PA | FEMA.gov
For more information about Pennsylvania’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4816.
The registration deadline for FEMA Disaster Assistance in Pennsylvania is November 10, 2021.
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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, you can call the Civil Rights Resource line at 833-285-7448 or 800-462-7585 (TTY/TDD).
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
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