SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of California will permanently close the Oroville Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8, 2019.
Disaster Recovery Centers in Paradise and Chico will remain open at:
Creative Learning Center
1080 Ewald Ct.
Paradise, CA 95969
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Closed Sundays
Chico Mall – Former Sears Store
1982 E. 20th St.
Chico, CA 95928
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Closed Sundays
DRCs are operated by the State of California and FEMA in partnership with other federal, state and local agencies.
Representatives from FEMA, the State of California, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and other agencies are among those represented to provide information on available services, explain assistance programs and help survivors complete or check the status of their application.
The registration deadline to apply for disaster assistance is Feb. 15. Survivors with losses are encouraged to register for assistance before going to the DRC by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register. Multilingual options are available, and calls are answered from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (PST) seven days a week.
Homeowners, renters and small-business owners must sign-up by Feb. 15 to be considered for eligibility in any of several federal disaster assistance programs. Survivors should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. Disaster assistance often provides benefits not covered by insurance.
The Feb. 15 deadline also applies to applications for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA also helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and covers the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property.
FEMA's Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance grants for medical, dental, and funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants referred to SBA must complete and submit an SBA loan application to be considered for additional forms of disaster assistance. Applicants who do not qualify for an SBA loan may be referred back to FEMA and may be eligible to receive Other Needs Assistance grants for these items.
The SBA Disaster Customer Service Center’s toll-free number is 800-659-2955. Help is also available by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or by visiting www.sba.gov. Survivors may apply online at SBA's secure website: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
Those impacted by the fires can also register with FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). Multi-lingual operators are available. The toll-free numbers are open daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (PST)
Many of the services available at the DRCs are also available on the FEMA Helpline, including:
- Registering with FEMA to apply for disaster assistance;
- Providing a change of address, phone number, bank account and insurance information;
- Receiving information about FEMA home inspections;
- Getting other questions answered about federal disaster assistance;
- Ask questions about a letter from FEMA.
###
All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).
FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during and after disasters.
The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.