So far, officials say, more than $11 million in assistance has been provided, with FEMA giving $3.3 million in grants to more than 800 homeowner and renters for losses that were not covered by insurance. More than $8 million has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration in disaster loans for homeowners, renters and small businesses.
John Mills, an external affairs official with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that when the RDC located at 1721 E. Oglethorpe Blvd. — the last of seven RDCs that were opened in south Georgia after the storms — closes at 7 p.m. Monday, it does not mark the end of the agency’s involvement with disaster survivors.
“The most important message is, for the people who had major damage or for people whose homes were destroyed, please stay in touch with FEMA if you have needs related to the storms,” he said. “It is important to register by the deadline, but that is not the end of assistance being available for survivors. It’s important to be registered before the deadline.”
Monday is the last day that an individual can register for relief from the January storms, and also is the final day for storm survivors to submit SBA disaster loan applications. Registration can be done by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1 (800) 621-3362 (those lines are open daily 7 a.m.-10 p.m.) or online at disasterassistance.gov, which is open 24 hours a day.
Those who have registered and still have needs related to the storm can call the FEMA Helpline for assistance after the RDC closes, Mills said.
“They can explain ‘My house is still not safe to live in, repairs are being done’ or ‘insurance has run out … it only provided three months of use, I still need assistance.’ People can stay in touch with needs such as that,” he said. “As long as they’re registered by the deadline, people can stay in touch. Help is still available after the disaster recovery center closes.”
Once the announcement was made that the Oglethorpe Boulevard center was closing, traffic at the facility picked up, Mills said.
“They’re coming to the disaster recovery center at an increased level because they know it’s going to be closing,” he said. “We’ve seen about 180 people visiting there since Monday. In the previous week, there were about 100 or so visits. They have been busy this week. … That’s a usual thing that happens.”
Some are visiting multiple times to update information, provide information on insurance, or to close on SBA loans. “And some people are coming in for the first time,” Mills said.
Mills said the RDC will be open noon-4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday. FEMA officials also will be on hand Saturday at the Albany Strong Fun Fest at the Exchange Club fairgrounds at 810 S. Westover Blvd.
FEMA also will be continuing to work with Albany, Dougherty County and other local governments in the area on expenses they have incurred in recovery, Mills said.
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