FEMA plans recovery center in Dallas City

BULLETIN: Sign up with FEMA by Aug. 25

July 25 marks the halfway point in the 60-day registration period. It's important that those who may need to register for disaster assistance do so as soon as possible. Registrations cannot be accepted after the August 25 deadline.

To register, call FEMA at 800/621-FEMA (3362), from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Disaster recovery services are coming right to Hancock County to help families still in need.

According to Kathy Dougherty, Hancock County Emergency Services Disaster Agency (ESDA) spokesperson, FEMA will set up a Disaster Recovery Center at the Dallas City Grade School, Rt 9 southeast side of Dallas City starting Friday, Aug. 1.

The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Satuday, Aug. 2, and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 4 to 6. It will close at 4 p.m. Aug. 6 and will be closed after that time.

“If you have not registered for FEMA assistance, now is the time to do so!” said Dougherty. “With this center in the area, there should be no reason people can't get signed up.”

Representatives from the Small Business Administration, IEMA and FEMA were present at a town meeting last Thursday at Pontoosuc, explaining buy-out of property, rebuilding elevation requirements, and the need to sign up with FEMA for assistance.

Unmet needs are also being addressed by United Way of Adams County for people that fall through the cracks of other assistance, Dougherty said. People can call Clair Robinson at 217/222-5020.

Marge Corwin of the Farm Resource Center was at the meeting, explaining their services, including stress management, community service and disaster response assistance. Case workers make at assessments for services.

Illinois residents located in the 18 disaster-designated counties who were affected by the severe storms and flooding have only one month left to register with FEMA for possible federal disaster assistance.

Federal disaster assistance may provide funding to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other necessary disaster-related expenses such as essential personal property losses, and medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance.

Registering with FEMA keeps open the possibility of a wide range of assistance.

For more information on Illinois disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov, www.floodsmart.gov, or www.ready.illinois.gov.