Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Eagle River to Help With Earthquake Losses

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Feb. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:

The State of Alaska and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will open a Disaster Recovery Center on Feb. 16 in Eagle River. The center will provide in-person advice and referrals to those affected by the Nov. 30 earthquake.

Center location and hours are:

Community Covenant Church

16123 Artillery Rd.

Eagle River, AK 99577

Opening Saturday, Feb. 16: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Regular hours: Mondays-Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sundays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Open Monday, Feb. 18 (Presidents' Day): 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Alaska homeowners, renters and business owners in Anchorage and the boroughs of Mat-Su and Kenai Peninsula, which were included in the major disaster declaration, may apply for assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses resulting from the earthquake.

FEMA may be able to provide grants to help repair an earthquake-damaged home or pay for temporary lodging if an applicant is still unable to live at home.

Disaster Recovery Centers are staffed by representatives from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and other federal and local agencies. One-on-one assistance includes:

* Help to register for FEMA's Individual Assistance program.

* Help completing paperwork and checking the status of your application.

* Help applying for the SBA's low-interest disaster loans for businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters.

* Referrals to other state, federal and voluntary organizations offering information about additional disaster assistance.

* Help understanding how to appeal FEMA eligibility decisions.

* Accommodations to meet the needs of the entire community including people with disabilities. Centers are equipped with captioned phones, video remote interpreting and assistive listening devices.

* If you need an accommodation or assistance due to a disability, please notify FEMA staff at the time of registration or anytime during the assistance process.

Applicants for disaster assistance should have the following information on hand:

* Social Security number

* Address of the damaged primary residence

* Description of the damage

* Information about insurance coverage

* A current contact telephone number

* An address where they can receive mail

* Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds

Many of the services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA), voice/VP/711. Multilingual operators are available. TTY users may call 800-462-7585. Lines are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time.

Businesses and residents can visit www.SBA.gov/disaster or contact SBA's Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. TTY users may also call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

For more information on Alaska's disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4413, Twitter.com/FEMARegion10 and facebook.com/FEMA.