FEMA Centers Transform to Help Businesses

Centers opened to help victims of Tropical Storm Irene will focus on businesses.

Seven of the state’s 11 FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers will soon transition into Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Centers.

The centers opened in each county in the state to help people who suffered damage and losses from Tropical Storm Irene.

The Danielson, Storrs-Mansfield and Old Saybrook will permanently close because of low volume and the Greenwich DRC will move to a new location in Bridgeport, Gov. Dannel Malloy said.

Homeowners could be eligible for SBA disaster loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed homes and homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses, on the other hand, may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

Malloy said on Thursday that SBA has approved more than $136,000 in low-interest disaster loans to Connecticut residents and businesses that suffered damage from Tropical Storm Irene and FEMA has approved $3.2 million in individual assistance in the state.

At 10 a.m. on Monday, the DRCs in East Haven, Farmington, Guilford, Groton, North Haven, Orange and Torrington will become SBA DLOCs and all will permanently close on Oct. 6, except the center in East Haven, which will remain open through Oct. 13.

The center in Greenwich will move to Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport and will be open on Monday, from noon until 7 p.m. Hours after opening day are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Oct. 6.

DRCs in Danielson and Storrs-Mansfield will close at 7 p.m. on Sept. 23, while the Old Saybrook DRC will close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

The deadline to file an application for physical damage to homes or businesses is Nov. 3. The deadline for businesses with economic injury is June 4, 2012.

Obtain information concerning the SBA by dialing 800-659-2955. For those with speech or hearing disabilities, the TTY number is 800-877-8339.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, register with FEMA online anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 for TTY. These toll-free telephone numbers will operate 7 a.m. through 10 p.m. daily.

These seven FEMA DRCs will become BA DLOCs:

North Haven
Gateway Community College, Room 117- Cafeteria
88 Bassett Road
Transitions to DLOC, Monday, Sept. 26
Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday
Closes: Thursday, Oct. 6

Farmington
Tunxis Community College, Cyber Café
271 Scott Swamp Road
Transitions to DLOC, Monday, Sept. 26
Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday
Closes: Thursday, Oct. 6

Groton
Groton Senior Center
102 Newtown Road
Transitions to DLOC, Monday, Sept. 26
Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday
Closes: Thursday, Oct. 6

Torrington
Meeting Room
111 Water Street
Transitions to DLOC, Monday, Sept. 26
Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday- Friday
Closes: Thursday, Oct. 6

Orange
High Plains Community Center, Probate Court hearing room
525 Orange Center Road
Transitions to DLOC, Monday, Sept. 26
Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday
Closes: Thursday, Oct. 6

East Haven
The Beach House, East Haven Town Beach
160 Cosey Beach Avenue
Transitions to DLOC, Monday, Sept. 26
Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday
Closes: Thursday, Oct. 13

Guilford
Guilford Police Department, Community Room
400 Church Street
Transitions to DLOC, Monday, Sept. 26
Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday
Closes: Thursday Oct. 6

Location and hours of the FEMA DRC moving from Greenwich to Bridgeport:

Bridgeport
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd.
Open: Noon – 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 26
Thereafter open: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday Sept. 27 to Saturday, Oct. 1 and Monday, Oct. 3 through Thursday, Oct. 6
 

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