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| Fifth DRC will enhance the ability of FEMA and IEMA to administer a better disaster management in the state |
Fifth federal/state Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) operated by IEMA and FEMA going to open in the Chicago State University Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center.
A fifth federal/state Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open in the Chicago State University Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center for residents to meet face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) jointly operate the center. Specialists on disaster recovery programs, disaster cleanup and rebuilding techniques will be available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, until further notice, at the following location starting Wednesday:
Chicago State University
Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center
9501 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
(Campus car access at Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and East 99th Place)
Other centers are located at the Stephenson County Highway Administration building on Lamm Road in Freeport, the Cicero Public Safety Building at 5410 W. 34th St. in Cicero, St. Joseph High School at 1840 Mayfair Ave. (west entrance) in Westchester, and in the former Old Navy building at Washington Square in the Austin area of Chicago.
Before visiting a center, residents of disaster-designated counties who had flood damage between July 19 and Aug. 7 are encouraged to apply for disaster assistance.
Apply online at the website, or call +1 800 621 FEMA (3362), (TTY) +1 800 462 7585, seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Help is available in many languages. For federal/state disaster assistance, residents must apply with FEMA even if they have already provided damage information to local officials, other agencies or organizations.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) representatives are available at the centers to help people complete their SBA loan applications. The application is an important part of the FEMA disaster assistance process. If SBA determines that a homeowner or renter cannot afford a loan, they will refer that person back to FEMA for possible further grant assistance.
