BROOKINGS – From left, FEMA representatives Allison Leonard, left, and Edward Smith, center, meet with applicants on Wednesday at the Brookings Research and Technology Center, 809 32nd Ave., to discuss assistance benefits for which they may be eligible.
The Disaster Recovery Center in Brookings opened Tuesday and remains open for the next three days, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, to offer in-person support to individuals and businesses that suffered losses from the severe winter storms and flooding from Sept. 9-26.
Visitors to the centers can learn about a variety of federal and state disaster recovery resources, in addition to aid available from voluntary organizations. Center staff can explain available assistance programs and help connect people with resources that best match their specific needs.
Individuals can visit any of the disaster centers in the 11 counties affected by the September storms for assistance. A center opens in Flandreau (Moody County), Tuesday, Dec. 17-Saturday, Dec. 21, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 505 S. Wind St., 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Brookings County residents can go to that location if they can’t make it to the Brookings center.
Use the FEMA mobile app, or visit www.fema.gov/DRC for current open locations.
If possible, homeowners, renters and businesses should register for disaster assistance before visiting a recovery center. There are several ways to register:
• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• By calling the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY: 800-462-7585. Lines are open daily from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Help is available in most languages.
• At one of FEMA’s disaster recovery center locations.
The South Dakota areas eligible to register with FEMA are Brookings, Charles Mix, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, Moody and Yankton counties and the Flandreau and Yankton Indian Reservations.
