Trio of Mass. DRCs Closing Dec. 3

The Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC)s in Pittsfield and Sturbridge will discontinue operations at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 and the Springfield DRC will close at 7 p.m. Additional Massachusetts DRCs in Brockton and Worcester will remain open through Dec. 9.

At the centers, disaster recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) explain disaster assistance programs and answer questions from area residents who sustained losses in October’s flooding.

Residents with disaster-related questions will continue to be able to get answers and information about their applications by selecting the FEMA Helpline option at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For people with a hearing or speech impairment, the Helpline number is 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). Lines will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. Applicants also can find information on the status of their application or register for assistance at www.fema.gov.

“We urge any registered applicants seeking one-on-one help from federal and state representatives to visit the centers most convenient for them before they close. But if they are not able to do that, they can always call the Helpline or log on to the FEMA Web site,” said State Coordinating Officer Cristine McCombs, director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).

Federal Coordinating Officer Peter Martinasco of FEMA said visiting the center can be very helpful for people who want to learn more about risk reduction methods to lessen future losses. “This is the last chance to talk face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists in these towns about your particular situation. Communicating with the experts at the DRCs can often lead to a better understanding of what to expect throughout the recovery and mitigation processes,” said Martinasco.