Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Change in hours coming Tuesday

 

Two new FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers opened this past Tuesday in a pair of southern Minnesota counties to help residents kickstart their recovery after the severe storms and flooding of June 16 – July 4. 

Specialists from FEMA, the state of Minnesota and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be at the centers to help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance, upload documents, get their questions answered in person, access other types of help that may be available and learn ways to make their property more disaster resistant. 

These centers will be open at the following location, days and hours:    

Albert Lea Fire Rescue  

417 S. Newton Avenue  

Albert Lea, MN 56007 

JBS Field House  

700 2nd Avenue 

Worthington, MN 56187 

Current hours for both sites are 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays and Labor Day. However, on Saturday, all centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Then, starting Tuesday, Sept. 3, the centers will hold the following hours of 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday. 

Additional recovery centers will be opening in other impacted counties soon. To find the center nearest you, visit  FEMA.gov/DRC. Survivors may visit any center for assistance. For more information about Minnesota’s  disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4797. 

FEMA assistance is available to homeowners and renters in the 19 designated counties — including Mower, Freeborn, Steele and Waseca — with underinsured or uninsured disaster-related loss from the June 16 – July 4 flooding and severe storms.

Some types of FEMA grant assistance may include temporary housing assistance, home repair or replacement, and coverage for other disaster-related expenses, such as moving and storage costs, primary vehicle repair or replacement, damaged furniture and appliances (including furnace and HVAC) and childcare costs.

The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is Sept. 27.

Assistance in languages other than English, including American sign language, and translated materials are  available at these centers. Disaster Recovery Center locations are chosen for their accessibility, with the goal of  reaching as many people as possible. Accessible parking spaces are available at all centers.