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Servicing southeast Minnesota, the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at the Albert Lea Fire Rescue, 417 S. Newton Ave, will permanently close at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday Sept. 11. Homeowners and renters in Freeborn, Mower, Steele, Waseca and Faribault with damage or loss from the June 16 – July 4 flooding and severe storms can still visit the center this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the remaining weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Specialists from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to help apply for assistance, upload documents, receive help with appeals, update and check the status of your application and answer questions. Representatives from the state of Minnesota are also available to make referrals to other types of help that may be available. Assistance in languages other than English, including Spanish, are available at the center.

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.

To be eligible for FEMA assistance you must reside in one of the 19 designated counties, have underinsured or uninsured damage caused by the June 16- July 4 floods and storms, have a Social Security number, and be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified non-citizen. One member in the impacted household must meet this eligibility to apply for assistance. A parent or guardian, who doesn’t meet citizenship criteria, can apply on behalf of a minor child under age 18 who has a Social Security number and lives in the same household with them. FEMA does not share individuals’ personal information with other federal or local agencies.

The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is Sept. 27. To apply without visiting a recovery center, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA mobile app or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Press option 1 for English and 2 for Spanish. If you use a relay service such as video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply. 

After applying for assistance, you can expect to receive letters and information from FEMA about your application. Read correspondence from FEMA carefully because additional information or documentation may be requested—this can include an insurance settlement letter, home repair receipts or estimates, proof of homeownership or occupancy and proof of identity. The requested documentation can be submitted through your DisasterAssistance.gov profile, in-person at the Disaster Recovery Center or through postal mail.