Dec. 8, 2021 Hartford, CT: For Connecticut survivors of Hurricane Ida, there is still time to get face-to-face help from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Two FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) will open this week in Milford and New Haven to help Connecticut residents affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

Representatives from FEMA and the SBA are available at the center to help survivors apply for disaster assistance, explain disaster assistance programs, answer questions about FEMA letters and the appeals process and provide literature about repairs and rebuilding to make homes more disaster resistant.

The first DRC, will open at 8 a.m., Friday Dec. 10, and is located at: New Haven Fire Academy, 230 Ella T. Grasso Blvd., New Haven, CT 06519. The second DRC, will open at 10 a.m., Saturday Dec. 11, and is located at: Old Department of Probation Building, 1 Darina Place, Milford, CT 06460. Regular hours of operation for both locations will be: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and closed Sunday, until further notice.

DRCs are accessible for individuals with disabilities and have on-site communication accessibility tools like amplified listening devices and Video Remote Interpreting. Additional accommodations can be made upon arrival. ASL interpreters and multilingual services will be available upon request.

Individuals in Fairfield, New Haven and New London Counties are eligible to apply for disaster assistance. FEMA is working with state officials to open further centers throughout declared counties.

Survivors are encouraged to file insurance claims for damage to their homes, personal property, businesses and vehicles before they apply for FEMA assistance.

In addition to visiting a DRC, Connecticut residents can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov; via the FEMA app; or by calling the Disaster Assistance helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585). The toll-free telephone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, seven days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.

Applicants for disaster assistance should have the following information prior to registration: Social Security number; address of the damaged primary residence; insurance coverage information; current telephone number and mailing address; and bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

To help alleviate the risk of COVID-19 being spread through person-to-person contact, wearing a mask or face covering is required to gain entry. Hand sanitizer is available to survivors and staff. Work stations are spaced six feet apart to provide an extra level of protection for survivors and staff. FEMA ensures that common areas are cleaned regularly, and workstations are sanitized after each visitor.

Disaster assistance may include financial help for home repairs along with other programs to assist families recover from the effects of the event.

For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4629. Follow the FEMA Region 1 Twitter accoun at twitter.com/FEMAregion1