PENNSYLVANIA DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS TO OPEN FRIDAY

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 25 -- State and federal disaster recovery officers today announced that Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will open in ten flood-affected counties Friday morning to make state and federal government disaster recovery information and assistance available at one location.

The centers will open in Allegheny, Bedford, Blair, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland and Westmoreland counties. Hours on Friday are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Beginning Saturday, January 27, the centers will be open 9 a.m. till 7 p.m. seven-days-a- week until further notice.

The federal aid information available in the DRCs will include disaster housing assistance for families displaced from damaged homes, low-interest federal loans to repair flood damaged property and replace lost possessions, and grants for essential needs for those not eligible for loans.

State aid will include disaster unemployment assistance, consumer protection, health and welfare assistance, driver license and vehicle registration replacement, senior citizen services, and agriculture support.

The Disaster Housing Program provides assistance for individuals or families whose primary residence has been destroyed or damaged. Help is available for both owners and renters.

Homeowners may be eligible for funds to make necessary repairs to their houses so that they will be safe, sanitary and secure. These repairs can include heating systems.

If there was major damage and the residence is uninhabitable, funds for rent can be provided to either homeowners and renters for a limited time.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) can make loans to repair or replace damage to homes, personal property, or businesses that sustained damage not covered by insurance. Maximum loans are $200,000 for home and $40,000 on personal property. The maximum loan to businesses is $1.5 million. The interest rate is four percent for most homeowners and businesses. The rate is eight percent for those with credit available elsewhere.

Those unable to qualify for a loan are automatically referred to the Individual and Family Grant Program. To make a grant application, one must first be turned down by SBA for a loan.

The Individual and Family grant program provides direct grants of up to $12,900 for housing repairs, home cleaning and sanitation, necessary household items, clothing, transportation, and disaster-related medical and dental expenses.

The DRC locations are:

County Location

Allegheny Monroeville Fire Company No. 6

600 Garden City Drive

Monroeville, PA

Bedford 101 West Main Street (former NAPA building)

Everett, PA

Blair Altoona Area Incubator Building (Old railroad training facility)

Sixth Avenue and 45th Street

Altoona, PA

Dauphin 28th Division Headquarters (Armory)

14th and Calder

Harrisburg, PA

Lackawanna NAT West Building

Lackawanna & Wyoming Streets

Scranton, PA

Luzerne Valley Crest Nursing Home

Route 115

Plains Township

Lycoming Store Office Complex

1948 East Third Street

Williamsport, PA (Loyalsock Township)

Mifflin Lumina Center

Third Street Lewistown, PA

Northumberland Sunbury Armory

Off Catawissa Avenue (at Mile Hill, RR 1)

Sunbury, PA

Westmoreland HazMat Team Building

108 Vannear Street

Greensburg, PA

Representatives at centers will provide information about the programs and help persons with losses apply for disaster assistance.

Disaster victims may register for disaster assistance by calling toll-free 1-800-462-9029 from 8 a.m. till 7 p.m. seven-days-a-week.

The disaster aid operation is conducted jointly by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

/CONTACT: John Comey of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, 717-787-1822/ 18:06 EST