Disaster recovery center closing on Aug. 4 | Environment

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state of Florida’s joint disaster recovery center will close 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4.

The center is located in the Park Station business complex, 5851 Park Blvd. in Pinellas Park.

The office will be opened from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. six days a week, and from noon until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Additionally, local governments and non-profit agencies have until Thursday, Aug. 9, to apply for public assistance grants.

Representatives from FEMA, the state’s Emergency Management team, Access Florida, the U.S. Small Business Administration, American Red Cross, Area Agency on Aging, Workforce Pinellas and the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay are on hand at the disaster recovery center to provide assistance. No appointment is necessary, but claimants are urged to preregister their claims with FEMA by calling the FEMA toll-free number at (800) 621-FEMA (3362)/TTY (800) 462-7585. Telephone lines are answered from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. 

Claimants may also register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone or tablet using the FEMA app or by going to m.fema.gov. 

Disaster relief is available through FEMA grants for residential or business damages, large or small, sustained during Tropical Storm Debby not covered by insurance, including money for home repairs, rental assistance, medical expenses, unemployment assistance, transportation or other disaster-related expenses and serious needs. 

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are also available to help with residential and business losses not covered by insurance. Information on SBA disaster loans may be obtained by calling (800) 659-2955/TTY (800) 877-8339 or by going online to www.sba.gov

Help with applying for low-interest SBA disaster loans or a Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan can be also be received through Pinellas County Economic Development’s Small Business Development Center, 13805  58th St. N., Suite 1-200, in Clearwater. Please visit www.pced.org/entrepreneurs or contact Dr. Cynthia Johnson at (727) 464-7445 or cyjohnson@pinellascounty.org

A video on the disaster recovery center, and videos on disaster preparedness, can be viewed on www.youtube.com/pcctv1. For more information on hurricane preparedness, visit www.pinellascounty.org/emergency, call (727) 464-3800 or join Pinellas County Emergency Management on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pinellasEM. Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.