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New disaster recovery center opens at Hancock College

Disaster Relief Center at Hancock College
A new Disaster Recovery Centers/Local Assistance Centers is now open at Allan Hancock College ins Santa Maria. (Dave Alley/KEYT)

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Santa Barbara County has opened two Disaster Recovery Centers/Local Assistance Centers to assist residents affected from damage caused by recent rain storms.

The new centers are located at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria and Direct Relief in Santa Barbara.

The new centers are being held by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They act as a "one-stop shop" where those who have suffered storm-related losses and damage can receive important information and advice about community, state and federal agencies and other available assistance.

"It's a great place for local communities that have been affected to have their folks come to, to be able to meet face to face with the FEMA representative to find out the status of their claim, if they have any follow up questions, if they have received any documentation from us to follow up with that to find out any additional information we might require from you," said Renee Bafalis, FEMA media relations specialist. "We are having folks come into the center. They can register for assistance. They can find out the status of their claim. If they have other recovery needs, such as other organizations that might be offered by the state and the county, there are other organizations here as well."

In addition to FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is also a lead agency that is helping coordinate the disaster recovery center.

"The SBA is providing federal loans that are low interest up to 30 years," said Zabrina Tipton, SBA pubic information officer. "We are also offering to homeowners and renters, so we open up our long term long term federal low interest loans to homeowners and renters. Homeowners can get loans up to $200,000 and renters and homeowners can get loans up to $40,000 and that would be for appliances, clothing, furniture and vehicles."

The two locations provide disaster survivors with face-to-face contact with not only FEMA and SBA representatives, but many other federal, state and local agencies.

"There definitely is a need in this community and that's why we put these facilities in these communities so that people have access to whatever recovery needs that they might have," said Bafalis. "There is a lot of destruction in some of the communities and we really want to make sure that all the needs of those folks that have been affected are being met in one way or the other."

Both centers are open daily seven days a week from 10 a.m to 7 p.m. and will remain in place as long as the need remains in the two locations.

Spanish, ASL and Mixteco interpreter services will be present.

For more information about the new two Disaster Recovery Centers/Local Assistance Centers, visit the Santa Barbara County Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery website, by clicking here.

Article Topic Follows: Local News

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Dave Alley

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