Disaster Relief Center Open in Freeport

By Mick Parsons For The Prairie Advocate

 

Around 125 people have come to the FEMA Disaster Relief Center (DRC) in Freeport since it opened last Thursday. Located at 295 W. Lamm Road. The DRC is there for people in the five northwestern Illinois counties – Carroll, Stephenson, Ogle, Winnebago, and JoDaviess – who have already registered with FEMA either online or via telephone that have more questions, concerns, or want to check on the status of their claim. Residents in Cook and DuPage counties have a different site availble them. Despite the seemingly low turn out, however, more than 31, 912 flood claims have been made to date (including Cook and DuPage residents) with a total of $51 million in approved payouts.

Sam Ventura, the FEMA Media Coordinator who has been one of many FEMA representatives who have been in the area since the flooding at the end of July, says that the DRC, like the website and the toll free number, is there to ensure that people impacted by the flood can put their lives back together as quickly as possible. He acknowledges, however, that it’s never easy. “Some things,” he admits, “some things we can’t replace; but at least people will be able to make their homes livable.”

Although people can’t really take full advantage of the DRC unless they register online or using the toll free number, there is a room with some laptop computers and a phone for people to register with FEMA to receive assistance. One of the things that Sam thinks is interesting is that somewhere between 20-25% of the people who registered with FEMA used the website – a trend that he encourages and thinks will continue as people become more comfortable with technology.

 

The center is available for people who want to check on the status of their claims, or for people who simply prefer to talk to another person rather than rely on the phone or the computer. People can also ask about flood insurance – a topic that has been the focal point of some debate, particularly in Savanna, where many people, because Savanna had opted out of the National Floodplain Protection Act, were under the impression they couldn’t get flood insurance. Ventura encourages people to check out the National Flood Insurance Plan; information is available at the DRC, or on the FEMA website (fema.gov). He also said people should go to www.floodsmart.gov to find out about the kinds of flood insurance that is available, regardless of whether people live in a designated flood plain or not.

Various kinds of Individual Assistance, from financial assistance to Hazard Mitigation – which will help people make repairs so that they will be better protected in the event of another flood – as well as information about loans from the SBA and flood insurance are available at the DRC. People can also check on the status of their claims by going to www.disasterassistance.gov or calling 1-800-FEMA.

Out of the 31,912 registered claims, only 75 have come from Carroll County; 71 have come from residents in Winnebago County, while only 48 residents from Ogle County have registered thus far. Stephenson County has seen the most registrations of the five northwestern counties, Ventura said. The rest – maybe around 31, 000 – have come from Cook and DuPage County. Residents have until October 19, 2010 to register using the website or the 800 number.