New Disaster Recovery Centers Open in White Lake, Freeport

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that new Disaster Recovery Centers are open in White Lake and Freeport to assist survivors of Hurricane Sandy.

Their locations and hours of operation are:

Cornelius Duggan School
3460 Rte. 55
White Lake, NY 12786
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Fri., Nov. 30

Freeport Recreation Center
130 East Merrick Rd.
Freeport, NY 11520
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday

Disaster Recovery Centers are one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors to get face-to-face help as quickly as possible. More centers will become available as sites are identified and approved. Conditions at individual locations may vary and affect opening times.

In addition to the new sites in White Lake and Freeport, more than 30 other Disaster Recovery Centers remain open throughout New York to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Anyone who sustained damage in counties designated for federal individual disaster assistance can visit any of the centers. 

To find the one nearest you, the following options are available: Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address. Also, check out the disaster recovery center locator at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Other help is available from roughly 1,000 FEMA community relations personnel who are blanketing damaged neighborhoods door to door, delivering information vital to recovery and encouraging residents to register for assistance when needed. These personnel can help refer

survivors to the proper resources for any unmet disaster needs, but they do not assess or document damage. FEMA inspectors will contact survivors directly after they have registered.

Help also can be obtained by calling FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice, and assistance is offered in most languages. Individuals may register for help online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. 

If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.