New York Disaster Recovery Centers to end service on Sundays

NEW YORK – All Disaster Recovery Centers in New York will stop offering service on Sundays beginning Feb. 3, 2013. Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York can still receive assistance Monday through Saturday at any recovery center.

The State of New York and the Federal Emergency Management Agency closely monitor visitor traffic at all New York Disaster Recovery Centers and revise hours of operation accordingly. Traffic at the recovery centers has slowed on Sundays. So far, more than 145,000 Hurricane Sandy survivors have visited recovery centers in New York.

In addition, the recovery center located in the Sheepshead Bay Club, 3076 Emmons Ave., Brooklyn, NY, 11235, will close early, at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. The center will open at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 4.

The recovery center at the American Legion, 209 Cross Bay Blvd., Broad Channel, NY 11693, will open at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 4, 2013.

The two centers’ normal operating hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Survivors who need help may still visit any of the other 17 centers that remain open throughout New York. To find the nearest center, 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, the Disaster Recovery Center locator is available online at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Individuals also can find a recovery center – and register for FEMA help – online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by going to m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app. Survivors also can call 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). People who use 7-1-1 Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. EST, seven days a week until further notice.

Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York have until Feb. 27, 2013, to register for federal disaster assistance, which can include money for rent, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.