Reduced Hours at Some New York Disaster Recovery Centers

NEW YORK – Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Westchester and Suffolk counties remain open to assist survivors of Hurricane Sandy, but hours of operation have changed.  

People who need face-to-face help at a DRC in the Westchester County Center should visit between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily until further notice. The address is 198 Central Ave., White Plains, NY 10606.  

In Suffolk County, DRC locations and new hours are:

H. Lee Dennison Building
100 Veterans Memorial Highway
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Town Hall West
401 Main St.
Islip, NY 11751
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Riverhead County Center
300 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Mastic Recreation Community Center
15 Herkimer St.
Mastic, NY 11950
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Lindenhurst Library
1 Lee Ave.
Lindenhurst, NY 11757
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

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

Additional 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 lines 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.