Tornado Survivors Have Until Jan. 25 to Visit East Peoria Disaster Recovery Center: FEMA Helpline remains available seven days a week to assist…

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois tornado survivors have until 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, to visit the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at the Festival of Lights Building on East Washington Street in East Peoria.  

After that date, survivors of the Nov. 17 Illinois tornadoes can still get help by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). Survivors who use TTY can call 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Survivors can also call the helpline to register with FEMA before the Jan. 27 registration deadline. Other ways to register include online at DisasterAssistance.gov or with a smartphone or tablet by downloading the FEMA app or going to m.FEMA.gov. Survivors must register before the deadline to be eligible for possible grants and SBA low-interest disaster loans for temporary rental assistance, home repair and rebuilding, replacement of lost personal items, and other disaster-related expenses. Assistance will continue after Jan. 27, but applicants must register by that date to be considered.

Applicants should contact FEMA by calling the helpline if they have any questions or if they change their mailing address, phone number or email address, receive an insurance settlement or discover additional damage.                                                                                       

East Peoria Recovery Center Closes for MLK Day

The center will be closed Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It will reopen at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.                                                                                           

For the latest information on Illinois’ recovery from the Nov. 17 storms, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4157. Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, facebook.com/fema and youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

NEWS DESK: 217-522-2080

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