MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Closure of the FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers in Alabama does not mean FEMA has left Alabama.

All the assistance services available at the Recovery Centers are easily accessible online and by phone.   There also is a FEMA representative at the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, many of which are in the same location of the Recovery Centers.

“FEMA is available to help folks in Alabama get their lives back together,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albie Lewis, who heads the federal disaster recovery effort in Alabama.  “People can call the FEMA helpline, or go to FEMA’s website.”

Residents of Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa counties who suffered storm damage during the period April 28 through May 5 should apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585.  Multilingual operators are available.  

Survivors also can meet with the FEMA representative at the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers. SBA is operating Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in many of the same locations as the Recovery Centers. 

The deadline to register for FEMA assistance is July 1, 2014.

When applicants register with FEMA, they are given a unique “registration number” which identifies them in the FEMA system. When calling with a question, applicants should have this number handy. 

Applicants can reach the helpline by dialing 800-621- 3362 – the same number they called to register. 

Applicants may use the helpline to find out when a housing inspector will arrive, check the status of their assistance applications, change their applications to include additional damage, inquire about additional assistance or review their right to appeal FEMA decisions on eligibility or compensation. 

“Closing the recovery centers does not mean we are closing down registrations for disaster assistance,” said Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director, Art Faulkner, “Alabamians whose homes and businesses were damaged in the recent storms have only until July 1 to register with FEMA. If you have not registered, do it today.”