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(ABC 6 News) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened disaster relief centers in Albert Lea and Worthington on Tuesday, Aug. 27, to help residents rebuild after severe storms and flooding from June 16 to July 4.
Specialists from FEMA, the State of Minnesota and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be at the centers to help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance, upload documents, answer their questions in person, access other assistance that may be available and learn ways to make their property more disaster-resilient.
Rich Hall, Freeborn County’s emergency management coordinator, said he hopes residents affected by the flooding will take advantage of the assistance. “(FEMA is here),” Hall said, “… to continue the rebuilding process and see if we can help residents, get them financial resources and help them get healthy again.”
“Some forms of FEMA grants,” said FEMA spokeswoman Kim Keblish, “… may include temporary housing assistance, home repair or replacement, and coverage of other disaster-related expenses, such as moving and storage costs, primary vehicle repair or replacement, damaged furniture and appliances (including heating and air conditioning), and child care costs.”
The Albert Lea Disaster Recovery Center is located at Albert Lea Fire Rescue (417 S Newton Ave) and is open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. It will be closed on Monday, September 2 for the Labor Day holiday. The temporary center will close on or about August 11.
More rehabilitation centers will be opened soon in other affected counties. To find the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRCSurvivors can contact any center for assistance.
The disaster declaration names the following 19 counties: Blue Earth, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Itasca, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Mower, Nicollet, Nobles, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Steele, Waseca and Watonwan.
