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FEMA to close Livingston flood aid centers next week
By Tony Sapochetti
tsapochetti@pantagraph.com
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PONTIAC — The Federal Emergency Management Agency centers coordinating flood recovery efforts for Livingston and Iroquois counties will close permanently next week, but residents affected by the flooding in January still will be able to apply for federal aid after it closes.

“Just because the DRC (Disaster Recovery Center) is closing doesn’t mean that FEMA assistance is closing with it,” FEMA Spokeswoman Hannah Vick said. “It is just that point in the disaster where it is time to come to a close.”

The centers in Pontiac and Watseka will closed for good at 7 p.m. April 4. After that, people still will be able to apply for FEMA assistance by using FEMA’s Web site or toll-free number.

Closing the centers, however, means residents no longer will be able to talk face-to-face with representatives of FEMA, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The centers also provide mitigation specialists, experts who can consult on how to rebuild and take other steps to reduce the threat of damage in future disasters.

Vick said the deadline for applying for assistance is May 6.

Traffic to the centers has dropped since opening two weeks ago, and Vick said it is time to close.

“We want to give people enough time to come in and take this opportunity throughout next week before we close,” Vick said.

As of last week, $3.3 million in FEMA grants have been approved for residents in both counties, according to FEMA reports. About $860,000 in low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration have been approved so far, Vick said.

A total of 395 people have applied for FEMA assistance in Livingston County, including 315 who came to the center at Pontiac City Hall. In Watseka 427 Iroquois County residents visited the center.

People are still asked to register with FEMA before they visit the center. To register, go online at fema.gov or call (800) 621-FEMA (3362) or (800) 462-7585 for TTY users.

For SBA services, call (800) 659-2955 or go to sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

The Pontiac center at City Hall, 115 W. Howard St., is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

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