A Disaster Assistance Service Center will open in Williamsburg at 1:PM Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, giving Brooklyn residents affected by flooding August 8th an opportunity to talk face-to-face to federal, state and city emergency management experts, said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State Emergency Management Office (SEMO).

The Disaster Assistance Service Center will be located adjacent to the Brooklyn Public Library branch at 240 Division Ave.  It will be open from 1-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17.  Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, Sept. 19, (closed next weekend), and thereafter from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Public transportation:  J, M, and Z trains stop at the Marcy Avenue station two blocks from the library.  The G train stops at Broadway, four blocks from the library.  Buses B40, B24 and Q54 stop at Marcy Avenue, one block from the library.  Bus B61 stops at Broadway, two blocks from the library.  B44 stops at Broadway, three blocks from the library.

“Register with FEMA first,” advises Marianne Jackson, the Federal Coordinating Officer for the Brooklyn and Queens disaster. “Registration is essential to begin the recovery process. If you don’t register, you’re not in the system.”

 “After you register, visit the Disaster Assistance Service Center in Williamsburg if you have any questions,” says John Gibb, Director of SEMO.

Applicants can go online and register at www.FEMA.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).  Speech and hearing impaired people can call (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.  Registration centers are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

Disaster Assistance Service Centers, where applicants may receive help from FEMA, the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and representatives of other agencies, are also located at 137-77 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, and 552 59th St., Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

Disaster-affected businesses, families, and individuals in Brooklyn and Queens who suffered damages from the severe storms, flooding, and tornado are eligible to apply for disaster assistance funding and low-interest loans from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  Information about SBA disaster loans and help with the application process can be obtained by calling the SBA at 1-800-659-2955 or by going to the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.