3 FEMA Disaster Centers Close, Transition to SBA Centers

Three disaster recovery centers in Leonardo, Little Egg Harbor and Manahawkin will close Saturday, April 20, and reopen as Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Centers on Monday, April 22.

The disaster recovery centers transitioning are the center at the Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center in Leonardo, the center at the Little Egg Harbor Senior Center in Little Egg Harbor Township, and the center at the Ocean County Southern Resource Center in Manahawkin.

According to state and federal officials who have been monitoring how may applicants are visiting the state's disaster recovery centers, the number of individuals seeking help at these specific three centers has dropped. This indicates the information needs of survivors in the area have mostly been met, say officials.

The transition into SBA loan outreach centers will provide homeowners, renters, business owners and nonprofit organizations face-to-face service in order to answer questions about low-interest disaster loan programs, completing loan applications, checking the status of applications, and closing on SBA loans.

The SBA outreach centers will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday.

The remaining disaster recovery centers in Ocean County are:

Brick Township Civic Center - 270 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick, NJ 08723

Bell Crest Plaza Store Front 4C - 953 Fischer Blvd., Toms River, NJ 08753

Other disaster recovery centers are located throughout New Jersey and can be found online by going to FEMA.gov/DRC. Registration for FEMA assistance ends May 1, 2013.