CEDAR RAPIDS - Four Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRC) are now in Linn County. The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are opening MDRCs to provide face-to-face assistance to those affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that began May 25 and continues.

The four Mobile DRCs are at the following locations:
Harding Middle School, 4801 Golf Street NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402,
West Dale Mall, 2600 Edgewood Road SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405,
Prairie High School, 401 76th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 and
Palo Fire Station, 505 Vinton Street, Palo, IA 52324.

They open Thursday, June 19 and will be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. Residents of any county designated in the federal disaster declaration may go to any DRC listed below for information.

FEMA disaster assistance specialists and representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be available to answer questions. Other state, federal and non-profit organizations will have information at the DRCs as well.

Anyone with storm-related damage is encouraged to register with FEMA prior to visiting a disaster recovery center, but phones are available at the center if residents have not pre-registered. Register by calling FEMA’s toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585 for those with speech and hearing impairments, 24 hours, seven days a week or register online anytime at www.fema.gov.

When registering, applicants should provide current contact information, insurance information, a brief description of damage sustained as well as the specific location of damaged property. Those who suffered additional storm-related damage after registering, should call the toll-free registration line again to report the additional damage.

Disaster Recovery Centers open as of June 18 include:
Black Hawk County
• University of Northern Iowa Towers, 2003 Campus St., Cedar Falls, IA 50613
• Pinecrest Bldg, Room 201, 1407 Independence Ave., Waterloo, IA 50703
Buchanan County
• Aurora Comet Center, 401 Woodruff, Aurora, IA 50607
Butler County
• MDRC - New Hartford Fire Station, 308 Packwaukee St., New Hartford, IA 50660
• Memorial Veterans Bldg., 101 Colfax St., Parkersburg, IA 50665
• Mobile DRC
• June 17-18, Shell Rock, Boyd Community Bldg, 303 S. Cherry, Shell Rock, IA 50670
• June 19-20, Dumont, Vacant lot adjacent to the Emergency Bldg. 630 First St., Dumont, IA 60625
• June 21-22, Greene, Greene School, 201 N. Fifth St. Greene, IA 50636
Linn County
• MDRC - Harding Middle School, 4801 Golf Street NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
• MDRC - West Dale Mall, 2600 Edgewood Road SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
• MDRC - Prairie High School, 401 76th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
• MDRC - Palo Fire Station, 505 Vinton Street, Palo, IA 52324.
Union County
• Creston City Hall, 116 West Adams St., Creston, IA 50801

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, nationality, age, disability, English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you or someone you known has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY Call 800-462-7585.