The Northern Santa Barbara County Disaster Recovery Center/Local Assistance Center will open at noon Saturday at Alan Hancock College in Santa Maria to assist those affected by the January storms.
Another center will open simultaneously at Direct Relief in Santa Barbara, and both centers are expected to remain operational for at least two weeks, the spokesperson said.
After opening on Saturdays, the center is open seven days a week from 10am to 7pm.
Spanish, Mixteco, and American Sign Language interpreting services are available, and the center will be accessible not only to people with disabilities, but also to their access and functional needs, the spokesperson said.
A county-provided Virtual Local Assistance Center is also available online.
The two DRC/LACs are served through partnerships between the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Governor’s Emergency Services Agency, counties, and some cities.
Designed as a “one-stop-shop,” the center can provide information and advice on assistance from federal, state, county, city, and other agencies.
Residents and business owners can help apply for federal assistance and disaster loans, update submitted applications, and find other resources, the spokesperson said.
The center will be staffed by trained personnel from FEMA, the US Small Business Administration, and state agencies, as well as representatives from local agencies.
Specialist will clarify information from FEMA, explain rental assistance available to homeowners and renters alike, scan or copy new information and documents required for case files, and FEMA process requested documents You can fax to the center.
Sign up to receive headlines in your inbox!
Local Sports | Daily Headlines | Local Obituaries | Weather | Local Offers
Small Business Administration officials can provide program information and explain how to apply for SBA low-interest disaster loans for businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters, the spokesperson said.
State representatives can answer disaster-related questions about the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Insurance, Department of Employment Development, and more.
The center also provides counseling and emotional support, reconstruction assistance, permits, removal of hazardous materials, housing assistance, business and job loss, agricultural loss, tax assessment, and community support for basic health and welfare services. can provide links to resources.
County and city staff can also answer questions and provide resources. Also, several non-profit organizations have representatives to help those affected by the storm.
The North County Center is located in Building O-300 of Allan Hancock College at 900 S. College Drive and is best accessed from Parking Lot 7.
The South County Center is located at Direct Relief at 6100 Wallace Becknell Road in Santa Barbara.
