Second Illinois Disaster Recovery Center to open Thursday in Junction

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Federal Emergency Management Agency is opening a Disaster Recovery Center 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through June 22 in the gym of Gallatin County School to help flood victims meet face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists. The center will reopen June 30 through July 6.

Additional locations and dates are being finalized, state and federal officials said today. The Gallatin County center is available to any flood victims in southeastern Illinois, according to Saline County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Allan Ninness.

"Just because it's in Gallatin County School doesn't mean

The DRC is operated jointly by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Residents do not have to go to the center to apply for disaster

assistance. Individuals are encouraged to apply by completing an

application online anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov or by calling toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Both numbers are available seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., until further notice. Help in other languages is available.

DRC services include checking on the status of your disaster assistance application and finding out about other disaster programs available from the U.S. Small Business Administration, state and local agencies and voluntary organizations. To be considered for federal disaster assistance, residents must apply with FEMA even if they already provided damage information to local officials, other agencies or organizations.

SBA low-interest disaster loans may be available for homeowners,

renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes to repair or replace real estate, contents and/or personal property damaged in the severe storms and flooding. SBA customer service representatives will be present to answer questions and accept completed loan applications. Information and assistance from SBA is also available at 1-800-659-2955, (TTY) 1-800-877-8339 or online at www.sba.gov/services

/disasterassistance.

The counties designated for Individual Assistance include Alexander,

Franklin, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Lawrence, Massac, Perry, Pope,

Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, White and Williamson.