CHICAGO– A FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center will open in Cook County on Sunday, October 6 to help residents kickstart their recovery after the July 13 - 16, 2024, severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding. Specialists from FEMA, the state of Illinois and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be at the centers to help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance, upload documents, get their questions answered in person, access other types of help that may be available and learn ways to make their property more disaster resistant.

The center in Chicago/Cook County will open on Sunday, October 6, at the following location, days and hours:

Fredrick A Douglass Branch Library

3353 W 13th St., Chicago, IL 60623

Hours: Mon. and Wed. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Tues. and Thurs. 12 p.m. – 8 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Additional recovery centers will be opening in other impacted counties soon. To find the center nearest you, visit FEMA.gov/DRCLocator . Survivors may visit any center for assistance. Assistance in languages other than English, including American sign language, and translated materials are available at these centers. Disaster Recovery Center locations are chosen for their accessibility, with the goal of reaching as many people as possible. Accessible parking spaces are available at all centers.

Learn more at FEMA.gov/ (Disaster Assistance). Survivors don’t need to visit a Disaster Recovery Center to apply for FEMA assistance. Deadline to apply is November 19, 2024. To apply without visiting a center:

• Online to gov/disaster/4819
• Download the FEMA mobile app
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621- 3362. If you use a relay service such as video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.

For even more information about the disaster recovery operation in Illinois, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4819.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. Reasonable accommodations, including translation and American Sign Language interpreters via Video Relay Service will be available to ensure effective communication with applicants with limited English proficiency, disabilities, and access and functional needs. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362. If you use video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service

OEMC issues alerts and notifications needed to keep residents and attendees up to date on weather conditions and emergencies.

• Sign up for NotifyChicago alerts at NotifyChicago.org
• CHILAKE: For lakefront notices, TEXT “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5
• CHIBIZ: For alerts affecting businesses, TEXT “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3

For additional information on emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC. Follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Facebook (@coemc), X /Twitter.com (@ChicagoOEMC), Instagram (chicago_oemc_911), and OEMC Chicago - YouTube

# # #