Disaster recovery center to help with Ida losses

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened a disaster recovery center in Northampton County to help get financial aid to those whose suffered losses in Tropical Depression Ida.

The center’s opening comes more than a month after Ida’s strong winds and heavy rains caused power outages, flooding and one death in the Lehigh Valley. It is one of five in the state.

Pennsylvania in September became one of the states declared a federal disaster area by President Joe Biden, due to heavy rains, severe flash flooding and tornadoes caused by Hurricane Ida’s remnants.

The federal declaration followed Gov. Tom Wolf ’s Aug. 31 disaster emergency proclamation. Wolf said damage to public infrastructure was estimated at $117 million.

Ida dumped 4-6 inches of rain across the region in addition to the 7-9 inches in August from Tropical Storm Fred and Tropical Depression Henri.

The center, at 100 Gracedale Ave., Nazareth, is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

The center provides disaster survivors with information from state agencies, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Survivors can get help applying for federal assistance and learn more about the types of assistance available and the appeals process, as well as and get updates on applications.

More information is available at:

The FEMA helpline, 1-800-621-3362, 1-800-462-7585 for those with hearing impairments or speech disabilities and 1-800-621-3362 for those using 711 or the video relay service or needing accommodations at the DRC. The toll-free numbers are open daily 7 a.m.-2 a.m.

DisasterAssistance.gov in English or DisasterAssistance.gov/es in Spanish.

The FEMA mobile app.

— Andrew Scott