Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) have been set by FEMA up in three Mingo County locations to help flood victims apply for benefits.

Frank Blake with FEMA said the centers offered face-to-face assessment of each individual’s situation.

“At a DRC, each person affected by flooding can talk one on one with a FEMA representative. Each person has a unique situation, and the help we can give them will vary.”

He said FEMA can help with things such as rental assistance, home repairs, special unemployment and replacement of personal property and Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.

Blake said the SBA loan application was especially important.

“The SBA doesn’t want to make loans to people if it would be a burden on them,” Blake said. “When that is the case, the SBA refers them back to FEMA. It is important that they make that application so they can be sent back to us.”

The DRCs are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They will be open on Memorial Day.

The center in Matewan is at Town Hall, the Gilbert center is at the Larry Joe Harless Community Center, and in the Varney area, at the volunteer Delbarton Fire Department substation on Pigeon Creek.

Applications can also be made online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.