Starting today, March 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will operate a Disaster Recovery Center at the Mountain View Community Center, located at 641 S. Boundary St., so that City of San Diego residents affected by the Jan. 22 storm can receive in-person support in applying for federal disaster assistance.

“This Disaster Recovery Center will provide San Diegans impacted by Jan. 22’s storm, direct, in-person support to help them apply for federal disaster assistance,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “I would encourage everyone affected by the natural disaster to visit the center and learn about the many resources available to help them quickly get back on their feet.”

A second Disaster Recovery Center will also open tomorrow at the Spring Valley Library, serving residents from both the City and throughout San Diego County. The Disaster Recovery Centers, operated by FEMA in collaboration with state and local partners, will be open seven days per week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Language interpretation and assistive technology equipment will be available at both locations.

Applications are also being accepted online through the FEMA web portal at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the FEMA mobile app.

Last week, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration was announced for the record-breaking storm in January that caused flooding and property damage in neighborhoods of San Diego. This declaration allows residents and businesses to apply for individual assistance for losses from storm-related flooding.

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Assistance Program provides financial assistance and services to eligible individuals and households who are uninsured or underinsured. While not a substitute for insurance, the financial assistance is intended to help meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.

The City of San Diego will be relocating the in-person support for the Local Assistance Center to the Mountain View Community Center effective Saturday, March 2. While the Local Assistance Center has an online resource hub, there are in-person support hours available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for anyone in need of internet access or digital devices.

To support local businesses with recovery efforts, this week the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opened a Business Recovery Center in National City, 880 National City Blvd., and the hours will be 8:30 to 5 p.m. daily.

More than 2,500 people so far have registered for applications to receive federal disaster assistance. People impacted by the storm have through April 19, 2024, to apply for FEMA assistance.

For more information about FEMA disaster assistance and the SBA’s low-interest federal disaster loans programs, visit DisasterAssistance.gov. For more information and resources on local assistance available, please visit the City of San Diego’s Storm Recovery web page at sandiego.gov/recovery.