LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A new Lake County Disaster Recovery Center has opened in Clearlake to help survivors impacted by the Valley fire.

Disaster Recovery Centers are operated by the California Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in partnership with the county and local agencies.

The new center is located in the old Apria Health Care building, 14848 Olympic Drive.

Hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to to 4 p.m.

A Disaster Recovery Center also is open at the Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St.

Hours of operation are Monday through 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state of California, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies are among those represented to explain assistance programs and help survivors register.

Two other DRCs are operational to assist California wildfire survivors. To find the nearest location they may visit www.fema.gov/drc .

Survivors with losses are encouraged to register for assistance before going to the disaster recovery center by calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register.

Online registration is also available at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by using a web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov.

Businesses and residents can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (Deaf or hard of hearing may call 800-877-8339).

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property.

SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property.

These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.SBA.gov . Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.