FEMA Center in Brick to Close Saturday

The Federal Emergency Management Administration is scheduled to close its Disaster Recovery Center at Brick Township Civic Plaza, Chambers Bridge Road, at the close of business this Saturday, it was announced Thursday.

The FEMA center was set up so residents and business owners in Ocean County that suffered damage during Hurricane Irene could have a local location to submit claims to the agency. While the center is scheduled to close Saturday, assistance will still be available until the end of October, officials said. The final deadline to submit claims from Hurricane Irene is Oct. 31. The same deadline is in place for businesses that wish to submit loan applications to the Small Business Administration. Additionally, Oct. 31 is the date by which all federal flood insurance claims related to Irene must be filed.

"With deadlines approaching I am encouraging everyone who has not requested assistance from FEMA and had damages or losses due to the storm file their claim with FEMA as soon as possible," said Ocean County Freeholder Joe Vicari, in a statement.

For help filing a claim, residents and business owners can call 800-621-FEMA, seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.