The Maui News

The Federal Emergency Management Agency opened its first Disaster Recovery Center at the University of Hawai’i Maui College to help residents impacted by the recent fires.

Survivors can speak to FEMA specialists, get help registering for disaster assistance, get in touch with voluntary organizations and have access to other federal and state resources from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, according to a FEMA news release Wednesday.

The center will also have operators who can communicate in many languages as well as printed materials in multiple languages.

Disaster Recovery Centers are barrier free and provide equal access to all visitors. Anyone who uses American Sign Language or assistive technology or needs accommodations to communicate should notify FEMA staff at the center immediately.

Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration are also available at the recovery center to provide program information and explain how to apply for SBA’s low-interest disaster loans, which are offered to homeowners and renters, business owners and private nonprofits.

Separately, the SBA also opened a Business Recovery Center in Kihei on Wednesday to help business impacted by the fires. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Maui Research Technology Center’s Building A, Suite 119, at 590 Lipoa Parkway.

No appointment is necessary and all services are provided free of charge.