Disaster recovery centers add services

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) -- To help Rhode Islanders affected by Hurricane Sandy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training have added new services to Disaster Recovery Centers.

The Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing partnered up with FEMA in order to staff sign language interpreters at Disaster Recovery Centers. They hope that this will promote equal access to all disaster survivors.

Interpreters will be at the Westerly and Middletown Disaster Recovery Centers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning December 6.

Additional services FEMA made available include written materials with large print of Braille, amplified phones, video relay services and other assistive technology. They hope these improvements will better aid people in the completion of paperwork.

The Rhode Island Disaster Recovery Center hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. They are closed on Sundays.

These centers are located at the Misquamicut Fire Station in Westerly and the Middletown Police Station in Middletown.

If you are Rhode Islander who lost income due to the Hurricane, but do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, you may qualify for disaster unemployment. People who could no travel to their jobs due to the storm may also be eligible.