Disaster Assistance Centers to open

EASTERN SHORE, Md. - The Maryland Emergency management Agency (MEMA) will join local partners in Calvert and Saint Mary's counties to open Disaster Assistance Centers for residents impacted by Hurricane Irene.

The centers will provide an opportunity for those impacted by the storm to discuss state programs that may be able to provide assistance.

These are not the same as Disaster Recovery Centers, these are opening as an opportunity to get and stay informed.

The St. Mary's County center is at 23115 Leonard Hall Drive, Room 4, Leonardtown and will remain open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Calvert County will open a Disaster Assistance Center at the Courthouse Square Building, 205 Main Street in Prince Frederick from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The following state agencies will have representative at each of the offices:

•  Maryland Insurance Administration
•  Department of Human Resource
•  Maryland Department of Aging
•  Department of Labor License and Regulation
•  Department of Housing and Community Development

Visitors will be able to receive information about state assistance and housing programs, information about dealing with insurance issues and information about dealing with contractors and employment issues.

Local, MEMA and FEMA officials will be conducting a preliminary damage assessment (PDA) over the next few days to estimate the extent of the disaster and its impact on individuals and public facilities. During the assessment, the team will collect estimates of the expenses and damages, which is forwarded to Governor Martin O'Malley. He can then look at the information and make a request to show that the disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the local governments and request a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration.