Disaster Recovery Centers / Local Assistance Centers to Open in North and South Santa Barbara County

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(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)/Local Assistance Center  (LAC) will be opening in both north and south Santa Barbara County to provide resources to  residents who were impacted by the January 2023 Storms. 

The DRC/LAC is a partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),  Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), County of Santa Barbara and several  local cities. The DRC/LAC is opening in both locations on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 12  p.m. at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria & Direct Relief in Santa Barbara. 

Following Saturday, the DRC/LAC will be open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at  both locations, for a minimum of two weeks. 

Residents can get help applying for federal assistance and disaster loans, update applications and learn about other resources that are available. Spanish, ASL and Mixteco interpreter  services will be present. 

The centers are a one-stop shop where disaster survivors can get information and advice  about community, state and federal agencies and other available assistance. They are also  accessible to people with disabilities and those with access and functional needs. 

The centers, are staffed with not only local staff but trained FEMA personnel as well as  representatives from California state agencies and the U.S. Small Business Administration.  

These specialists can clarify information you have received from FEMA or other agencies; they  can explain the rental assistance available to homeowners and renters; and they can fax your  requested documents to a FEMA processing center and scan or copy new information or  documents needed for case files.  

SBA representatives are on hand to provide program information and explain how to apply for  SBA’s low-interest disaster loans for businesses, private non-profits, homeowners and renters. 

State representatives are also available to aid in state related questions ranging from  Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to Department of Insurance and Employment  Development Department (EDD). 

The DRC/LAC also provides linkage to local resources including counseling and emotional  support, local resources to aid in rebuilding, permitting, hazardous materials clean-up, housing  assistance, loss of business or employment, basic health and human services, agricultural  losses and tax accessor. County and city staff will be available to answer questions as well as  provide resources. Several local non-profits will also be present to help community members  impacted by the January 2023 Storms. 

Disaster Recovery Centers/Local Assistance Centers Opening Saturday, 7-days a week 

Information to support residents with January 2023 winter storm event information and long term rebuilding and recovery. Both centers will be open 7-days a week for a minimum of 2- weeks. 

• North County Center: 

Regular Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

Location: Allan Hancock College 

800 South College Drive, 

Santa Maria, CA 93454 

Building O-300, Parking Lot #7 

• South County Center:  

Regular Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

Location: Direct Relief  

6100 Wallace Becknell Rd. 

Santa Barbara, CA 93117 

• Virtual Local Assistance Center: Online resource in English and Spanish.

English: https://www.readysbc.org/3683/January-2023-Storm-Recovery 

Spanish: www.ReadySBC.org/recuperacion-tormenta-enero 

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