(Feb. 3, 2010 – 11 a.m.) Arizonans in Gila County who are still wrestling with the aftermath of severe winter storms last month are getting a new resource.

Citizens in Gila County with questions about recovery or a disaster-related need, whether it be food, temporary housing  or crisis counseling, are invited to the State Individual Assistance Service Center, 45072 N. Highway 188 (Silver Ridge Custom Homes, Inc.), starting Feb. 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Visitors are asked to bring identification and to be prepared to describe their need.

Parts of the area near Punkin Center, Tonto Basin and Gisela in Gila County were acutely impacted by record precipitation. Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) for Individual Assistance were done in the area to assess damage to residential and commercial properties and identify unresolved needs.

“After identifying the depth of those needs, the State is opening an Individual Assistance Service Center in Tonto Basin as a centralized location where residents can get the information and recovery services they need,” Lou Trammell, Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) Director, said.

The State Emergency Call Center is open to take public inquiries about the damage assessment process, reports of disaster-related damage, and other related questions. The center is staffed by operators 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The number is 1-877-464-1144.

Visit the Arizona Emergency Information Network Web site, www.azein.gov, for incident information, including links to the recovery resources. Visitors can also find detailed steps on how to get all-hazard ready.

(Source: Arizona Division of Emergency Management)