The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation's bureau of forestry staff will present "Trees after the Tornado" for private landowners.
The four remaining Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster recovery centers are closing earlier during the week.
The remaining centers that are open are in Monson, at Granite Valley Middle School on Thompson Street; in Springfield’s Technology Park at 1 Federal St.; in West Springfield’s J. Edward Christian Municipal Building on 26 Central St., third floor; and in Southbridge, at Jacob Edwards Library on Main Street.
Hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The centers connect disaster survivors with state and federal specialists to help them start their recoveries, and opened shortly after a tornado caused widespread destruction in the region on June 1, affecting communities on a 39-path from Westfield to Charlton.
Residents who have had tornado-related damage are urged to first register with FEMA online at
According to information from FEMA, disaster grants and loans totaling more than $2.7 million have been approved for survivors in Hampden and Worcester counties.
“All expenditures must be disaster-related,” Federal Coordinating Officer Nick Russo said. “If an applicant spends the money on anything other than the intended purpose, additional assistance may not be available.”
06.01.2011 | SPRINGFIELD - Damage in the wake of a tornado that touched down in Springfield.Housing assistance grants are intended for basic housing repairs for homeowners, short-term rental assistance or reimbursement of hotel/motel expenses. Other needs assistance grants are intended to help replace essential personal property and meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable-aid programs.
FEMA advises disaster survivors to keep all receipts, and to not be tempted to pay household bills with the funds, or use the funds for purchases unrelated to needs created by the disaster. The grants also are subject to an audit.
In other news, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation’s bureau of forestry staff will present “Trees after the Tornado” for private landowners on July 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Monson High School cafeteria.
They will discuss state and federal assistance, how remaining trees can be preserved and how to select replacement trees, as well as hazard mitigation, invasive species, forest regeneration and wildlife impacts.