Starting Thursday, October 3, 2024, residents of Rockford will have a crucial resource at their disposal as a FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center opens its doors.

This initiative comes in response to the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding that devastated the area from July 13 to July 16, 2024.

Expert Assistance at Your Fingertips

Located at Forest City Church, 1280 S. Alpine Rd., the center will provide vital support for survivors.

Specialists from FEMA, the state of Illinois, and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be on hand to assist residents in applying for federal disaster assistance, answering questions, and guiding them on making their properties more disaster-resistant.

The center will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., making it easily accessible for all affected community members.

Resources for Everyone

In addition to English support, the center will offer assistance in multiple languages and provide materials in accessible formats, ensuring everyone can benefit from the resources available.

While the center serves as a hub for assistance, survivors can also apply for aid online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

25 costliest hurricanes of all time

Although the full extent of damage caused by Hurricane Ian in the Southwest is still being realized, Ian is already being called one of the costliest storms to ever hit the U.S. Stacker took a look at NOAA data to extrapolate the costliest U.S. hurricanes of all time.  

LOOK: The most extreme temperatures in the history of every state

Stacker consulted 2021 data from the NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) to illustrate the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in each state. Each slide also reveals the all-time highest 24-hour precipitation record and all-time highest 24-hour snowfall.

Keep reading to find out individual state records in alphabetical order.

Gallery Credit: Anuradha Varanasi

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