2 Long-Term Quake Centers Open

Officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Monday that they have opened two long-term service centers to aid people who suffered damage during the Jan. 17 Northridge earthquake.

The centers at 28460 Avenue Stanford in Valencia and 1901 S. Bundy Drive on the Westside are the first of 10 that will be opened, FEMA spokesman Bret Hansard said. These centers will replace the 21 short-term disaster assistance centers FEMA set up after the quake and is phasing out, Hansard said.

Individuals seeking information about quake aid from FEMA can also call (800) 525-0321.

Hansard said a record 365,118 people have applied for quake-related FEMA assistance. The previous high was 304,000 after Hurricane Hugo devastated the region around South Carolina in 1989. The agency has granted $209.4 million in quake disaster housing aid to 72,113 people, he said.

The deadline for individuals applying for aid from the agency is March 18--60 days after President Clinton declared Los Angeles a federal disaster area.