The Federal Emergency Management Agency has scaled back the hours of operation for its three disaster recovery centers in Maine, including one on Orr’s Island, which were established to serve residents and businesses affected by January’s twin storms.

They were originally open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., but Starting Monday, April 22, the hours will change to Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., FEMA said in a news release issued Friday, April 19.

The three temporary recovery centers include one at the Orr’s Island Schoolhouse, 1594 Harpswell Islands Road, which opened April 9. The other two centers are in York and Hancock counties.

Agency spokesperson Shirley “Jann” Tracey said that while she wasn’t sure why the operating hours were being trimmed back, FEMA’s policy is to scale the hours of operation for recovery centers based on perceived customer need in the affected communities.

The centers’ closing date has yet to be determined and also will be based on demand, FEMA has said.

The centers have been established to assist those seeking grants or loans to help them recover from the severe storms and flooding on Jan. 10 and 13. They are being staffed by representatives of both FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Staff members said the Harpswell center had a soft opening on Tuesday, April 9, and several people came in. Each of the three centers can assist anyone in Maine’s eight coastal counties included in a federal disaster declaration issued in March: Washington, Hancock, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Cumberland and York.

Officials have said the deadline to apply for FEMA aid and most disaster-related loans from the Small Business Administration is May 20. The exception is economic injury loans, for which the deadline is Dec. 23.

FEMA has noted that it’s not necessary to visit a center to apply for relief. Applicants can visit disasterassistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app or call 800-621-3362. The line is open every day from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Help is available in most languages, FEMA said.

Have a comment or news tip? Email J. Craig Anderson at craig@harpswellanchor.org.