Digital Extra

At an emergency relief center set up at the Oliver Steadman Government Complex, 104 lobstermen, deckhands and other displaced workers took advantage of services in the last two days.

Officials there expect more to come in the days ahead.

"We've had everyone from people asking, `How am I going to cook dinner tonight,' to people saying, `I don't need much. I just wanted to see what's available,' " said Angela Caporelli, a social worker hired by the National Marine Fisheries Service who is now based at the center.

The emergency relief center offers small-business owners, fisheries workers and the self-employed an array of emergency services, including loans, free legal referrals and help buying home heating oil.

With men stacking up in the waiting area, Caporelli began an ad-hoc seminar in emergency loans and unemployment eligibility. As the men pull their chairs in around her, Caporelli fielded questions that displayed the range of problems.

Some asked how to file a insurance claim.

Others wanted to know how soon they would have to pay back the low-interest loans offered.

And one asked if emergency funds were available to stave off an eviction.

A few asked if Caporelli knew of any work available.

David Loffredo, a truck driver employed by Champlin's Fish Market, wanted to know about lost-wages compensation and a short-term loan. Loffredo is eligible for unemployment, but has five young children and he can't get through the two-week wait without additional help.

"I'm here because I have to be, not because I want to be," Loffredo said. "I'd rather be working, but we have children to feed and bills to pay. Not getting paid for two weeks will throw me behind three months."

At the center, Loffredo ran into his brother-in-law, David Murray. Murray is an in-shore fisherman. On Friday, he took a small fishing vessel into deeper waters, on grounds that are now crowded with in-shore fishermen doing the same. His haul was a quarter of a normal day's catch, he says, and the water was rougher and the trip longer.

Caporelli fears many in-shore fisherman will continue to risk bad weather to make their a living.

Unlike Loffrado, Murray is not eligible for unemployment. That's because on most boats, crews are hired as independent contractors and therefore are ineligible.

Robin Noury, a manager at the Department of Employment and Training says that could change but it would require special legislation or a loosening of the rules.

DET, which is normally closed on weekends, opened its office in the Steadman complex yesterday to answer questions and help those who are qualified for unemployment. Noury says she is also taking the names and phone numbers of those who don't qualify in case eligibility requirements change.

Several of the out-of-work men have said they they are impressed with the services offered.

"These people here have been more than helpful," said Buddy Gould, a lobsterman hoping to get a low-interest loan so he can keep making payments on his boat.

Caporelli says stop-gap measures such as loans, emergency food, money and heating oil help families fill a critical gap between now and when insurance claims against the barge company are finally paid.

That's important, she says, because families should wait until they can provide a complete picture of the damages suffered.

Some 330 people have filed claims with the Water Quality Insurance Company, the barge owner's insurance company, but Caporelli says it will take months or longer for the fishermen and others in the industry to find out what they've lost.

"We don't want anyone to have to rush in to settle a claim so they can buy groceries and pay rent," she said.