Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Eight Louisiana Parishes 

Release Date: September 15, 2008
Release Number: 1786-022

» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Gustav

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Eight Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open – many of them reopening following temporary closure Sept. 11 due to severe weather - to help meet the needs of Louisiana residents and business owners who were affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

The centers are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice, according to officials from the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The DRCs are located at:

Avoyelles Parish
Avoyelles Parish Shopping Center
(Next to Popeye's Chicken)
816 Tunica Drive East
Marksville, LA 71351

Iberville Parish
Iberville Parish Library
24605 J. Gerald Berret Boulevard
Plaquemine, LA  70764

Lafourche Parish
Old Walmart Building
4876 Highway 1
Mathews, LA 7037

Livingston Parish
Old State Police Camp
Classroom # 2
11845 Buddy Ellis Road
Denham Springs, LA  70726

Orleans Parish  
Main Library
219 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA  70112

Point Coupee
Scott Civic Center
1200 Major Parkway
New Roads, LA 70760

St. Tammany Parish
Public Works Building
1100 Mandeville High Boulevard
Mandeville, LA  70471

Terrebonne Parish
Old Bingo Hall
805 Barrow Street
Houma, LA  70360

Additional centers will be announced as they become available. Applicants may visit any DRC, not just the one located within their parishes.

Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by Hurricane Gustav are encouraged to register for assistance before visiting a DRC.

Due to high call volume, officials encourage those individuals who have computer access to the Internet to register online at www.fema.gov. Residents also may register by calling the telephone registration line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 1-800-462-7585).

Telephone registration lines and online registration are available 24 hours a day seven days a week until further notice. Callers are encouraged to postpone calling until after 10 p.m. and before 7 a.m. if possible to help alleviate the high call volume during peak hours.

Residents and business owners can get information about disaster assistance and hazard mitigation, disaster loan applications and other programs at the DRCs. Agencies represented include FEMA, the state and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

An SBA customer service representative can meet individually with each applicant to provide assistance in completing his or her disaster loan application and to accept completed disaster loan applications.  Returning the applications is a key part of the disaster recovery process even for individuals who do not want a loan.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 16-Sep-2008 11:29:13