Two Disaster Recovery Centers to Open in Maunabo and Patillas 

Centers to Offer Face to Face Assistance for Affected Residents

Release Date: October 2, 2008
Release Number: 1798-003

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SAN JUAN, PR -- Disaster Recovery Centers will open in Maunabo and Patillas on Friday, October 3, giving residents affected by recent severe storms and flooding an opportunity to talk to disaster assistance experts face-to-face.

Starting Friday, the Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) will operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, until further notice. 

DRC in Maunabo
Centro Comunal
300 Kennedy Residencial Martorell
Maunabo, PR  00707

DRC in Patillas
Centro de los Placeros
Calle Francisco Ortiz #32 (Interior)
Patillas, PR 00723  (Terminal de Carros Públicos)

President Bush declared eight municipalities disaster areas Wednesday, opening the way for residents to apply for commonwealth and federal disaster assistance.  Residents in Guayama, Humacao, Maunabo, Patillas, Ponce, Salinas, Santa Isabel and Yabucoa are encouraged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as soon as possible. 

"Register with FEMA first," advises State Coordinating Officer Karilyn Bonilla Colón.  "Registration is essential to begin the recovery process. If you don't register, you are not even in the system."

"After you register, visit one of the DRCs if you have any questions," says Federal Coordinating Officer Justo Hernandez.  "You'll be able to meet one-on-one with a recovery specialist and get valuable information." 

To register for assistance, Puerto Rico residents can either go online at www.FEMA.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), choose option 2 for Spanish. The registration lines are open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Speech or hearing impaired residents should call TTY: 1-800-462-7585.

Puerto Rico and FEMA officials expect additional DRCs to open in other municipalities soon. 

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.

This release has been modified from its original version.

Last Modified: Thursday, 09-Oct-2008 10:48:59