New Disaster Recovery Centers Opening in Citronelle, Dothan, Mobile, and Montgomery; Centers in Fairhope, Bay Minette Closing 

Release Date: September 17, 2005
Release Number: 1605-022

» More Information on Alabama Hurricane Katrina

MONTGOMERY, Al - Four new Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will open soon in Alabama, as part of the ongoing federal/state partnership to assist storm survivors from across the Gulf Coast in their recovery from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

One DRC will open in Citronelle on Saturday, Sept. 17; another will open in Mobile on Sunday, Sept. 18; a third will open in Montgomery, also on Sunday, Sept. 18; and a fourth center will open in Dothan on Monday, Sept. 19. The centers in Citronelle, Dothan and Montgomery will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The center in Mobile will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Sept. 18, and thereafter from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

The DRCs in Fairhope and Bay Minette, located in Baldwin County, will close permanently at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17. The DRC located in Foley will continue to be available to Baldwin County residents. That center is located in the Foley Events Center, 20801 County Road.

The centers are staffed by Alabama and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recovery specialists, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan representatives, and representatives of other state and federal agencies. They offer telecommunication and network computer links to assist registrants and provide updated information on applications already filed.

Mitigation specialists will also be on hand to provide practical guidance to homeowners, renters and businesses on steps they can take as they rebuild, to potentially reduce damage from future storms.

The new centers will be located at: Dates: Hours of Operation:
Mobile County
Alabama Army National Guard facility
17530 Celeste Road
Citronelle, AL		 Saturday, Sept. 17, through Wednesday, Sept. 21. Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Mobile County
Mobile Civic Center
401 Civic Center Drive
Mobile, AL		 Sunday, Sept. 18, until further notice. Opens at noon on Sept. 18. Thereafter, open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.daily.
Montgomery County
Vaughn Plaza
2801 W. Vaughn Place
Montgomery, AL		 Sunday, Sept. 18, until further notice. Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Houston County
Houston County Volunteer Firefighter Association facility
2358 Columbia Hwy.
Dothan, AL		 Monday, Sept. 19, through Saturday, Sept. 24. Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Anyone with a disaster-related need may visit any DRC to talk face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists. The specialists will provide information about available programs, including housing assistance, individual and household grants, and SBA low-interest loan applications. They can also provide information about other disaster-related programs to help cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Before visiting a DRC, applicants should first register for assistance by calling toll-free 800-621-FEMA (3362). Individuals with speech or hearing impairments who use special keyboard equipment (TTY) should call 800-462-7585. The lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice. Registration via the Internet is available on-line at http://www.fema.gov.

Applicants are reminded to bring their FEMA registration number and social security number when visiting a DRC. Anyone who has already registered for federal/state disaster assistance is not required to visit a center regarding their application, but is invited to do so for disaster-related information.

Last Modified: Monday, 19-Sep-2005 09:42:52