State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers Help 25,000; More Planned 

Release Date: October 11, 2005
Release Number: 1605-063

» More Information on Alabama Hurricane Katrina

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The aggressive effort by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to bring disaster-related information to storm survivors throughout Alabama passed a significant milestone this Columbus Day weekend as the visitor count to state/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) passed the 25,000 mark.

The first DRC to open in Alabama was in Bayou La Batre in the first few days after Hurricane Katrina struck. That center alone has had 7,752 visitors since September 2.

Recovery officials said the outreach effort had broken new ground by using fixed-site and mobile DRCs in undeclared areas that became temporary home to thousands of evacuees from neighboring Gulf Coast states. In recent weeks more than 1,200 storm survivors have visited the Birmingham DRC and 1,076 have visited the Montgomery center.

Mobile DRCs have been employed extensively in the disaster, making a series of stops in eight counties, with visits lasting from three days to a week or more depending on visitor traffic. Officials said that potential locales for DRC sites were being evaluated as new registrations help identify unmet needs. New centers open in Selma, Guntersville and Linden this week.

“We monitor activity in our DRCs to gauge their effectiveness and to see what kinds of questions are on the minds of our customers,” said Mike Bolch, senior deputy federal coordinating officer. Bolch said that nearly two-thirds of 25,270 DRC visitors had questions about available housing assistance and nearly 40 percent spent time with U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan representatives for one-on-one answers or help with low-interest disaster loan applications.

State Coordinating Officer Bruce Baughman explained that DRCs were an important source of information for short-term and longer range assistance. “Our state specialists provide information on disaster-related unemployment, crisis counseling, and help for seniors and a wide range of local community support groups and volunteer agencies” Baughman said. Baughman noted that centers provided service to thirteen Alabama counties to date.

All DRC staff is available to meet one-on-one with disaster survivors to explain various programs, help with paperwork, and track or update application information. It is important to first call and register for assistance before visiting the DRC 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 online at 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 state/federal disaster assistance is not required to visit a center regarding their application, but is invited to do so for disaster-related information.

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages the federal response and recovery efforts following an incident of national significance. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 11-Oct-2005 09:55:40