Most Florida Atlantic And Gulf Coast DRCs Resume Operations
Release Date: September 27, 2004
Release Number: 1539-147
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Ivan
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Frances
ORLANDO, Fla. -- State and federal officials announce that Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts resumed operations on Monday, September 27, and now continue to assist victims of Hurricanes Charley and Frances. These centers suspended services during Hurricane Jeanne’s trek through Florida. Twenty-four DRCs, including five Panhandle centers serving Hurricane Ivan applicants, are now operating.
A list of the 24 centers now operating is on page two. Those centers still down because of Hurricane Jeanne will resume operations as soon as possible.
All centers are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until further notice An applicant may visit any one of the 24 DRCs. Example: if an applicant from St Lucie County goes to Sarasota County, he or she can be assisted at the North Port DRC.
Victims of the hurricanes are urged to register for assistance first by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number is 1-800462-7585 for those who are speech or hearing-impaired. After applying, those who have questions may visit a center to meet face-to-face with recovery specialists.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Helpline is experiencing a record number of calls. Because of this high volume, residents with only minimal losses, owners of commercial properties, and those who are able to start the recovery process are now urged to wait a few days before calling the Helpline. The Helpline is the option on the FEMA 800 number for people who have already registered to find the status of their application and get answers to various questions.
Representatives of state, federal, and voluntary agencies, as well as loan officers from the U.S. Small Business Administration, will be on hand to answer questions and provide recovery information. Written materials about various assistance programs are also available to individuals and business owners.
Disaster Recovery Centers, by county, now operating, post-Hurricane Jeanne:
Old K-Mart Building DRC S. Fla. Comm. College DRC Flagler Beach Fire Dept. DRC Indian River Co. Main Library DRC Fisher of Men Lutheran Church DRC Lee County Public Works DRC Summerlin Square Mall DRC Witham Airport, Building 30 DRC |
Old Eckerd Building DRC Nicor Building DRC Osceola Square Mall DRC Boynton Beach Civic Center DRC Palm Beach Gardens Eagle Ridge Mall DRC George Mullen Building DRC Indian River Comm. College DRC |
K-Mart, City Center DRC Seminole Strip Mall DRC Sunshine Park Mall DRC Panhandle Operations Agricultural Building DRC Spanish Trail Fairgrounds DRC St. Anne Family Life Center DRC Santa Rosa Co. Auditorium. DRC |
The State Emergency Response Team is a collaboration of Florida’s emergency management agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT’s mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impact. For the latest information on the hurricane relief effort, visit http://www.floridadisaster.org.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Monday, 27-Sep-2004 16:48:52