New Frances, Ivan, Jeanne DRCs Begin Operations
Release Date: September 24, 2004
Release Number: 1539-148
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- State and federal officials announce the opening of three more Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), one in Putnam County for victims of Hurricane Frances and Jeanne, and one each in Bay and Walton counties for those affected by Hurricane Ivan. There are now 27 centers operating. The new centers opened on Monday, September 27.
Putnam County (for Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne)
Putnam County Agricultural Center DRC
111 Yelvington Road
East Palatka, Fla.Bay County (for Hurricane Ivan)
Knology Building DRC
13200 Panama City Beach Parkway
Panama City Beach, Fla.Walton County
Defuniak Springs Community Center DRC
361 North 10th Street
Defuniak Springs, Fla.
Victims of the hurricanes are urged to register for assistance first by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585 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.
All centers are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. An applicant may visit any one of the 27 DRCs. Example: if an applicant from St. Lucie County goes to Sarasota County, he or she can be assisted at the North Port DRC.
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.
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.
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: Tuesday, 28-Sep-2004 13:26:07