Disaster Recovery Centers Are Open Limited Hours On Mardi Gras 

New Saturday Hours Announced

Release Date: February 24, 2006
Release Number: 1604-258

» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina

BILOXI, Miss. -- State and federal officials announced today that all Disaster Recover Centers (DRCs) in Mississippi will be open to assist Hurricane Katrina victims between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Mardi Gras, Tuesday, February 28, 2006.

Beginning March 4, 2006, new Saturday hours for Mississippi DRCs will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All Mississippi DRCs will continue to be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice.

DRCs provide disaster registrants in the areas they serve with an opportunity to check on the status of their applications and meet with state and federal disaster program representatives. Loan officers from the U.S. Small Business Administration can assist with disaster loan applications.

Those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are urged to register for assistance first by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired. Both numbers are available from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. The deadline to apply is 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2006. After applying, those who have questions may visit a center to meet face-to-face with recovery specialists.

Mississippi residents may also register for assistance online. Those with access to a computer should visit the FEMA website at www.fema.gov. Look for and click on the words "Apply online (Online Individual Assistance Center)" located in the upper right-hand column.

An applicant may visit any one of the 13 DRCs now open:

FORREST COUNTY
C.E. Roy Community Center
300 E. 5th St.
Hattiesburg, MS 39401

HARRISON COUNTY
Disabled American Vets Hall
2600 23rd Ave.
Gulfport, MS 39501

HANCOCK COUNTY
S. Coast Skate Park
118 Anderer Blvd.
Waveland, MS 39576

Snyder Recreation Center
2520 Pass Road
Biloxi, MS 39531

Biloxi Recreation Center
591 Howard Ave.
Biloxi, MS 39530
(Closing 6 p.m. Feb. 25, 2006)

HINDS COUNTY
Old Ruby Tuesday’s
Metro Center Mall
3645 Highway 80, Suite 1002
Jackson, MS 39209

PEARL RIVER COUNTY
Mississippi Mall
1310 S. Haugh St.
Picayune, MS 39466

1403 S. Main St., Suite E
Poplarville, MS 39470

JACKSON COUNTY
Old K-Mart Building
3164 Bienville Blvd.
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Pelican Landing Convention Center
6217 Highway 613
Moss Point, MS 39563

PIKE COUNTY
Old Block Buster Building
1015 Delaware Ave.
McComb, MS 39468

STONE COUNTY
Old Bill’s Dollar Store
530 D. Central Ave.
Wiggins, MS 39577

JONES COUNTY
Cameron Center
711 N. 10th Ave.
Laurel, MS 39440
(Closing 6 p.m. Mar. 3, 2006)

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Friday, 24-Feb-2006 18:23:36