Additional Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Cameron and Hidalgo Counties - New Hours Of Operations Set 

Release Date: August 7, 2008
Release Number: 1780-007

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McALLEN, Texas -- Two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will open tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 8, to assist Cameron and Hidalgo County individuals, households and businesses affected by Hurricane Dolly, recovery officials have announced.

The DRCs will open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and operate under those hours Monday through Saturday. They will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Cameron County:                               Hidalgo County:
University of Texas                               Community Resource Center
Robert E. Lee Youth Center                  509 E. Earling Road
600 International Blvd.                          San Juan, TX 78589
Brownsville, TX 78520

The hours of operations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) three mobile DRCs will adopt the hours listed above beginning tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 8. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. They will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers are serving the following locations:

Cameron County
Harlingen Municipal
Auditorium
1204 Fair Park Blvd.
Harlingen, TX 78550-2324

Hidalgo County
La Villa Middle School
Multipurpose Room
500 E. Ninth St.
La Villa, TX  78562

Willacy County
American Legion
211 W. Hidalgo Ave.
Raymondville, TX 78580

The DRCs are staffed with FEMA, other federal and state agencies, and voluntary organizations disaster recovery specialists who are ready to help affected residents through the process of applying for disaster assistance.

Applicants should register by calling FEMA toll-free 800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with a speech or hearing impairment may call TTY 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily until further notice. Application for disaster assistance can also be made by registering online at www.fema.gov., or at one of the Disaster Recovery Centers.

Once registered, FEMA disaster recovery specialists can check an individual's case, answer questions about their claim, or request information FEMA needs to process their claim. Recovery specialists can also supply contacts for other programs that may be able to help.

SBA representatives will be on hand at the DRCs to meet with individuals and business owners to answer any questions about SBA's disaster loan program; help them complete their SBA disaster loan application and accept the completed disaster loan applications.  Anyone not able to go to a DRC should call the SBA Customer Service Center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday, at 800-659-2955 for information and assistance or visit the SBA website at www.sba.gov

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Friday, 08-Aug-2008 09:48:00