New Disaster Recovery Center Opening Monday, Sept. 26, In Butler
Release Date: September 23, 2005
Release Number: 1605-034
» More Information on Alabama Hurricane Katrina
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A new Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open in Butler on Monday, Sept. 26. The center will serve area residents and displaced evacuees from neighboring states recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
DRCs serve as one-stop information centers. Anyone with a disaster-related need may visit any center to talk face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists. The specialists will provide information about available programs, including housing assistance, individual and household grants, and SBA low-interest loan applications. Staff can also provide information about other disaster-related programs to help cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
The centers are also the place where representatives from state and local volunteer organizations will be present, to provide additional assistance or help with immediate unmet needs for disaster victims.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mitigation specialists will also be available at the centers, to provide practical guidance to homeowners, renters and businesses on steps they can take as they rebuild to potentially reduce damage from future storms.
Before visiting a DRC, applicants should first register for assistance 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 on-line 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 federal/state disaster assistance is not required to visit a center regarding their application, but is invited to do so for disaster-related information.
The new center will be located at:
Choctaw County |
Monday, Sept. 26, |
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. |
On September 8, Choctaw County was one of seven Alabama counties to be included in an expanded federal disaster declaration. Alabama now has ten counties whose residents are eligible for Individual Assistance (IA) disaster help, if they meet eligibility requirements.
FEMA IA programs include financial assistance to pay for temporary housing, emergency repairs or rebuilding, rental aid, and individual and household grants to cover serious unmet needs. Low-interest disaster loans are available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for uninsured and underinsured damage to homes, personal property and businesses.
Alabama DRC Locations:
All DRCs will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, seven days a week.
Baldwin County Choctaw County Clarke County Houston County |
Montgomery County Mobile County Mobile Civic Center Tillman's Corner Washington County |
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 to reduce the risk of loss in future disasters, trains first responders, workers 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: Friday, 23-Sep-2005 16:01:48