Disaster Recovery Center in Montgomery Aids State and Regional Evacuees
Release Date: September 24, 2005
Release Number: 1605-037
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MONTGOMERY , Ala. -- To help the thousands of disaster-displaced evacuees who have taken up temporary residence in the Montgomery area, a state/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) has been opened at Vaughn Plaza , 2801W Vaughn Place in Montgomery. The DRC is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
The center, operational since Sept. 23rd, primarily serves displaced individuals and families from Alabama coastal counties and neighboring states as they continue to recover from Gulf Coast devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Other DRCs located in undeclared disaster counties include centers in Birmingham and Dothan .
"We have worked closely with our state partners to put DRCs in larger urban areas that are natural destinations for Gulf Coast evacuees seeking a safe place to stay," said Mike Bolch, overseeing federal recovery efforts in the state. Bolch said that due to hundreds of potential evacuees arriving in Montgomery due to new storms, the DRC relied on media cooperation to get the word out that help was available nearby.
The Montgomery DRC is staffed by disaster recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the state of Alabama , and representatives from other government agencies with disaster-related information and volunteer organizations. These specialists are available to meet one-on-one with disaster survivors to explain various programs, help with paperwork, and track or update application information.
Specific program help includes housing assistance, individual and household grants, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loan applications for homeowners, renters and businesses. Mitigation specialists will also be available at the centers, to provide practical guidance on rebuilding and repair measures to potentially reduce damage from future storms.
Before visiting the DRC, all evacuees 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.
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: Saturday, 24-Sep-2005 16:35:53