Disaster Recovery Center at Lee Center in Alexandria to Close 

Release Date: October 4, 2003
Release Number: 1491-40

» More Information on Virginia Hurricane Isabel

Richmond, VA - The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, will close permanently at 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 5, state and federal officials have announced.

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) opened the center so that people who sustained losses and damage as a result of Hurricane Isabel could meet one-on-one with disaster specialists to check the status of their application; learn about a variety of federal, state and local disaster programs; and to get information on how to prevent future damages from severe storms.

Individuals who wish to visit any of the 17 DRCs that remain open throughout disaster declared jurisdictions in Virginia can locate them by calling FEMA's toll-free teleregistration number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for hearing and speech impaired. The DRC locations can also be found through the VDEM's website at: www.vaemergency.com. A DRC will open in nearby Fairfax County to serve residents of Northern Virginia this week.

Individuals may still apply for disaster assistance by calling FEMA's toll-free registration number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing or speech impaired. The FEMA Helpline number is the same number used to register for disaster assistance. The helpline also can provide information on the status of an application. Both the Helpline and registration numbers are open from 7 a.m. to midnight, daily.

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 Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Modified: Monday, 06-Oct-2003 07:50:45