More Disaster Recovery Centers Now Open 

Release Date: August 29, 2004
Release Number: 1539-071

» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie

ORLANDO, Fla. -- State and federal officials announce the opening of Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) in Punta Gorda and Fort Myers Beach to assist those affected by Hurricane Charley.

Disaster victims are urged to register for assistance first by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For the hearing impaired, the TTY number is 1-800-462-7585. Applicants who have questions about assistance may visit the center to meet face-to-face with recovery specialists.

Charlotte County Lee County
Winn Dixie Parking Lot DRC
27860 Bermont Avenue
Punta Gorda, Fla. 		Dickerson Community Center DRC
308 S. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Fort Myers Beach, Fla.

All centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Representatives of local, state and federal agencies, as well as volunteer agencies, will be on hand to provide program and service information. loan officers from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can answer questions and provide disaster loan information.

Written materials about various assistance programs are also available to individuals and business owners.

The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a collaboration of Florida's emergency management agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT's mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impact. Visit www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief effort.

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 the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Modified: Monday, 30-Aug-2004 08:20:20