Marion County DRC Begins Operations
Release Date: October 16, 2004
Release Number: 1539-202
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- State and federal officials announce the opening of a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Marion County for victims of Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne. The DRC will open on Monday, October 18, at 8:00 a.m. There are 32 DRCs now serving areas struck by Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne, and another 10 DRCs in the Florida Panhandle are assisting residents affected by Hurricane Ivan.
Marion County
Central Florida Community College DRC
3001 SW College Road
Ocala, Florida 34474
Victims of the hurricanes are urged to register for assistance first by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585 for those who are speech or hearing-impaired. After applying, those who have questions may visit a center to meet face-to-face with recovery specialists.
All centers are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. [A list of the 10 Panhandle DRCs is on page 2, and a list of the 32 Peninsula DRCs is on page 3.] An applicant may visit any one of 42 DRCs. Example: if an applicant from Martin County goes to Orange County, he or she can be assisted at the Nicor Building DRC.
Representatives of state, federal, and voluntary agencies, as well as loan officers from the U.S. Small Business Administration, will be on hand to answer questions and provide recovery information.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Helpline is experiencing a record number of calls. Because of this high volume, residents with only minimal losses, owners of commercial properties, and those who are able to start the recovery process are now urged to wait a few days before calling the Helpline. The Helpline is the option on the FEMA 800 number for people who have already registered to find the status of their application and get answers to various questions.
The State Emergency Response Team is a collaboration of Florida's state 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. For the latest information on the hurricane relief effort, visit www.floridadisaster.org.
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, 18-Oct-2004 10:54:38