Three More Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Northeast
Release Date: October 1, 2003
Release Number: 1490-23
» More Information on North Carolina Hurricane Isabel
RALEIGH, NC - Three Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to help residents who suffered losses in Hurricane Isabel will open Saturday in Ahoskie, Tarboro and Windsor.
The centers are to help people who have already registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by phone with filling out their paperwork, getting answers to questions, or adding information to their application. It is a chance to meet face to face with disaster recovery experts, and get personal guidance through the next steps.
"Even people who have no damage may want to come to a DRC," said Federal Coordinating Officer Gracia Szczech of FEMA. "Our specialists there have lots of information on how to make your home or business safe against disasters, having a family disaster plan, flood insurance, and so forth. Also, state and volunteer agencies may be able to provide assistance even if you are not eligible for any federal program."
Specialists at the DRCs include people from FEMA, the state of North Carolina, the Small Business Administration, volunteer agencies, the National Flood Insurance Program, and often crisis counselors.
Those affected by the storm who want to apply for assistance must first apply for aid by telephone. The FEMA toll-free numbers to apply for assistance are 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing- or speech-impaired.
The centers will open Saturday at 8 a.m., and then remain open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. The locations are as follows:
Ahoskie Recreation Center
1103 West Main Street
Ahoskie, NC
Edgecombe County Administrative Building (trailer in SW end of parking lot)
201 Saint Andrews Street
Tarboro, NC
Bertie County Senior Center
103 West School Street
Windsor, NC
Anyone throughout the 36-county disaster declared area may visit any DRC for help. The 36 counties are Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Wilson.
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: Thursday, 02-Oct-2003 09:59:43