Tomorrow Last Day for Recovery Centers
Release Date: October 30, 2003
Release Number: 1490-69
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Raleigh, NC -- Tomorrow is the last day the federal/state Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will be open.
Residents and business owners who have registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster assistance are encouraged to come to the centers to track where their applications stand, ask questions, and get help with paperwork.
The four centers open tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. are:
- the Bayboro DRC, at the Pamlico County Courthouse, 202 Main Street;
- the Edenton DRC, in the William Gardner Recreation Center at the Old National Guard Armory; 702 North Broad Street;
- the Hertford DRC, in the Albemarle Commission Building, 512 South Church Street; and
- the Swan Quarter DRC, at Mattamuskeet High School, U. S. Hwy. 264.
Almost 10,000 residents in disaster-declared counties have visited the DRCs since the first ones opened September 23. However, the number of visitors at the centers that are closing has dwindled, according to recovery officials.
"If you have recently registered and have any questions, visit a center," says Federal Coordinating Officer Gracia Szczech of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "If you haven't registered, call now. Then come in to our recovery centers soon. After October 31, those centers will be gone."
Before visiting the centers, residents must first have applied 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.
Anyone throughout the disaster-declared area may visit any DRC for help.
Help will still be available after the centers close, officials point out.
"Information will still be available through the Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)," said State Coordinating Officer Dr. Kenneth B. Taylor of the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management (NC DEM). "Also, specialists from the SBA have already opened workshops in the area that offer help with their loan applications."
SBA workshops are open now at these locations:
- Ahoskie Recreation Center, 1103 West Main Street, Ahoskie;
- Old Health Department Building, 420 Broad Street, Beaufort;
- Kill Devil Hills Town Hall, 102 Town Hall Drive, Kill Devil Hills;
- Ocracoke Community Center, 999 Irving Garrish Highway, Ocracoke; and
- Department of Social Services, 632 West 5th Street, Washington.
All the SBA workshops are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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, 30-Oct-2003 09:49:46