Two Escambia, One Gulf County DRC Begin Operations
Release Date: October 4, 2004
Release Number: 1551-040
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Ivan
ORLANDO, Fla. -- State and federal officials announce the opening of three Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), two in Escambia County and one in Gulf County, for victims of Hurricane Ivan. There are now 11 centers operating in the Panhandle region. The new centers open at noon on Monday, October 4.
Escambia County
Winn Dixie DRC
470 South Hwy 29
Cantonment, Fla.
Eckerd building DRC
13390 Perdido Key Drive
Pensacola, Fla.
Gulf County
Port St. Joe City Hall DRC
410 Williams Avenue
Port St. Joe, Fla.
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 Panhandle DRCs now operating is on page 2.] An applicant may visit any one of 39 DRCs. Example: if an applicant from Escambia County goes to Gulf County, he or she can be assisted at the Port St. Joe City Hall 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 severity of the damages caused by Hurricane Ivan in the Florida Panhandle has resulted in long lines and extended waits at several of the DRCs now operating. Due to this situation, FEMA and the State of Florida request that individuals and business owners with minimal to moderate damages wait several days before going to a DRC. This will allow those with severe losses quicker access to much-needed assistance.
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 http://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: Wednesday, 06-Oct-2004 18:41:56