Bay County DRCs To Merge Into One Location
Release Date: October 14, 2004
Release Number: 1551-071
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Ivan
ORLANDO, Fla -- State and federal officials announce that the two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) now operating in Bay County are merging into one center beginning on Saturday, October 16, at 8 a.m. Ten centers are now operating in the Panhandle region and another 31 DRCs are located on the Peninsula.
The Knology Building DRC, 13200 Panama City Beach Parkway in Panama City Beach, will become part of the Panama City Mall DRC, Suite C, 1000 East 23rd Street, in Panama City.
Those impacted by 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 DRCs are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. [Lists of DRCs now operating are on pages two and three.] An applicant may visit any one of 41 DRCs statewide. Example: if an applicant from Escambia County goes to Walton County, he or she can be assisted at the Defuniak Springs Community Center 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 16:18:28