Lake Charles DRC Will Close On Sundays
Release Date: November 30, 2006
Release Number: 1668-020
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ALEXANDRIA, La. -- The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Lake Charles will be closed on Sundays beginning Dec. 3 according to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The last day of business for the center will be Dec. 20.
The DRC is located at 2750 Power Center Parkway in Lake Charles and is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
In an effort to reach out to residents in other parishes, Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRC) are visiting various locations and are open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
Disaster victims are urged to register for assistance first by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing or speech impaired. Victims can also register online at www.fema.gov or visit a DRC to meet face-to-face with recovery specialists.
Representatives of state and federal agencies, including customer service representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to answer questions and provide recovery information. SBA is there to explain to homeowners, renters, businesses and private non profit organizations how SBA’s low interest disaster loans can help pay for their disaster losses. They also answer any questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, assist applicants in completing their loan application, and accept completed applications. Contact SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.
Written materials about various assistance programs are also available to individuals and business owners. No cash, checks, debit cards or vouchers are distributed at DRCs. These centers are meant to provide information to assist in victim recovery. FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, if FEMA referred an applicant to SBA the applicant must complete an SBA loan application to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 01-Dec-2006 09:31:53