Six Recovery Centers Closing This Week
Release Date: October 13, 2003
Release Number: 1490-49
» More Information on North Carolina Hurricane Isabel
RALEIGH, NC -- Six Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) that help applicants with hurricane recovery information and paperwork will close over the next six days.
"People who were affected by Hurricane Isabel should call and register now," says Federal Coordinating Officer Gracia Szczech of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Then come in to our recovery centers this week to get help with any questions or to meet with a specialist personally. The process is moving quickly."
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.
The centers that are closing this week, and the days they close, are as follows (each closes at 7 p.m. on the date given):
- Wednesday, October 15: the Kill Devil Hills DRC, at the Town Hall
- Wednesday, October 15: the Greenville DRC, in the parking lot next to the Administration Building
- Wednesday, October 15: the Roper DRC, in the Community Pride Center
- Thursday, October 16: the Washington DRC, at the Beaufort County Department of Social Services
- Friday, October 17: the Beaufort DRC, at the Old Health Department Building
- Friday, October 17: the Bayboro DRC, Pamlico County Courthouse parking lot
Centers remain open in Ahoskie, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Hertford, Swan Quarter, and Windsor.
Representatives at the DRCs from the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety and FEMA will help applicants with any questions they have about the application process as well as provide updates on the status of the individual application.
Officials from the U.S. Small Business Administration will also be on hand to help with disaster loan applications. The agency's disaster loan program makes available low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and business owners with disaster-related losses.
Anyone throughout the disaster-declared area may visit any DRC for help.
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.
For more information about hurricane preparedness and recovery and specific information about Isabel, visit the FEMA website at www.fema.gov.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 14-Oct-2003 08:07:40