Three More Recovery Centers Closing October 28-29
Release Date: October 21, 2003
Release Number: 1490-62
» More Information on North Carolina Hurricane Isabel
Raleigh, NC-Three Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) that have helped applicants with hurricane recovery information and paperwork during the last three to four weeks will close Tuesday and Wednesday, October 28-29.
The centers that are closing this week are as follows (each closes at 7 p.m. on the date given):
- Tuesday, October 28: the Hertford DRC, in the Albemarle Commission Building
- Wednesday, October 29: the Edenton DRC, at the William Gardner Recreation Center on the Old National Guard Armory
- Wednesday, October 29: the Elizabeth City DRC, at the Pasquotank County Cooperative Extension Office
Centers will remain open past those dates in Bayboro and Swan Quarter.
"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 soon to get help with any questions or to meet with a specialist personally. The process continues to move quickly-we may close the rest of the DRCs by the end of this month."
More than 8,400 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 to the mid-teens.
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 (8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday - Saturday).
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.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 22-Oct-2003 09:38:56