Chef Menteur Disaster Recovery Center To Close 

Release Date: May 16, 2006
Release Number: 1603-476

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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at 11700 Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans will close at 5 p.m. Friday, after more than 13,000 visits, according to officials at The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“We are pleased that so many hurricane victims were able to utilize this Disaster Recovery Center (DRC),” said FEMA Transitional Recovery Office Director James Stark. “Downsizing the number of DRCs at this time indicates to both FEMA and state officials that many victims have received information and help with disaster assistance.” There have been 776,639 visits to 59 DRCs in Louisiana since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck.

Applicants may also access disaster information by calling FEMA’s Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

Those who are hearing or speech-impaired may access information by calling 1-800-462-7585. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At all DRCs in operation, representatives of state and federal agencies including the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are on hand to answer questions and provide recovery information. No cash, checks, debit cards or vouchers are distributed at Disaster Recovery Centers. These centers are for the dissemination of information to assist in victim recovery. Written materials about state and federal programs are also available to individuals and business owners.

Due to pre-scheduled events at the DRC Slidell location, Individual Assistance operations are closed and will reopen May 22. SBA operations continue at the site venue in a temporary location until normal operations at the DRC resume May 22.

The following DRCs are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice.

Plaquemines Parish
Belle Chasse Auditorium
8938 Hwy. 23
Belle Chasse, LA 70037

St. Tammany Parish
North Shore Harbor Center
100 Harbor Center Boulevard
Slidell, LA 70461

Orleans Parish
Landry High School
1200 Landry Blvd.
Algiers, LA 70114

Jefferson Parish
Westbank Shopping Center
15 W. Bank Expwy.
Units 14 & 15
Gretna, LA 70053

Calcasieu Parish
Leadership Center
1701 Ryan St.
Lake Charles, LA 70601

St. Bernard Parish
8101 W. Judge Perez Dr.
Chalmette, LA 70043

Jefferson Parish
MA Green Shopping Center
7901 Airline Dr.
Metairie, LA 70003

Orleans Parish (closes 5/19)
11700 Chef Menteur Hwy.
New Orleans, LA 70129

Orleans Parish
New Orleans Public Library
219 Loyola Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70112

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 16-May-2006 14:57:37