All Recovery Centers To Close By End Of October
Release Date: October 24, 2003
Release Number: 1490-65
» More Information on North Carolina Hurricane Isabel
Raleigh, NC -- All Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) that provided help to applicants with hurricane recovery information and paperwork during the past several weeks will close by 7 p.m. Friday, October 31.
More than 9,400 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, according to recovery officials.
The centers are open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day but Sunday.
On Wednesday, October 29, the Elizabeth City DRC, at the Pasquotank County Cooperative Extension Office, 1209 McPherson Street, will close.
On Friday, October 31, the last DRCs will close:
- the Bayboro DRC, at the Pamlico County Courthouse, 202 Main Street
- the Edenton DRC, in the William Gardner Recreation Center at the Old National Guard Armory, 702 North Broad Street
- the Hertford DRC, in the Albemarle Commission Building, 512 South Church Street
- the Swan Quarter DRC, at Mattamuskeet High School, U. S. Hwy. 264
"If you have recently registered and have any questions, visit a center," says Federal Coordinating Officer Gracia Szczech of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "If you haven't registered, call now. Then come in to our recovery centers soon. After October 31, those centers will be gone."
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.
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 (SBA) 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.
Help will still be available after the centers close, officials point out.
"Information will still be available through the Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)," said State Coordinating Officer Dr. Kenneth B. Taylor of the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management (NCDEM). "Also, specialists from the SBA have already opened workshops to offer help with loan applications."
SBA workshops are open now at these locations:
- Old Health Department Building, 420 Broad Street, Beaufort
- Kill Devil Hills Town Hall, 102 Town Hall Drive, Kill Devil Hills
- Ocracoke Community Center, 999 Irving Garrish Highway, Ocracoke
- Department of Social Services, 632 West 5th Street, Washington
Another SBA workshop will open Monday, October 27, at the Ahoskie Recreation Center, 1103 West Main Street, Ahoskie.
All the SBA workshops are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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: Monday, 27-Oct-2003 08:53:59