Two New DRCs Begin Operations
Release Date: September 18, 2004
Release Number: 1539-125
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Frances
ORLANDO, Fla. -- State and federal officials announce that two new Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), in Indian River and Martin counties, will begin operations on Saturday, September 18, at 8 a.m, bringing to 25 the number of centers now open to assist victims of hurricanes Charley and Frances.
Indian River County
Indian River County Main Library DRC
1600 21st Street
Vero Beach, Fla.
Martin County
Witham Airport, Building 30 DRC
1823 SE Airport Road
Stuart, Fla.
Victims of the hurricanes are urged to register for assistance first by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585 for those who are speech or hearing impaired. After applying, those who have questions may visit a center to meet face-to-face with recovery specialists.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Helpline is experiencing a record number of calls. Because of this high volume, residents with only minimal losses, owners of commercial properties, and those who are able to start the recovery process are now urged to wait a few days before calling the Helpline. The Helpline is the option on the FEMA 800 number for people who have already registered to find the status of their application and get answers to various questions.
All centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. An applicant may visit any one of the 25 DRCs. Example: if an applicant from Brevard County goes to Charlotte County, he or she can be assisted at the Port Charlotte or Punta Gorda DRC.
Representatives of state, federal, and voluntary agencies, as well as loan officers from the U.S. Small Business Administration, will be on hand to answer questions and provide recovery information. Written materials about various assistance programs are also available to individuals and business owners.
The State Emergency Response Team is a collaboration of Florida’s emergency management agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT’s mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impact. Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief effort.
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 the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Monday, 20-Sep-2004 10:52:48