Harold Recreation Center DRC Suspends Operations
Release Date: October 8, 2004
Release Number: 1539-184
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Harold Recreation Center Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), at 2340 Harold Avenue, Port Charlotte, will suspend operations on Saturday, October 9, at 12 noon. Resources and personnel from this DRC will set up a temporary DRC in Punta Gorda at Scotty’s Parking Lot, 2323 Tamiami Trail, on Sunday, October 10, at 12 noon. A permanent relocation site is pending.
Applicants from this area may also be helped at the following DRCs in Charlotte and Sarasota counties:
Charlotte County
Winn Dixie Parking Lot DRC
27680 Bermont Road
Punta Gorda, Fla.
Sarasota County
George Mullen Building DRC
4956 City Center Boulevard
North Port, Fla.
Applicants for federal and state of Florida disaster assistance programs are able to visit any of the 41 DRC locations presently operating throughout the state. A listing of Panhandle area centers is on page two, and a list of Florida Peninsula DRCs is on page three.
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.
All centers are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. 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 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.
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. For the latest information on the hurricane relief effort, visit http://www.floridadisaster.org.
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, 11-Oct-2004 14:43:08