Most FEMA Offices Closing For Thanksgiving
Release Date: November 22, 2005
Release Number: 1603-173
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) along with the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness announce its registration hotline and Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will be closed on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 24.
FEMA will resume normal operational hours on Friday, Nov. 25. The registration hotline and application helpline, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) will reopen at 6 a.m., and Louisiana Disaster Recovery Centers will reopen at 9 a.m. on Friday.
FEMA operates 45 Disaster Recovery Centers in Louisiana, which victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita can visit Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. At these DRCs, recovery specialists are available to meet one-on-one with disaster victims.
The LA Swift Transit free bus service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans will also be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. The final bus from Baton Rouge to New Orleans before the holiday leaves at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23. The final bus from New Orleans to Baton Rouge departs Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The bus service will resume operations on Friday, Nov. 25, with the first bus leaving Baton Rouge at 4:30 a.m. The first bus from New Orleans departs for Baton Rouge at 1 p.m. Friday.
The Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Assistance hotline will also be closed on Thanksgiving. It will reopen at 6 a.m. on Friday.
FEMA's housing locator service will remain open during Thanksgiving, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Disaster victims in search of housing can call 1-800-762-8740, where individuals will assist them in their search.
The National Flood Insurance Program hotline, which home and business owners should call with claims, will be closed Thanksgiving, and reopen at 7 a.m. Friday.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 23-Nov-2005 09:59:40