Five Disaster Recovery Centers To Suspend Operations 

Release Date: November 21, 2005
Release Number: 1603-169

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BATON ROUGE, La. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness are closing five Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Coushatta, St. Joseph, Columbia, Hodge, and Winnfield at the close of business, 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Resources and personnel from these DRCs will be shifted to other sites throughout the state.

“These five DRCs have served hundreds of individuals in the last month. As relief and recovery efforts continue in Louisiana, closing these DRCs will enable us to focus our resources to assist the maximum number of people,” said Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer Scott Wells. Since opening on Oct. 28, the DRC in Coushatta has been visited 100 times. The DRC in St. Joseph received 52 visits since opening Nov. 4. The DRC in Columbia has been visited 23 times since opening Nov. 7. Since opening Nov. 4, the DRC in Hodge has been visited 87 times. Winnsfield’s DRC opened on Oct. 26 and has been visited 105 times.

Disaster victims in need of assistance can still visit any open DRC in the state. The two nearest DRCs for Red River Parish residents are:

Caddo Parish
2820 Summer Grove Dr.
Shreveport, LA 71118

Natchitoches Parish
726 3rd St.
Natchitoches, LA 71457

For Tensas Parish residents, the closest DRCs are:

Concordia Parish
Old Restaurant Bldg.
102 River Front St.
Vidalia, LA 71373

Franklin Parish
Franklin Parish Courthouse Annex
6561 Main St.
Winnsboro, LA 71259

The closest DRC for Jackson Parish residents is:

Lincoln Parish
307 North Homer St.
Ruston, LA 71270

The two nearest DRCs for Caldwell Parish residents are:

Franklin Parish
Franklin Parish Courthouse Annex
6561 Main St.
Winnsboro, LA 71259

Concordia Parish
Old Restaurant Bldg.
102 River Front St.
Vidalia, LA 71373

The three nearest DRCs for Winn Parish are:

Natchitoches Parish
726 3rd St.
Natchitoches, LA 70457
Alexandria, LA 71301

Lincoln Parish
307 North Homer St.
Ruston, LA 71270 2255

Rapides Parish
Former Office Max Bldg.
MacArthur Drive

Victims of the hurricanes are urged to register for assistance first by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).Hearing or speech impaired individuals may register by calling 1-800-462-7585. After registering, individuals with questions may meet face-to-face with recovery specialists at any DRC.

Representatives of state, federal, and voluntary agencies, as well as Customer Service Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance will be 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 various programs are also available to individuals and business owners.

Acadia Parish
1407 The Blvd.
Rayne, LA 70578

Ascension Parish
13192 Airline Hwy.
Gonzales, LA 70737

Beauregard Parish
Park Terrace Shopping Center
1011 N. Pine St.
DeRidder, LA 70634

Bossier and Caddo Parishes
2820 Summer Grove Dr.
Shreveport, LA 71118

Cameron Parish
Grand Lake Recreation Center
125 Recreation Ln.
Grand Lake, LA 70607

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

Calcasieu Parish
Knights of Columbus Bldg.
1600 Horridge St.
Vinton, LA 70668

Concordia Parish
102 River Front St.
Vidalia, LA 71373

East Baton Rouge Parish
101 France St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

East Feliciana Parish
Marston House
11016 Bank St.
Clinton, LA 70722

Evangeline Parish
Garment Factory
256 Holloway Blvd.
Ville Platte, LA 70586

Franklin Parish
Franklin Parish Courthouse Annex
6561 Main St.
Winnsboro, LA 71259

Iberia Parish
601 W. Admiral Doyle Dr.
New Iberia, LA 70546

Iberville Parish
Iberville Parish Library
24605 J. Gerald Barrett Blvd.
Plaqumine, LA 70764

Jefferson Davis Parish
208 Shankland Ave.
Jennings, LA 70546

Jefferson Parish
Westside Shopping Center
Units 14 and 15
15 W. Bank Expwy.
Gretna, LA 70053

Lafayette Parish
Harvest Church International
111 Liberty Ave.
Lafayette, LA 70508

Lafourche Parish
Jake's Department Store
508 St. Mary St.
Thibodaux, LA 70301

Lafourche Parish
4560 US Hwy. 1
Raceland, LA 70394

Lincoln Parish
307 N. Homer St.
Ruston, LA 71270

Livingston Parish
(Denham Springs)
Old Jamboree Bldg.
9554 US Hwy. 190
Walker, LA 70785

Morehouse Parish
2025 E. Madison Ave.
Bastrop, LA 71220

Natchitoches Parish
726 3rd St.
Natchitoches, LA 70457

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

Orleans Parish
Jewish Community Center
5342 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70115

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

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

Point Coupee Parish
Scott Civic Center
1200 Major Pkwy.
New Roads, LA 70760

Rapides Parish
Old Office Max Bldg.
2255 Macarthur Dr.
Alexandria, LA 71301

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

St. Charles Parish
Bingo Hall
13145 Hwy. 90
Boutte, LA 70039

St. Helena Parish
Masonic Lodge
6273 Louisiana Hwy 10
Greensburg, LA 70441

St. James Parish
Lions Club Bldg.
29126 Health Unit St.
Vacherie, LA 70090

St. John the Baptist Parish
160 Belle Terre Blvd.
La Place, LA 70068

St. Landry Parish
Old Kroger Store
1638 Cresswell Ln.
Opelousas, LA 70570

St. Martin Parish
Crawfish Kitchen
2235-A Reese St.
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517

St. Tammany Parish
John Slidell Municipal Park Recreation Center
105 Robert Rd.
Slidell , LA 70458

St. Tammany Parish
La-Z Boy Center
31-A Park Pl.
Covington, LA 70433

Tangipahoa Parish
Old Winn Dixie Bldg.
727 W. Oak St.
Amite , LA 70422

Terrebonne Parish
805 Barrow St.
Houma, LA 70360

Vermilion Parish
407 Charity St.
Abbeville, LA 70510

Vernon Parish
Old Lowe’s Building
1601 S. 5th St.
Leesville, LA 71446

Washington Parish
(Old Barnes Furniture Bldg.)
539 Avenue V
Bogalusa, LA 70427

Washington Parish
Hillcrest Baptist Church
2201 E. Washington St.
Franklinton, LA 70438

West Baton Rouge Parish
4722 Hwy. 190 W.
Port Allen, LA 70767

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 22-Nov-2005 09:37:04