Hardee Co. Temporary DRC Transitions To Permanent Location  

Release Date: August 31, 2004
Release Number: 1539-084

» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie

ORLANDO, Fla. -- State and federal officials announce the transition of a temporary Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Wauchula to a permanent location for continued assistance to those Hardee County residents affected by Hurricane Charley.

The Wauchula DRC, once located at the Hardee County School Board parking lot, 1001 North Highway 17, has been relocated to the Elks Club, 318 West Main Street. All centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Disaster victims are urged to register for assistance first by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For the hearing impaired the TTY number is 1-800-462-7585. Applicants may visit the center to meet face-to-face with recovery specialists.

Representatives of local, state and federal agencies, as well as volunteer agencies, will be on hand to provide program and service information. Loan officers from the U.S. Small Business Administration can answer questions and provide disaster loan information. Written materials about various assistance programs are also available to individuals and business owners.

The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) 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: Tuesday, 31-Aug-2004 17:09:26