State-FEMA Disaster Outreach Gains Momentum
Sep 3, 2008
FEMA Press Release–August 30, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. — Community Relations teams and Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will be assisting individuals, households and businesses affected by Tropical Storm Fay in Brevard, Hendry, Okeechobee, St. Lucie and Volusia counties, recovery officials announced.
The DRCs will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. They are located at:
Brevard County:
Near Lamplighter Village
503 N. John Rodes Blvd
Melbourne 32901
Grant Street Community Center
2547 Grant St.
Melbourne 32934
St. Lucie County:
St. Lucie Logistics Center
3855 S. U.S. Highway 1
Fort Pierce 34982
Okeechobee County:
[Across from County Courthouse]
304 N.W. 2nd St.
Okeechobee 34972
Volusia County:
Wal-Mart parking lot
2400 Veterans Memorial Parkway
Orange City 32763
The DRCs are staffed with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), State Emergency Response Team (SERT) agency disaster recovery specialists and representatives from voluntary agencies who are ready to help survivors through the process of applying for disaster assistance.
Applicants should register by calling FEMA toll-free 800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with a speech or hearing impairment may call TTY 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 7 a.m. to midnight daily until further notice. Application for disaster assistance can also be made by registering online at www.fema.gov or at a Disaster Recovery Center.
Once registered, FEMA disaster recovery specialists can check an individual’s case, answer questions about their claim, or request information FEMA needs to process their claim. Recovery specialists can also supply contacts for other programs that may be able to help.
Community Relations teams visiting the declared disaster counties will provide information about disaster registration to businesses, homeowners and renters who suffered uninsured damages and losses due to Tropical Storm Fay. Teams will remain in the field as long as they are needed.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. These loans are to repair or replace homes, businesses and personal property not covered by insurance and damaged by Tropical Storm Fay and continued flooding.
SBA representatives will be on hand at the DRCs to meet with individuals and business owners to answer any questions about SBAs disaster loan program; help them complete their SBA disaster loan application and accept the completed disaster loan applications. Anyone not able to go to a DRC should call the SBA Customer Service Center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday, at 800-659-2955 for information and assistance or visit the SBA website at www.sba.gov.
FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
SBA’s disaster loans are the primary form of federal assistance for non-farm, private sector disaster losses. Disaster loans from SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations fund repair and replacement of disaster damaged real and personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 or visit online at www.sba.gov or email SBAs customer service center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
For statewide disaster information and to find out how you can Get A Plan! for disasters, please visit www.FloridaDisaster.org