Thaindian News

ATLANTA, Ga. — Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) operated by the State of Georgia and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened today to help people affected by the storms and flooding that struck Georgia starting March 26.

People in Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Pierce, Tift, Ware, Wheeler, and Worth counties who suffered uninsured or under-insured losses can get person-to-person assistance at the centers from specialists skilled in many disaster-related subjects.

Centers are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays) at the following locations:

Coffee County
C.E. Weir Center
200 East Bryan St., Bldg. F
Douglas, GA 31533

Lowndes County
Lowndes County Civic Center
2102 East Hill Ave.
Valdosta, GA 31601

One Mobile Disaster Recovery Center opened today at noon and will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday, May 2, thereafter, at the following location:

Brantley County
Brantley County Concerted Services
789 Burton Street
Nahunta, GA 31553

Disaster officials ask that before visiting the centers, people first apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for the hearing or speech-impaired. The toll-free numbers are available seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. Help in other languages also is available.

Once individuals have registered, disaster recovery specialists at the DRCs can check an individual’s case, answer questions about their claim, or review information needed to process their claim. Recovery specialists also can supply contacts for other programs that may be able to help.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) representatives will be at the DRCs to answer any questions about the SBA’s low-interest disaster loan program for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations. These loans are to repair or replace real estate and/or personal property damaged by the late March storms and flooding.

Representatives will help complete and accept SBA disaster loan application. 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, and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., EST, toll-free at 800-659-2955 for information and assistance, or visit the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.