The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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October 6, 2008

FEMA recovery center located in Huntsville

The Federal Emergency Management Agency State Disaster Recovery Center located in the Walker County Storm Shelter is still available to those who suffered damage from Hurricane Ike.

The DRC, located off state Highway 75 North, has been open since Sept. 28 and will remain open until further notice to provide face-to-face assistance.

According to Butch Davis, Walker County emergency management coordinator, an average of 14 county residents are utilizing the DRC daily, and residents are still encouraged to visit the center if need be.

“Several FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers have closed throughout southwest Texas, but there are several still open including our center in the Walker County Storm Shelter,” Davis said. “We’re getting about 13 or 14 people through each day, and we just want people to know the center is still open and we encourage them to go by there.”

The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice, Davis said.

Residents are encouraged to register with FEMA before visiting a DRC.

There are two ways to register: log on to www.fema.gov or call FEMA's toll-free number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585.

Both numbers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice. Residents should register only once; duplicate registrations may cause delays in the delivery of assistance.

“We also try to encourage people to come to the DRC to register as opposed to registering ahead of time,” said Robert Hockensmith, FEMA public information officer. “There are dozens of subject matter experts at each DRC who can offer their assistance and assist in the registration process.”

At the DRC, visitors can:

• Receive information about different types of state and federal disaster assistance.

• Get help completing low-interest loan applications from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters and business owners.

• Inquire about the status of applications for federal assistance.

• Receive referrals to the American Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to help with immediate unmet needs.

• Learn cost-effective measures to reduce the impact of future disaster losses.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repair and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA also are available for homeowners, renters and business owners for losses not covered by insurance or other sources.

Residents should carry with them their identification, Social Security number, insurance information, proof of address and contact numbers when they visit the DRC to expedite the process.

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