PRESS RELEASE Additional Disaster Recovery Centers Now Open to Assist Residents BATON ROUGE, La. (September 8, 2008) – Six additional Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are now staffed to help residents and business owners who have damage or losses as a result of Hurricane Gustav, according to officials from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This brings the total number of DRCs to seven; however, additional centers will be announced as they become available. All DRCs are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. until further notice. DRC locations are:
At these centers, residents can meet face-to-face with federal and state representatives who will answer questions about registration for disaster assistance and hazard mitigation, help with disaster loan applications, and provide information and contacts for other programs. Agencies represented include FEMA, the state and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). An SBA disaster loan specialist will meet individually with each applicant to provide assistance in completing his or her disaster loan application and to accept completed disaster loan applications. Returning the applications is an essential part of the disaster recovery process even for individuals who do not want a loan. Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by Hurricane Gustav are encouraged to register for assistance by calling the telephone registration line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 1-800-462-7585). Applicants also may register online at www.fema.gov. Registration lines and online registration are available 24 hours a day seven days a week until further notice. Residents are encouraged to register prior to visiting a DRC. Even if affected residents already filled out damage report forms with the state, or their county emergency managers, or voluntary agencies they must register with FEMA at the above numbers or Web site to be considered for federal assistance. For more information on the Louisiana disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov. For the latest information on the recovery from Hurricane Gustav, visit emergency.louisiana.gov or call the state's emergency hotline at 1-866-288-2484 to listen to a recorded message with the most up-to-date information. ### 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. 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. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339). Since 1990, GOHSEP has managed over 28 Federal Disaster Declarations and has coordinated several hundred State Disaster Declarations authorized under the Governor's signature. Over the years, the mission has evolved to include the spectrum of natural, man-made disasters and as of 2003; the duties and responsibilities for supporting Louisiana's Homeland Security needs.
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