The Federal Emergency Management Agency today (Saturday, Oct. 6) opened a disaster recovery center in Swan Quarter for Hyde residents.
The center, at the O.A. Peay School, 1430 Main St., will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, including the Columbus Day holiday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays for as long as there is a need, said Shirley Jann Tracey, FEMA media relations specialist, in a press release.
Tracey said the Swan Quarter center will be open for a few weeks (a closing date has not been determined), and that FEMA encourages residents to apply for benefits as soon as possible.
The centers offer in-person support to individuals and businesses in counties included in the North Carolina federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Florence.
Representatives from the State of North Carolina, FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and other organizations are at the centers to explain available assistance programs and help connect survivors with resources that best match their recovery needs.
Two centers in Carteret County are open.One is at the Newport Town Hall Parking Lot 200 Howard Blvd., Newport. Another Carteret County center is located at the Board of Elections 1702 Live Oak St. Beaufort.
Disaster survivors can visit any of the centers in North Carolina for assistance. Use the FEMA app or visit FEMA.gov/DRC to view other locations.
Homeowners, renters and businesses should register for disaster assistance before visiting a recovery center. There are several ways to register:
- Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov;
- Use the FEMA mobile app; or
- Call FEMA at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or VRS) anytime from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time seven days a week until further notice. Those who use TTY may call 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available.
All recovery centers are accessible to people with disabilities. Centers have assistive technology equipment, such as amplified phones and listening devices for people with hearing loss and magnifiers for people with vision loss. Video Remote Interpreting is available. In- person American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are available by request by calling or texting 202-655-8824. (If possible, please allow 24 hours to schedule an interpreter). The centers also have accessible parking, ramps and restrooms.
Survivors may follow this link to access informational videos in American Sign Language:
- DRCs gov/media-library/assets/videos/111518
- FEMA assistance does not impact government benefits (ASL)
Do not wait to begin cleanup and repairs. Take photos of damage. Save all receipts. And get the cleanup and repair process started as soon as you can.
North Carolina homeowners, renters and business owners in Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Greene, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Wayne and Wilson counties may apply for disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses resulting from Hurricane Florence.
The NC 211 statewide information line can provide callers with nearby shelter, housing and other storm-related details. Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 (TTY), or text Florence to 898211. The information line is staffed around the clock to connect North Carolinians to storm resources.
For more information on North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Florence, visit NCDPS.gov/NCEM and FEMA.gov/Disaster/4393. Follow FEMA on Twitter:@NCEmergency and @FEMARegion4.
